1. States covered
| State | Guide | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas tax sale excess proceeds | Texas Tax Code ch. 34 |
| Washington | Washington tax foreclosure excess funds | RCW 84.64.080 |
| Michigan | Michigan tax foreclosure remaining proceeds | MCL 211.78t |
| North Carolina | North Carolina tax foreclosure surplus | G.S. 105-374(q) |
| Ohio | Ohio tax foreclosure excess proceeds | ORC 5721.20 |
| Florida | Florida tax deed surplus | Fla. Stat. 197.582 |
A state is added only after its statute has been read on an official site. States are not listed from secondary summaries.
2. What to read in any state’s rules
- Who holds the funds. A court clerk, a county treasurer or a trustee.
- Notice. Whether the holder must notify the former owner, and when.
- Deadline. How long funds are held before they go elsewhere.
- Who may claim and in what order. Lienholders, former owners, heirs.
- Finder and assignment limits. Fee caps, waiting periods and written agreement requirements.
- Sale type. Tax sales and mortgage foreclosures can follow different statutes.
3. Then check with the county
A statute sets the frame. The clerk or county office that handled the sale holds the case file, the amount and any claims already filed. The live Locate Next surplus page says: “If you think you’re owed money from a foreclosure or tax sale, contact the court or county office that handled the sale.”
4. Finding the former owner
Once you know the case, the work is finding the former owner of record. See how to find a former owner for a surplus case, the surplus case worksheet, and skip tracing for surplus funds recovery. Locate Next “does not file claims, hold funds or decide who’s owed money.”
Common questions
Do surplus funds rules differ by state?
Yes. Each state’s statute sets who holds the funds, how long, who may claim and whether finder fees are limited. Read the statute for the state where the sale happened.
Why are only some states listed?
A state is added only after its statute has been read on an official site.
Who do I contact about surplus from a sale?
The court or county office that handled the sale. Ask that office for the case file and where the funds are held.
Does Locate Next file surplus claims?
No. Locate Next does not file claims, hold funds or decide who is owed money.
Sources
- Texas Legislature, Tax Code Chapter 34, tax sales and redemption. Checked October 22, 2026.
- RCW 84.64.080, Washington tax foreclosure sale and excess funds. Checked October 22, 2026.
- MCL 211.78t, Michigan remaining proceeds claims. Checked October 22, 2026.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 105-374, foreclosure of tax lien. Checked October 22, 2026.
- Ohio Revised Code 5721.20, excess foreclosure proceeds. Checked October 22, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 197.582, disbursement of proceeds of sale. Checked October 22, 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice.