When a property sells at a tax auction for more than what was owed, the extra money legally belongs to the former owner — not the county or state. We help people across the country understand if those funds exist and how to access them.
We understand receiving a letter about your former property can feel unexpected. Before you contact us, we encourage you to verify everything independently — through your own county or state office. Your trust matters more than any fee.
Contact the county tax collector, district clerk, or sheriff's office and ask whether surplus or excess funds are on file for your former property address.
Request the foreclosure case number. This lets you verify the funds exist in the official public record — independent of anything we tell you.
You can claim the funds yourself at no cost through the court, or work with us for expert guidance — only paying if we succeed.
Most former property owners never know surplus funds exist. Government offices are not required to track you down. We bridge that gap — with transparency, legal backing, and zero upfront cost.
We explain your legal rights under your state's law before we ever ask for anything. That knowledge is yours to keep.
We share public records, case numbers, and county contacts so you can verify everything independently before signing.
We are only compensated when you successfully receive your funds. If we don't succeed, you owe us nothing — period.
Every claim is backed by your state's specific surplus funds statute and reviewed by a licensed attorney in your state.
Surplus funds arise in different foreclosure scenarios. We help identify if you may have unclaimed funds regardless of where your former property was located.
Your property sold at a county tax auction for more than the tax debt owed. The excess is legally yours.
Business or commercial property sold at foreclosure with excess proceeds still held by the county or court.
A deceased family member's property was foreclosed. Heirs and legal representatives may be entitled to the surplus.
You moved away and didn't know your property was sold. The funds may still be waiting — across state lines.
Here is exactly what happens when you choose to work with us — regardless of which state your former property was in.
We monitor county databases and track tax foreclosure sales across the country to identify individuals who are legally entitled to surplus funds. We provide you with the public case information so you can verify it yourself with the county — before signing anything.
✓ No fee for this stepBefore quoting any amount, we check for HOA fees, second mortgages, or other valid liens that may reduce the net funds you receive. We show you the real number — not an inflated estimate. This step is critical and state-law specific.
✓ Full disclosure of any deductionsIf you choose to proceed, you sign a contingency fee agreement. We assign a licensed attorney in your state who files the official petition or claim with the appropriate court or county office under your state's surplus funds statute.
✓ State-licensed attorney handles the filingThe court or county reviews and approves the claim. Once approved, the funds are released. You receive your portion directly. Our fee is only collected at this point — after you are paid.
✓ You get paid firstThese are not loopholes. Every state has a statute that protects former property owners' right to surplus funds. Here are key states where we actively work claims.
Former owner may file a petition in the court that ordered the sale for excess proceeds. Claim must be filed within 2 years of the sale date. Homestead properties also carry a 2-year right of redemption.
⏱ 2-Year Claim WindowAfter a tax deed sale, surplus funds are held by the Clerk of Circuit Court. Former owners must file a claim with the circuit court. Florida has one of the highest volumes of tax deed sales in the nation.
⏱ 120 Days (then court process)After a tax sale, the officer holding excess funds must give written notice to the former owner of record. Former owners and lienholders have up to 5 years to file a claim in superior court.
⏱ 5-Year Claim WindowAny party of interest may file a claim with the county for excess proceeds in proportion to their interest in the property. Claim must be filed within 1 year following recordation of the tax collector's deed.
⏱ 1-Year Claim WindowFormer owners, heirs, or assigns of real estate sold under tax statutes are explicitly entitled to surplus received from the sale in excess of taxes, penalties, interest, attorney fees, and costs.
⏱ Varies by Circuit CourtResidue from tax foreclosure sales unclaimed within 60 days is paid into the county treasury and held for the owner. The owner has 3 years from that point to demand the funds from the county treasurer.
⏱ 3-Year County Treasury WindowA motion for excess proceeds may be filed in the court where the proceeding is pending. If unclaimed, funds are forwarded to the state under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, where they remain claimable.
⏱ File Before Unclaimed TransferAny overage from a tax sale — after taxes, assessments, penalties, and costs — belongs to the owner of record immediately before the end of the redemption period. It is to be claimed or assigned according to law.
