You May Be Owed
Unclaimed Funds
From Your Property

When a property goes to foreclosure auction, the goal of the county or lender is simple: recover what they're owed — nothing more. In a tax foreclosure, the county only seeks to collect the unpaid taxes. In a mortgage foreclosure, the lender only recovers the amount specified in the final court judgment. But if your home sold at auction for more than what was owed, that difference — called surplus funds, excess proceeds, or mortgage surplus — is legally yours under most state laws.

These funds are held by the Clerk of Court or the county treasury and can be claimed by the former owner, their heirs, or lien holders. The problem? Most former property owners never receive the surplus notification letter sent by the county — it goes to an outdated address, gets lost, or is never recognized for what it is. Foreclosure auctions are increasingly held online, making them nearly invisible to the people most affected.

Every year, millions of dollars in surplus funds go unclaimed nationwide and are quietly transferred to state unclaimed property programs — or forfeited entirely. This is your money. Meridian Surplus Solutions exists to make sure it finds its way back to you.

If you previously owned a property that was sold at a tax deed sale or foreclosure auction — even years ago — there may be surplus funds waiting in your name right now. Because foreclosure auctions are increasingly conducted online, many former owners have no idea their property sold for more than the debt owed. The county's legal obligation is only to attempt notification, not to guarantee you received it.

Meridian conducts thorough, ongoing audits of public county records to identify potential claimants. If we find a case associated with your name, we reach out to you directly. You can also contact us proactively — at no cost — by filling out our consultation form with your name, former property address, and the approximate year of the foreclosure. Our team will research your eligibility and explain exactly which services apply and what they cost before you commit to anything.

The only way to know for certain is to check. And the only risk of not checking is walking away from money that is legally yours. Don't assume someone would have contacted you — reach out to Meridian today and let us do the research for you.

Meridian charges in two distinct ways, depending on the service:

Document Preparation — Flat Upfront Fee. When you engage us to prepare your claim packet, affidavits, deed forms, or other documentation, you pay a flat fee at the time of engagement. Your exact fee is quoted during your consultation call and agreed in writing before we begin any work. This fee is charged regardless of whether your claim is ultimately approved — because the work of preparing your documents is complete regardless of outcome.

Recovery Coordination — Contingency Only. When you engage Meridian for recovery coordination — the research, attorney coordination, deadline management, and follow-up — we earn our recovery fee only when surplus funds are successfully recovered on your behalf. No recovery means no recovery fee. This fee is agreed upon as a percentage of the recovered amount, in writing, before we take any step on your behalf.

Both fees are fully disclosed and agreed in writing before engagement. You may engage document preparation only, recovery coordination only, or both together. Our goal is complete transparency so you always know what you owe, when, and why.

Deadlines for surplus fund claims are set by state law and vary by state and claim type. They are firm and unforgiving — and this is not an area where second chances are common. In Florida, for example: under FL Statute §45.032, mortgage foreclosure surplus claims must generally be filed within 60 days of the foreclosure sale; under FL Statute §197.582, tax deed surplus claims must typically be filed within 120 days of the county mailing the Notice of Surplus Funds. Other states have their own deadlines — contact us to confirm the rules in your state.

These are not suggestions. Missing a deadline by a single day can permanently extinguish your legal right to collect. Filing something incorrectly — the wrong form, the wrong court, incomplete or improperly notarized documentation — can produce the same devastating result. Funds that go unclaimed within the statutory window are typically transferred to the state's unclaimed property program or forfeited to the county.

This is exactly why you should not attempt this process alone. Meridian's team monitors every active deadline with precision and prepares every document exactly as required. If you believe your deadline may be approaching — or may have already passed — contact us immediately. In some situations, funds transferred to a state's unclaimed property program may still be recoverable through a separate process. But every hour matters. Do not wait.

Recovery timelines vary by state, county, case complexity, and current processing loads at the Clerk of Court or county treasury. For straightforward claims with clear ownership, complete documentation, and no competing claimants, most cases are resolved within 60 to 120 days from the date we file. That said, surplus fund recovery is a legal process — and legal processes move on their own schedule.

