Learn exactly what surplus funds are, who can claim them, how the recovery process works — and why our fees are the most transparent in the industry.
When a lender or county sells a property at auction to recover unpaid debt, the property sometimes sells for more than the amount owed. That excess — the difference between the sale price and the debt — is called surplus funds, excess proceeds, or overage.
Those funds are legally owed to the former owner — or their heirs. But counties don't go out of their way to find you. The money sits in a government account, often for years, while most people have no idea it exists.
If no one claims it within the state's statutory window (typically 1–5 years), the money escheats to the state permanently. The clock is always running.
In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that homeowners have a constitutional right to the surplus value of their property when it is seized by the government for unpaid taxes. This ruling significantly expanded and clarified homeowner rights to recover excess proceeds — making now one of the most important times in history to file your claim.
This money belongs to the former owner or their heirs. The county is required to hold it, but not required to hunt you down. You have to claim it.
Property sold to recover unpaid property taxes. Common in FL, GA, TX, IL, and 30+ other states.
Lender-initiated sale for unpaid mortgage. Surplus is especially common in high-appreciation markets.
Three groups are legally entitled to claim. Most competitors focus only on former owners. We specialize in the group everyone else ignores: heirs and family members.
When a homeowner passes away, their right to surplus funds transfers directly to their heirs — even if the property was lost years before their passing. Most heirs have absolutely no idea these funds exist. That's why we built a recovery process specifically designed for heir claims, including probate research and multi-heir coordination.
Your parent lost their home to a tax sale three years ago and has since passed away. The county may still be holding significant surplus funds — and you are legally entitled to claim them as an heir to the estate.
A grandparent's property was sold at foreclosure while the family wasn't aware. The estate was never formally settled. The surplus may still be claimable — we handle the probate and documentation.
Inherited property was auctioned and generated excess proceeds, but multiple family members are involved. We coordinate the claim across all heirs, navigate competing interests, and get everyone paid correctly.
If your property was sold at a tax sale or foreclosure auction, any sale proceeds above your debt belong to you — regardless of how long ago it happened (within your state's statute of limitations). Many former owners find out years later.
Holders of second mortgages, home equity lines, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, and judgment creditors who had recorded liens at the time of the sale may be entitled to their share of excess proceeds from the auction.
Executors, administrators, and personal representatives of estates that include property sold at auction have standing to file claims on behalf of the estate — even when individual heirs may not have direct legal standing.
We handle everything. You bring a name and a story — we take it from there.
Use our free lookup tool to search by name, state, and county. Our database spans all 50 states and thousands of counties.
Search Now →Our team researches deed history, probate records, and ownership documentation to establish a clear chain of title to the funds.
We prepare and file all legal documents with the appropriate court or county agency — including interpleader motions when multiple parties have competing claims.
Once the claim is approved, funds are disbursed directly to you. We deduct our contingency fee only upon successful recovery.
Most claims are resolved within 30–90 days, depending on the state, county, and whether probate or competing claimants are involved. Complex heir cases or interpleader actions can take 3–6 months. We communicate proactively at every stage — you're never left wondering where your claim stands.
No competitor publishes their exact percentages. We do. Because we believe you deserve to know exactly what you'll pay before you sign anything.
What you see below is what you pay. No administrative fees, no "processing" charges, no fine print surprises.
You never pay a dollar until we successfully recover funds. Zero out-of-pocket to start your claim.
The more we recover, the lower our percentage. Larger recoveries earn you a better rate — because fairness should scale.
Our incentives are perfectly aligned with yours. We get paid the same way you do — by recovering your funds.
| Amount Recovered | Our Fee | You Keep | Visual Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $5,000 minimum fee floor | 35% | 65% | |
| $5,000 – $14,999 | 30% | 70% | |
| $15,000 – $29,999 | 25% | 75% | |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 20% | 80% | |
| $50,000 – $99,999 | 15% | 85% | |
| $100,000 and above | 10–12% | 88–90% |
The majority of surplus fund recovery firms charge a flat 30–40% on every claim, no matter how large. They don't publish their rates — you only find out after signing. We think that's wrong. Our tiered structure means larger recoveries earn you a meaningfully better rate, and you know every number before committing to anything.
There are dozens of surplus fund recovery firms. Here's what sets us apart — and why it matters for your claim.
We're one of the only firms in the country with a dedicated process for heir-based claims. We handle probate research, multi-heir coordination, and estate documentation — complexity that most firms simply won't take on.
Our fee schedule is published and locked before you sign. No competitor does this. What you see on this page is what you pay — period. We consider opacity about fees to be a red flag, and we built our business around the opposite.
Zero upfront cost. Zero risk to you. If we don't recover your funds, you owe us nothing. Our success is entirely dependent on yours — which means we work harder on every claim.
Every state has different statutes, deadlines, and filing procedures. We've built the infrastructure to navigate all of them — from Texas OCA claims to California interpleader actions to Georgia's specific O.C.G.A. procedures.
Time matters — state deadlines are real, and some counties purge unclaimed funds after 1–2 years. We move quickly and communicate proactively. Most claims reach resolution in 30–90 days.
Search our database for free. If you find a potential match, we'll review your case at no cost before you commit to anything. You decide whether to proceed — we never pressure you.
Search our database — it's free, takes 60 seconds, and covers all 50 states. If there's a match, we'll tell you exactly what it's worth and what we can do about it.
Search for Your Funds NowWe'll search new county records as they're added and notify you if there's a match. Free, no obligation.
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