The process
How it works
There are four steps. You tell us who you are, we confirm what is being held and put it in writing, you decide whether to give us permission, and then we do the work at our own cost. Most claims take a few months, and the pace is set by the office holding the funds rather than by us.
Requirements vary by state and by the type and status of the funds. We determine whether we can assist before accepting an engagement. Where a matter calls for legal representation, we will say so and it may be referred to appropriately licensed counsel.
Where this money actually comes from
When a property is sold to settle unpaid property taxes, the sale sometimes brings in more than the amount that was owed. The difference — the surplus — does not belong to the county or to anyone who bought at the sale. Depending on state law and any interests recorded against the property, it may be payable to lienholders, to the former owner, to the owner's estate or heirs, or to other legally entitled parties. Part of the work is establishing who that is.
The county holds that money and waits for someone to claim it. Most of the time nobody does, usually because nobody was ever told it existed. These records are public, which is how we find them, and it is also how you can verify anything we tell you.
The four steps in detail
- Tell us who you are. Enter the code from your letter, or just your name if you don't have it. We ask for a phone number or an email so we can reach you, and nothing more at this stage.
- We confirm the details. We check the public record and write back with how much is being held. You get that in writing before you sign anything, so you know exactly what you are deciding about. The office, the file number and the rest of the paperwork come with your agreement.
- We ask your permission. If you want us to go after it, you sign an agreement that sets our fee in writing. Required forms vary by county, state, and type of claim, and we explain each document before it is signed. Nothing is ever filed in your name without your signature.
- We do the work and you get paid. Where permitted, we assist with the administrative process of documenting and submitting the claim, pay the filing costs, and follow it through. Our fee is earned only if funds are recovered and is paid from the recovered funds under your agreement. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing.
Nothing is filed without your signature. You are under no obligation simply by contacting us or asking us to review a possible claim, and before you sign an agreement you are free to decide not to proceed — say so and we will close your file and confirm it in writing. Any cancellation or termination rights after signing are set out in your agreement and follow applicable law.
What we need from you
Less than most people expect. We are confirming identity and entitlement — not asking about your circumstances. Identification, and proof of relationship if the claim runs through an estate. That is close to the whole list.
| What we ask for | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| Your name and contact details | To match you to the record and to keep you updated. |
| Proof of identity, such as a photo ID | Funds are not released without confirming the claimant is who they say they are. |
| Proof of relationship, if you are claiming for a relative | Death certificate, will, or similar. Required when the person named has passed away. |
| A signed agreement with us | Gives us permission to act for you and sets our fee in writing before any work begins. |
| Whatever forms the office itself requires | Counties and states set their own paperwork — claim forms, affidavits, or authorizations. We keep it as straightforward as we can and explain each document before it is signed. |
What we never ask for
- Money, in any form, at any stage.
- Your bank account number or card details.
- An explanation of your circumstances.
Is there a deadline?
Counties do not hold surplus funds indefinitely. Each state sets its own window, and once it closes the money may be forfeited, transferred to another government agency, or become subject to a different claiming procedure. If you are unsure where your claim stands, the county that held the sale can tell you, and so can we.
Deadlines are set county by county, so the one that matters is the one where the property was sold. Tell us where it was and we will tell you what applies to your claim.
What it costs
Our fee varies according to the state, the type of claim, and applicable law, and it will never exceed the legal maximum. You will receive the exact percentage and an estimated dollar amount in writing before you sign anything.
Nothing is due up front. We pay the filing costs. Our fee is earned only if funds are successfully recovered and is paid out of the recovered funds under your written agreement. If nothing is recovered you owe us nothing and we absorb the loss.
You are never required to use us. These are public funds, and depending on the state and the type of claim you may be able to pursue them yourself at no cost. What you are paying us for is the paperwork done to the standard the office requires, the deadline met, the filing costs carried, and the months of follow-up — not access to something only we can reach.
Still have questions?
The questions pagecovers what people usually want to know. If yours isn't there, get in touch and a person will answer it.