Florida foreclosure and tax deed surpluses are governed by some of the strictest finder-fee rules in the country. We follow the statute exactly so claims actually pay.
Free to check. No obligation. You pay nothing unless we recover funds for you.
Florida is a judicial foreclosure state with a robust mortgage foreclosure docket and a separate tax deed sale process. After a foreclosure sale, surplus is held by the Clerk of Court; after a tax deed sale, surplus is held by the Tax Collector or Clerk depending on the county.
Florida regulates surplus recovery aggressively. Florida Statute § 45.033 limits assignment of mortgage foreclosure surplus rights and caps fees depending on the form of agreement: roughly 12% with a fee agreement, 25% with a power of attorney, and 30% under a consulting/attorney structure. The statute is technical and routinely litigated.
Tax deed surplus is governed by Chapter 197. After a tax deed sale, the Clerk holds the excess funds and notifies parties of record, including lienholders and the former owner. Claims must be filed within 120 days of the notice of surplus.
Not every property sale generates a surplus, and the rules vary by source. Here's what we look for in Florida.
Held by the Clerk of Court after a judicial foreclosure sale. Florida Statute § 45.032 governs entitlement; § 45.033 governs the rules for assignments and finder agreements.
When a tax deed parcel sells for more than the minimum bid, the excess is held by the Clerk pending claims. Governed by Chapter 197 of the Florida Statutes.
Florida has its own timelines and rules. Here are the key facts that drive a successful claim.
We monitor all 67 Florida counties — these are just the largest.
We work on contingency. If we don't recover funds, you owe us nothing.
Funds flow through Escrow.com. We follow each state's finder rules — including Florida's.
You always have the right to file a claim independently in Florida, at no cost.
It takes 30 seconds. Enter your name and we'll search our database of unclaimed surplus funds across Florida foreclosures and tax sales.
The Clerk distributes surplus on a statutory schedule. Owners and junior lienholders should file as soon as the certificate of disbursement is issued — generally within 60 days for lienholder priority. Our team monitors clerk dockets in all 67 counties.
120 days from the Clerk's notice of surplus. After that, funds are paid out to the next-priority claimant or escheat to the state.
Florida Statute § 45.033 sets tiered limits: roughly 12% under a simple fee agreement, 25% under a power of attorney, and 30% under a consulting agreement involving an attorney. The statute is unforgiving — agreements that don't follow the form are unenforceable.
Florida Statute § 45.033 places strict requirements on assignments — they must be in writing, recorded, and made within specific timelines. We never use raw assignments; we use the statutory fee-agreement structure.
Not strictly, but Florida claims involve enough complexity (lien priority, IRS notices, junior lienholder timing) that we partner with Florida attorneys on most contested cases.