Mortgage foreclosure
Held by the court clerk or the sale trustee, depending on the state.
How it works
Where the money comes from, and how we get it back.
A forced sale pays off what was owed. When the winning bid is higher than that, the rest is surplus, and the law says it belongs to the former owner. Here's how we turn that into money in your hands.
Where surplus comes from
The debt gets paid first. The rest is yours.
Whoever forced the sale is entitled only to what it's owed, plus the costs the law allows. Every dollar the bidding brings in above that line is surplus.
It doesn't get mailed to you. It's held by a court clerk, tax office, trustee or lender until someone files a claim, and in many states there's a deadline.
Sale price$212,000
Loan, interest and sale costs$148,600
Surplus for the former owner$63,400
Liens and other claims may be paid from the surplus first, so the amount you receive can be lower.
Tax sale
Held by the tax collector or treasurer, or deposited with the court.
HOA sale
Held by the court or whoever ran the sale for the association.
Repossession or lien sale
Owed by the lender, or held by the tow yard, marina or storage lot.
Step by step
Six steps. You handle one.
- 1We do this
We find the surplus
We review sale results and court records for sales that brought in more than was owed, and confirm how much is held and where.
- 2We do this
We find you
We work out who the money belongs to: the owner, co-owners, heirs, or a company and who can act for it. Then we reach out. If you contacted us first, we start with your property.
- 3Your part
We explain, you decide
We show you where the money is, our estimate of what you'd receive and our fee, all in a written agreement. Call the office to confirm it first if you like.
- 4We do this
We prepare the claim
We gather what the office needs and fill out the forms. If something must be notarized, we tell you when and walk you through it.
- 5We or a partner attorney
The claim is filed
Many claims are a form filed with a clerk or tax office. When a judge has to approve it, a licensed partner attorney files it, and you'll know who first.
- 6You get paid
The funds are released
Once the claim is approved, the money is released. Our fee comes only out of what's recovered. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing.
Less than you'd think.
To start, just your name, what was sold and a way to reach you. Once you sign up, a claim usually needs:
- A photo ID
- Proof you owned the property, which we can often pull from public records
- For an estate: a death certificate and papers showing who can sign
- For a company: proof of who can act for it
We collect documents through a secure client portal, never through this website.
Straight about our limits.
- We only work after a sale is complete. We can't stop or undo a foreclosure, tax sale or repossession.
- We don't offer loans, debt help or credit services.
- We're not a law firm and don't give legal or financial advice. Licensed attorneys handle court filings.
- We're a private company, not part of any court or government office.
Owners can also file a surplus claim on their own, without hiring anyone, by contacting the office holding the funds.
The check you're owed.
Tell us what was sold and we'll check the records for you. It's free and there's no obligation.
Start my claim