County and court unclaimed property: excess proceeds, registry funds and treasurer lists

Why some unclaimed property is not on the state list

State governments hold most unclaimed property,¹⁹ but local offices keep some of it under their own laws. This local money falls into four groups:

• County or city treasurer lists of small amounts the local government itself owes people.¹
• Tax-sale excess proceeds, the money left over after a property is sold for unpaid taxes.⁵⁶⁷
• Court registry funds, money a court holds in a case, for example from a cash bond, a probate case or a condemnation.³
• Sheriff, public administrator and bail money, which some states keep at local level.¹⁰¹⁷

Each of these has its own office and its own rules. A search of the state database may not show them.

County treasurer lists: the Texas example (Bexar and Travis)

Texas has a statewide rule. Its Property Code makes counties, cities and school districts hold their own presumed-abandoned property when the item is worth $100 or less.¹ The county’s treasurer must compile an alphabetical list of owners each year and make it available for public inspection,¹ and claims are filed with that office, not the state.¹ The rule covers every Texas county, including Bexar County.

Travis County shows how this works in practice. Its treasurer handles property valued at or under $100, by phone at (512) 854-9365 or at its office,² and posts the list of names (updated June 2026).² Property valued over $100 is handled by the Texas Comptroller.² If you have lived in a Texas county, check the state search and the county’s list.

Court money works differently in Texas. When registry funds a clerk holds are presumed abandoned, the county or district clerk sends them to the Comptroller without a court order, except cash bail bonds.⁴ The Bexar County Clerk says funds that went to the state can be claimed from the Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.³ Money still in the registry is paid out on a certified copy of the court order and a signed W-9.³ The Clerk’s office can also provide a list of funds from cash bond deposits, condemnation, civil and probate cases.³

Tax-sale excess proceeds (surplus funds)

When a county sells property for unpaid taxes and the price is higher than the debt, the difference is called excess proceeds or surplus. In 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court decided Tyler v. Hennepin County. Hennepin County, Minnesota, had sold a condo for $40,000 and kept the $25,000 above the owner’s tax debt.¹¹ The Court held that the county could not use the tax debt to take more property than was due.¹¹

Who holds the surplus, and for how long, depends on the state. For the rules on property held by state programs, compare claim deadlines by state.

In Florida, the 120-day bar does not apply to claims by the property owner.⁶ If nobody files at all, the clerk must process the surplus under chapter 717, the state unclaimed property law, whether or not the owner lives in Florida.⁶ This is one case where local money moves to the Florida state program.

Clark County, Nevada, asks for a certified copy of the deed showing ownership when the property was deeded to the county trustee, and a notarized Release of Funds form.⁹ Heirs need a probate court order showing the property passed to them.⁹ In California, heirs of a deceased owner of record may support a claim with a small-estate affidavit under the Probate Code.⁷

Some state programs send people to local offices for sale surplus. In Pennsylvania, the Treasury says the county sheriff’s office or the county tax claim bureau typically manages foreclosure and sheriff-sale properties held at county level.¹² In Delaware, the Office of Unclaimed Property sends people to the Superior Court’s Project Rightful Owner for excess funds from sheriff’s sales of real property.¹³

Paid recovery services and excess proceeds

Some recovery agents offer to claim surplus for a share, and Clark County sets rules for their contracts.⁹ California requires anyone who files for you to prove that you were told the amount and source of the money, and that you can file directly with the county at no cost.⁷ In Clark County, a recovery agent’s contract must state its percentage, which cannot exceed 10 percent of the excess proceeds due to you.⁹ For finder rules on regular state-held property, see finder fees by state and how to spot scams.

Which states send local money to the state program

The split varies by state:

Estates can move both ways too. In Clark County, Nevada, estate shares for heirs who cannot be found go to the county treasurer, and anything still unclaimed after the legal period goes to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property.¹⁰ If no heirs are known, the money goes straight to the State Treasurer.¹⁰ For relatives’ money, see claiming for a deceased relative.

