If your home went through a foreclosure or tax foreclosure, you may be owed money. When a property is sold at auction for more than what was owed on it, the extra money—called surplus funds—belongs to the previous homeowner. But here’s the catch: you only have a limited time to claim it.
Every state has different foreclosure assistance laws that determine how long you have to recover your funds. Waiting too long could mean losing that money forever.
🏡 Time is ticking—contact us today to check your eligibility and get foreclosure help before it's too late!
Each state has specific deadlines for claiming surplus funds from home foreclosures and tax foreclosures. Some states give you only a few months, while others allow up to a few years. The key is to act quickly to protect what’s rightfully yours.
Below is a state-by-state guide on how much time you have to recover your surplus funds after a foreclosure.
Foreclosure Surplus Funds—Time Limits by State
Alabama
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 3 years
Alaska
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Arkansas
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 30 days
California
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Connecticut
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 to 6 months
Delaware
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 to 12 months
Florida
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 years for tax liens
Georgia
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Idaho
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Indiana
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Kansas
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Maine
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Maryland
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 6 months to 2 years
Massachusetts
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 6 months
Nevada
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
New Hampshire
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
New Jersey
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 years
New Mexico
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
North Carolina
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Ohio
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Oklahoma
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 years for tax liens
Pennsylvania
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: No specific limit
Rhode Island
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
South Carolina
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
South Dakota
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 3 years
Tennessee
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Texas
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 years
Utah
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Vermont
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 1 year
Virginia
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 3 years
Washington
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 3 years
West Virginia
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 2 years
Wyoming
Mortgage Foreclosure: Yes
Tax Sale: Yes
Time Limit to Claim Funds: 4 years
Many homeowners may be owed money but never realize it until it's too late. Even in states with longer deadlines, waiting can put your foreclosure surplus funds at risk.
Here’s why you should act now:
✅ Your surplus funds won’t wait forever – If you miss the deadline, you may lose your chance to recover your money.
✅ The process takes time – Even though you have a deadline, waiting until the last minute could lead to unnecessary delays.
✅ The longer you wait, the harder it gets – Over time, claiming surplus funds can become more complicated, requiring extra documentation and proof.
✅ Funds may be turned over to the state – If the deadline passes, the government may claim your money as unclaimed property.
💡 You don’t have to figure this out alone. Every case is unique, and foreclosure assistance specialists can review your case and guide you through the process.