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.

Counties sell properties to recover unpaid taxes. If the sale price exceeds the tax debt, the difference is surplus. The same applies to foreclosure auctions where the sale price exceeds the mortgage balance. These funds are then held by the county, waiting to be claimed by the rightful owner.

If you previously owned a property that was sold at a tax deed sale or foreclosure auction, you may have surplus funds. We can check county records for you at no cost — simply visit our Check Your Claim page or give us a call.

Yes. Deadlines vary by state. In Georgia, the deadline is 5 years from the date of the tax sale. In Florida, it depends on the type of sale. Acting quickly is important — once the deadline passes, the funds may be forfeited to the county permanently.

No. We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we successfully recover funds on your behalf. There are no hidden fees, no retainers, and no out-of-pocket costs.

Our fee is a percentage of the recovered amount, governed by state law. The exact percentage depends on your state and the complexity of your claim. We'll explain everything clearly before you sign anything — full transparency is our standard.

Typically 30–90 days from filing, depending on county processing times. Some counties are faster than others. Our team keeps you informed throughout the entire process so you always know where things stand.

No. Our service includes licensed attorneys who handle your claim from start to finish. You don't need to find or pay for your own lawyer — legal representation is built into what we do.

If a claim is denied, our attorneys may appeal the decision on your behalf. If we cannot recover your funds, you owe us nothing. That's the promise of our contingency model — we share the risk with you.

SurplusBridge partners with licensed attorneys in each state we operate in. All legal work is performed by barred attorneys who specialize in surplus funds recovery and property law.

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.

Yes. If the original property owner is deceased, heirs may be eligible to claim the surplus funds with proper documentation. Our attorneys can help navigate the heir claim process and identify what paperwork is required.

Yes. We proactively reach out to people we identify as potentially having surplus funds through public county records. You can verify your claim independently with your county clerk's office, and you're welcome to contact us directly to confirm.

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 our Check Your Claim page or call us at (855) 555-0123. We'll verify your eligibility at no cost and walk you through the next steps. The process is simple, and there's no obligation.