California Excess Proceeds Recovery
After a tax sale, the government may be holding your money. You only have 1 year to claim it. Let us help you get back what's yours.
Search Your Property
Search by owner name, APN, or address to see if excess proceeds are waiting for you.
Your search is completely free and confidential. Results are based on publicly available county tax sale records.
What Are Excess Proceeds?
When a property is sold at a California tax sale, the county collects the amount owed in back taxes. But if the property sells for more than the tax debt, the leftover money—called "excess proceeds"—belongs to the former property owner. The problem? Many people don't even know this money exists, and the government is under no obligation to come find you.
Under California Revenue and Taxation Code §4675, former owners and other parties of interest have the right to claim excess proceeds from a tax sale. But there's a catch: you only have 1 year from the date of the tax sale to file your claim. After that, the money goes to the county general fund—gone forever.
Former Property Owners
If your property was sold at a tax sale and it sold for more than the taxes owed, the excess belongs to you.
Lienholders & Beneficiaries
Mortgage holders, trust beneficiaries, and judgment creditors may also have a right to claim excess proceeds.
Heirs & Successors
If the former owner has passed away, their heirs or estate may be entitled to recover the excess funds.
How It Works
Search
Search your county's tax sale list using our free tool to see if excess proceeds are being held
Verify
We verify your eligibility, confirm the amount, and determine the claim deadline
File
We prepare and file your excess proceeds claim with the county before the 1-year deadline
Recover
You receive your excess proceeds—the money that was always rightfully yours
Our Fee Structure
We work on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we recover your excess proceeds.
Upfront Costs
You pay nothing upfront. We cover all research, filing, and recovery costs.
Contingency Fee
If we recover your excess proceeds, our fee is 30% of the recovered amount. You keep 70%.
Risk to You
If we don't recover your money, you owe nothing. Zero financial risk.
You Only Have 1 Year
Under California law, you must file your claim for excess proceeds within 1 year from the date of the tax sale. After that, the money goes to the county general fund and you lose it forever. Don't wait—search your property today.
Search Now — It's FreeWho Can Claim Excess Proceeds?
You May Be Eligible If:
- Your California property was sold at a tax sale
- The property sold for more than the tax debt owed
- The sale occurred within the last 12 months
- You were the owner of record at the time of sale
- You are an heir or successor to the former owner
- You held a lien or other interest in the property
Common Situations:
- Didn't know your property was sold for back taxes
- Inherited property that was lost to tax sale
- Relocated and missed tax sale notices
- Property sold for significantly more than taxes owed
- County is holding funds you didn't know about
- Deadline is approaching and you need help fast
Excess Proceeds FAQ
When a property is sold at a tax sale in California, the county collects the back taxes owed. If the property sells for more than the tax debt, the leftover amount is called "excess proceeds." Under California Revenue and Taxation Code §4675, the former owner has the right to claim this money.
You have exactly 1 year from the date of the tax sale to file a claim for excess proceeds. After that deadline, the money is transferred to the county general fund and cannot be recovered. This is why it's critical to act quickly.
The amount depends on how much your property sold for at the tax sale versus the taxes owed. In some cases, the excess can be thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. We'll help you determine the exact amount being held by the county.
If the property owner has passed, their heirs, estate, or trust beneficiaries may still be entitled to the excess proceeds. We can help determine who has the right to file a claim.
California law does not require counties to aggressively notify former owners about excess proceeds. They may send a notice to the last known address, but many people never receive it—especially if they've moved. That's why our free search tool exists.
While you can file a claim yourself, working with an attorney experienced in excess proceeds recovery significantly improves your chances. We know the filing requirements, deadlines, and documentation needed to get your claim approved.
Important Notice: You are not required to hire an attorney to file a claim for excess proceeds. You have the right to file a claim on your own behalf directly with the county. The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you choose to retain Wood Legal Group, LLP, we will handle the entire process on your behalf on a contingency-fee basis as described above.
The Government May Be Holding Your Money
Don't let your excess proceeds disappear into the county general fund. Search now—it's free—and let us help you recover what's rightfully yours.