⏱ Claim After Redemption PeriodIf the highest bid exceeds the minimum due, the excess must be refunded on application to the record owner. Water-sewer district liens are paid first; remaining surplus goes to the former owner.
⏱ Apply After Sale ConfirmationAny balance remaining after tax sale costs is paid to the court for the benefit of the persons entitled. If there is doubt or adverse claims, the clerk holds the surplus until rights are established in a special proceeding.
⏱ Special Court ProceedingWhen a property sells for more than taxes, penalties, interest, and cost, the excess is held in a separate fund for the record owner shown in county records as of the date the county resale begins.
⏱ 1-Year Claim WindowThe former owner of record at the time the tax deed is issued may file a verified claim for money deposited in the tax sale surplus fund. Claim approved by county auditor and county treasurer.
⏱ File with County AuditorNeema Property Recovery Group is a surplus funds recovery consulting firm. All court filings and legal petitions are handled by our network of licensed state attorneys who specialize in property code and tax sale claims in their jurisdictions. This protects you and ensures every step is done correctly under your specific state's law.
Our attorneys file in the district, circuit, or superior court — whichever applies in your state — where the foreclosure occurred.
Neema Property Recovery Group was built on a simple belief: people deserve to know their rights — especially after one of life's hardest moments.
As an East African-American entrepreneur and community advocate, Abaala Ikara founded Neema Property Recovery Group after recognizing a painful pattern: families who had already been through the trauma of losing a property were also losing thousands of dollars they were legally owed — simply because no one told them the money existed.
With a background in business services and community advocacy through Neema Global Service Inc., Abaala Ikara built a process grounded in education, transparency, and zero upfront cost — designed to serve clients remotely anywhere in the country. The goal has never been to take advantage of difficult situations. It has always been to level the playing field for families and individuals who deserve to know their rights under the law, regardless of which state they are in.
Abaala Ikara works hand-in-hand with a nationwide network of licensed state attorneys to ensure every claim is pursued correctly, legally, and with the claimant's best interest at the center. Every person who contacts Neema Property Recovery Group is encouraged to verify the funds independently — through their own county office — before signing anything.
"The money was already yours. We just help you find it."
Real stories from people who had no idea funds were waiting for them.
I had completely moved on from that chapter of my life. Getting that check felt like a second chance I didn't expect.
They told me to call the county first to verify. That alone told me these people were different. They had nothing to hide.
My mother passed and I had no idea her old property had surplus funds sitting in the court. Neema found it and walked us through everything — remotely.
We understand the skepticism — and we welcome it. We encourage you to call your county directly before ever contacting us. The surplus funds we contact you about are in official public court records. Everything we do is governed by your state's surplus funds statute. We are not a government agency, but the funds are real and publicly verifiable.
Yes, absolutely. You have the right to file a claim yourself in your state's applicable court at no cost. Every state's surplus funds statute is a matter of public law. If you prefer to handle it on your own, we're happy to point you to the right office. We only earn a fee if you choose to use our service and we successfully recover funds for you.
We work on a contingency fee basis — typically 25–35% of the recovered amount. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if we are unsuccessful. The exact percentage is disclosed clearly in the fee agreement before you sign anything.
Yes. Surplus funds laws exist in all 50 states. We have attorney partners licensed in every state who handle the actual court filings. We have been particularly active in Texas, Florida, Georgia, California, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, and South Carolina — but we work nationwide.
It typically takes 60–150 days from the time you sign the fee agreement to when funds are released, depending on the state and county. States like Florida and Texas tend to move faster; states requiring special court proceedings may take longer. We keep you informed every step of the way.
This is exactly why we conduct a lien review before quoting you any amount. Valid liens — such as HOA fees, second mortgages, or judgment liens — may reduce the net amount you receive. We show you the full picture before you decide to proceed. There are never surprises at the end.
Heirs and legal representatives of deceased former owners can still file a claim in most states. This process may require additional documentation such as a death certificate and letters testamentary or letters of administration. Our attorney network handles estate-related claims regularly.
Your contact information was located through publicly available records — including county appraisal district data, tax records, and court filings — which are legally accessible to the public in every state. We use this information solely to notify you of funds you may be legally owed.
A 10-minute conversation is all it takes to find out if surplus funds exist for your former property — no matter what state it was in — at no cost to you.