More complex cases — those involving title disputes, multiple claimants, outstanding liens, probate matters, or estate issues — can take longer. Meridian keeps you informed at every stage and actively follows up with county offices to minimize unnecessary delays. You will never be left wondering what's happening with your case.

It is also worth understanding that these funds can represent a meaningful financial lifeline as you rebuild after a foreclosure. The equity you built in your home — the payments you made, the improvements you invested in — may be partially returned to you through this process. That is worth pursuing with urgency and with professionals who know how to move efficiently through the claims process.

Yes — absolutely. Surplus funds do not disappear with the passing of the former property owner. If the owner is deceased, their heirs, surviving spouse, estate administrator, or legal successors may be fully entitled to the surplus funds. These cases often require additional documentation to establish legal standing — such as a probate filing, letters of administration, a death certificate, or a notarized affidavit of heirship — but they are routinely and successfully resolved with the right coordination.

Meridian has extensive experience handling estate-related surplus claims and works directly with licensed attorneys who specialize in exactly these situations. Do not assume that because the original owner has passed, the funds are gone. That assumption costs families thousands of dollars every year.

If you believe a deceased parent, grandparent, or family member may have had surplus funds from a foreclosure, contact Meridian for a complimentary eligibility review. This conversation costs you nothing — and could result in recovering funds that rightfully belong to your family, currently sitting unclaimed and waiting for someone to file on behalf of the estate.

Document requirements vary by county and claim type, but Meridian provides every client with a personalized checklist once we've reviewed the specifics of your case. For most claims, the following are required:

• Government-issued photo ID — a valid driver's license or passport
• Proof of former ownership — your prior deed or title document
• Utility bill — confirming your former address at the property
• Social Security Number or Tax ID — required by the IRS at the time of disbursement
• Affidavit for Surplus Funds — Meridian has its own proprietary affidavit prepared by our legal team on your behalf

For estate claims involving a deceased former owner, additional documents — such as a death certificate, probate records, or letters of administration — may also be required. Our team handles the complexity of document preparation and verification so that nothing is filed incorrectly. A single improperly prepared or missing document can delay or derail a claim entirely. With Meridian, that risk is managed by professionals who do this every day.

You do not need to hire your own attorney — and you should not have to navigate this process without legal expertise. Surplus fund recovery involves real legal proceedings, court filings, statutory deadlines, and county-specific procedural requirements. Attempting this without experienced legal guidance is one of the most common reasons claims fail or get dismissed.

Meridian works with a curated network of licensed real estate attorneys who specialize in surplus fund claims. These attorneys handle all legal filings, court submissions, and county correspondence on your behalf. Their involvement is coordinated through and included within our recovery coordination service — their fees are factored into our contingency arrangement and are not billed to you separately. You gain the full benefit of professional legal representation without a separate retainer or hourly bill.

The attorney-client relationship for legal services is established directly between you and the referred attorney, who operates under a separate engagement. Meridian coordinates and manages the entire process from initial research through final disbursement. You focus on moving forward — we handle everything else.

Once the county or state treasury approves and processes your claim, all payouts are collected through our partnered licensed attorneys. Funds are then released to you by check mailed to your address of record or, where available, via direct deposit or wire transfer. This attorney-administered process ensures every dollar is handled with full legal oversight and proper accounting in compliance with applicable state bar trust account rules. Meridian's contingency recovery fee is deducted at disbursement, exactly as specified in your signed agreement. You receive the balance — your rightful funds — along with a full accounting statement detailing the recovered amount, our recovery fee, and any document preparation fees previously paid.

We notify you immediately upon confirmation of disbursement and are available to answer any questions about the final settlement. Many of our clients describe this moment as a meaningful step forward — a partial return of the equity and value they had built in a home they lost. Foreclosure does not have to be the end of the story.

Meridian Surplus Solutions is committed to helping every former Florida property owner recoup what is rightfully theirs. And as part of our process, our legal team also verifies that your foreclosure was conducted properly and legally — because in rare circumstances, an improper foreclosure may present additional legal options. We leave nothing on the table. Reach out today and let us begin working for you.