How to check local sources

1. Search the state program for each state you have lived in, using the state directory and the tips on how to search well.
2. Check the treasurer’s list in each county where you lived or owned property. In Texas this covers items of $100 or less.¹
3. If you owned property that was sold for taxes or foreclosed, contact the office that ran the sale: the court clerk, county treasurer or tax collector. Some deadlines are 120 days or one year.⁶⁷⁸
4. If you were a party in a court case or an estate, ask the clerk of that court whether money is still in its registry.³
5. For federal court and bankruptcy money, see other official places to check.

Questions people ask

Does Bexar County have its own unclaimed property list?

Yes, for small amounts. Texas law has counties hold presumed-abandoned items worth $100 or less, keep a yearly list of owners and make it available for public inspection.¹ Money in the Bexar County Clerk's court registry that went to the state can be claimed from the Texas Comptroller.³

Is tax sale surplus on the state unclaimed property list?

Not at first in the states covered here. It is held by the court clerk or the county.⁵⁶⁷ In Florida, surplus that nobody claims within 120 days is then handled under the state unclaimed property law.⁶ In Texas, surplus nobody claims within two years goes to the taxing units.⁵

Do I need a company to claim excess proceeds?

Not in California: you can file directly with the county at no cost, and anyone filing for you must show that you were told so.⁷ In Clark County, Nevada, a recovery agent's share is capped at 10 percent of the excess proceeds due to you.⁹

What happens to money left in a court registry?

In Texas, registry funds that are presumed abandoned go to the Comptroller, except cash bail bonds.⁴ In Bexar County, money still in the registry is paid out on a certified copy of the court order and a signed W-9.³

Sources

Footnote numbers point here. Open "Quoted text" for the exact words relied on ("[…]" marks words left out).

1. Property Code, Chapter 76. Report, Delivery, and Claims Process for Certain Property Texas Legislature · statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (5)

   (C) county; or

   (B) valued at $100 or less.

   The treasurer of the holder shall compile and revise each year an alphabetical list of names and last known addresses of the owners listed in the reports and the amount credited to each account.

   The treasurer of the holder shall make the list available for public inspection during all reasonable business hours.

   A claim for property delivered to the treasurer of the holder under this chapter must be filed with the treasurer of the holder.

2. Unclaimed Property Travis County Treasurer · traviscountytx.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   Property that's valued at or under $100 is handled by our office. You can contact our office by phone at (512) 854-9365 or visit us at our office.

   Property that's valued over $100 is handled by the Texas Comptroller.

   Unclaimed Property Names (updated June 2026)

3. FAQs: County Clerk registry funds Bexar County, Texas · bexar.org · archived copy, captured Aug. 13, 2025 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   Funds that were escheated to the State may be claimed from the State Comptroller's Unclaimed Property Division.

   Present a certified copy of the court order and a signed form W-9 for the party receiving the disbursement to the Bookkeeping Department.

   Our office can provide a list of all funds resulting from cash bond deposits, condemnation, civil, and probate proceedings.

4. Local Government Code, Chapter 117. Depositories for Certain Trust Funds and Court Registry Funds Texas Legislature · statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (1)

   Any funds deposited under this chapter, except cash bail bonds, that are presumed abandoned under Chapter 72, 73, or 75, Property Code, shall be reported and delivered by the county or district clerk to the comptroller without further action by any court.

5. Tax Code, Chapter 34. Tax Sales and Redemption Texas Legislature · statutes.capitol.texas.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (4)

   A person, including a taxing unit and the Title IV-D agency, may file a petition in the court that ordered the seizure or sale setting forth a claim to the excess proceeds.

   The petition must be filed before the second anniversary of the date of the sale of the property.

   The officer conducting a sale under Section 33.94, 34.01, or 34.0101 shall pay any excess proceeds after payment of all amounts due all participants in the sale as specified by Subsection (b) to the clerk of the court issuing the warrant or order of sale.

   If no claimant establishes entitlement to the proceeds within the period provided by Subsection (a), the clerk shall distribute the excess proceeds to each taxing unit participating in the sale in an amount equal to the proportion its taxes, penalties, and interests bear to the total amount of taxes, penalties, and interest due all participants in the sale.

6. Florida Statutes 197.582, Disbursement of proceeds of sale The Florida Legislature · leg.state.fl.us · 2026 Florida Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   A person receiving the notice under subsection (2) has 120 days from the date of the notice to file a written claim with the clerk for the surplus proceeds.

