Frequently Asked Questions

When a property sells at a tax deed sale or foreclosure auction for more than what was owed, the excess money is held by the county. These are called "surplus funds" — also known as "overbid" or "excess proceeds." As the former property owner, that money may belong to you.

If a tax sale produces more than the amounts it must satisfy, excess proceeds may remain. Mortgage foreclosure sales can also produce excess proceeds after secured debt, sale costs, and higher-priority interests are addressed. A county, court, trustee, or other office may hold the funds while eligible claimants and competing interests are evaluated.

We contacted you because public records appear to show surplus funds associated with a specific former property and indicate that you may be connected to it. Public records can be incomplete or inaccurate, so our outreach is not a guarantee of eligibility, ownership, fund availability, amount, or recovery.

Deadlines and transfer rules vary by jurisdiction, sale type, holding office, and case status. Some funds may later move into an unclaimed-property process. Because there is no single nationwide deadline, the specific public record and applicable procedure must be reviewed.

SurplusBridge works on a contingency basis. There are no upfront recovery fees. If funds are successfully recovered on your behalf, our fee is paid from the recovered amount under a separate written agreement. If no funds are recovered, you do not owe a recovery fee. The exact fee, services, and cancellation rights are disclosed before you agree to proceed and are subject to applicable law.

Yes. You may contact the county, court, trustee, or other holding office directly and pursue a claim without using our service. SurplusBridge is a private recovery-support company, not a government agency or law firm.

Timing varies by the holding office, jurisdiction, documentation, competing interests, and case complexity. We provide updates when available, but the reviewing office controls its decision and payment schedule.

Not always. Some claims may follow an administrative process, while others may benefit from legal advice or representation. Any attorney-client relationship requires a separate written agreement.

Available options depend on the reason for denial and the applicable state or county procedure. We can help organize the information for review, but no appeal or recovery is guaranteed.

No. SurplusBridge provides research and intake support. Submitting information through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal services, when appropriate, require a separate agreement with a licensed attorney.

Typically a government-issued ID and proof of prior property ownership. Our team will guide you through exactly what's needed for your specific situation — we make the paperwork as simple as possible.

Heirs or estate representatives may be able to claim funds, depending on local law, claimant priority, and the available estate documents. We can help organize the information for review. Any legal advice or representation requires a separate agreement with a licensed attorney.

Our outreach is based on a potential surplus record found through public records. You can independently verify the sale or case with the relevant county clerk or court, and you can contact us using the information on this website to confirm the notice came from our team.

Currently Georgia, Florida, California, Texas, and South Carolina, with plans to expand to additional states. If you're in a state we don't yet cover, contact us — we may still be able to help or point you in the right direction.

Visit the Confirm Your Claim page and enter the claimant, property, and case-reference details from your notice. We will evaluate the possible record match and explain whether documentation or another next step is appropriate.