Our process
From the first phone call to the check in your hand
Five stages, and you are never asked for money at any of them. Most of the work is ours: records, forms, filings and following up with county offices that are not in a hurry.
Stage by stage
Select a stage to see exactly what happens
Each stage lists what we need from you, what it costs, and roughly how long it takes. The honest answer on timing is that stage four is the county’s, not ours.
Stage one
A conversation, not a sales call
You tell us the property address and roughly when it sold. We explain in plain terms what surplus funds are, whether your situation is likely to involve them, and what the process would look like. If we do not think there is anything there, we say so on that first call.
- What we need
- The property address and an approximate sale date.
- What it costs
- Nothing. There is no fee for the consultation.
- Typical time
- A single phone call.
Stage two
We pull the records and confirm the money is yours
We obtain the sale figures, the payoff amounts and the case file from the county. We check the chain of title and look for anyone else with a legal interest in the money, such as a second lienholder or another heir. Then we tell you the amount we believe is claimable and what could reduce it.
- What we need
- Your identification, and proof you owned the property.
- What it costs
- Nothing. We cover the record and filing costs.
- Typical time
- A few days to a couple of weeks.
Stage three
A licensed attorney prepares and files the claim
Most counties require the claim to be filed through an attorney, and a judge often has to approve the release. We work with licensed attorneys in the state where your property sold. They prepare the petition, the affidavits and the supporting exhibits, and file them with the court or the county.
- What we need
- Your signature, sometimes notarized.
- What it costs
- Nothing up front. Legal costs come out of the recovery.
- Typical time
- Two to four weeks to prepare and file.
Stage four
The county or the court reviews it
This is the part nobody controls. Some counties process a claim in a few weeks. Others put it on a court calendar and it waits its turn. If anyone contests the claim, or the county asks for more documentation, the attorney responds on your behalf. You do not have to attend hearings in most cases.
- What we need
- Nothing, unless the county requests something further.
- What you get
- An update from us whenever the status changes.
- Typical time
- The longest stage. Often a few months.
Stage five
The money is released and you are paid
Once approved, the county or the court releases the funds. Our agreed percentage and the legal costs come out of the recovery, and the balance goes to you by check or transfer. You receive a written breakdown showing the total recovered, every deduction, and what is left. Nothing is taken before this point.
- What we need
- Where you would like the funds sent.
- What it costs
- The percentage agreed in writing at the start. Nothing more.
- Typical time
- Days once the release is signed.
What you actually do
Your side of it is about an hour, spread over months
People are often braced for something far heavier than this. In practice your involvement comes down to a handful of moments.
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One phone call
Fifteen minutes. The address, roughly when it sold, and your questions.
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Send identification
Photo ID and something that ties you to the property, such as an old utility bill, mortgage statement or tax notice. A phone photo is usually fine.
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Sign the agreement and the claim forms
Some counties want a notarized signature. If yours does, we tell you in advance and explain where to get it done.
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Wait, while we chase
This is the long part and none of it falls on you. We follow up with the county and update you whenever the status changes.
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Tell us where to send the money
Check or transfer, along with a written breakdown of every deduction.
Documents
What you may be asked for
Nothing at all is needed to start. These come up later, and only if there is a claim worth filing.
Always
- Government photo identification
- Proof you owned the property, such as a deed, mortgage statement or tax bill
- A signed recovery agreement setting out our fee
Sometimes
- A notarized affidavit, depending on the county
- Proof of your current address
- Documentation of any lien that has since been satisfied
If a business owned it
- Articles of organization or incorporation
- Operating agreement, or a resolution naming who may act
- Proof of good standing, or reinstatement where the company was dissolved
- EIN, plus identification for the person signing
If the owner has died
- Death certificate
- Letters testamentary, or proof you are the legal heir
- Probate documents where the state requires them
If you do not have something on this list, say so. Most of it can be replaced, and we have pulled records for people who arrived with nothing but an address.
Free tool
Surplus funds estimator
If you know roughly what the property sold for and roughly what was owed on it, this gives you an idea of whether a surplus exists and how large it might be.
It is arithmetic, not a valuation. Liens, second mortgages, court costs and other claims can all reduce the final figure, and only the county file shows the real numbers. Treat the result as a starting point for a conversation.
Not sure of the figures? That is normal, and it is exactly what the free record check is for. Have us look them up.
Start with the free record check
We look up the sale, the payoff figures and the case file, then tell you plainly whether there is anything worth claiming.