   Except for claims by a property owner, claims that are not filed on or before close of business on the 120th day after the date of the mailed notice as required by subsection (2), are barred.

   If the clerk does not receive claims for surplus funds within the 120-day claim period, as required in subsection (5), there is a conclusive presumption that the legal titleholder of record described in s. 197.502(4)(a) is entitled to the surplus funds. The clerk must process the surplus funds in the manner provided in chapter 717, regardless of whether the legal titleholder is a resident of the state or not.

7. Revenue and Taxation Code section 4675 California Legislative Information · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · archived copy, captured July 7, 2025 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   Any party of interest in the property may file with the county a claim for the excess proceeds, in proportion to that person’s interest held with others of equal priority in the property at the time of sale, at any time prior to the expiration of one year following the recordation of the tax collector’s deed to the purchaser.

   Any person or entity who in any way acts on behalf of, or in place of, any party of interest with respect to filing a claim for any excess proceeds shall submit proof with the claim that the amount and source of excess proceeds have been disclosed to the party of interest and that the party of interest has been advised of their right to file a claim for the excess proceeds on their own behalf directly with the county at no cost.

   In the event that a person with title of record is deceased at the time of the distribution of the excess proceeds, the heirs may submit an affidavit pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13100) of Part 1 of Division 8 of the Probate Code, to support their claim for excess proceeds.

8. Excess Proceeds Clark County Treasurer, Nevada · clarkcountynv.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (1)

   Excess proceeds must be claimed within 1 year after the deed is recorded.

9. Excess Proceeds Claim Instructions Clark County Treasurer, Nevada · clarkcountynv.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (4)

   A certified copy of the deed indicating ownership at the time of deeding to Trustee Clark County.

   A notarized Release of Funds form from the Treasurer's Office.

   The agreed upon percentage of the funds, not more than 10 percent of the total remaining excess proceeds of the sale due that person, must be included in the contract.

   A certified copy of a death certificate for any deceased joint tenants on original deed. If you are an heir, you must present a copy of the probate court order showing the property was legally given to you.

10. Unclaimed Estate Distributions Clark County Public Administrator, Nevada · clarkcountynv.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (3)

    If there are no known heirs or beneficiaries, the distributions are paid to the Nevada State Treasurer pursuant to NRS 134.120.

    If there are known heirs or beneficiaries that cannot be located, the distributions are forwarded to the Clark County Treasurer pursuant to NRS 151.170.

    If that period has lapsed and any part is still left unclaimed, the funds are submitted to the Nevada State Treasurer as Unclaimed Property.

11. Tyler v. Hennepin County, 598 U.S. 631 (2023) Supreme Court of the United States · supremecourt.gov · May 25, 2023 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    The County seized the condo and sold it for $40,000, keeping the $25,000 excess over Tyler’s tax debt for itself.

    it could not use the tax debt to confiscate more property than was due.

12. FAQs: Finders Pennsylvania Treasury Department · searchandclaimpa.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    For foreclosure or sheriff sale properties held at the county level, you would need to contact the county sheriff's office or the county tax claim bureau, as these departments typically manage such properties.

13. FAQs: Claiming Property Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property · unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    To recover excess funds from a sheriff’s sale of real property (e.g., land, real estate), please contact the Delaware Superior Court’s Project Rightful Owner here:https://courts.delaware.gov/superior/rightfulowner/index.aspx

14. OAC Title 735, Chapter 80. Unclaimed Property Oklahoma State Treasurer · oklahoma.gov · latest amendment shown eff. 9-12-14 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    County treasurers shall report unclaimed intangible property to include, but

    735:80-3-30. Court clerks; reporting requirements

    The following types of funds held by Court Clerks are reportable as unclaimed property to OST:

    (1) Probate: Monies in probate cases, in which there has been no activity

15. Exceptions to the Unclaimed Property Act Kansas State Treasurer · missingmoney.ks.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    Warrants issued by county treasurers. According to K.S.A. 10-815 and 19-320, these funds can be re-deposited into the fund upon which such warrants were drawn.

16. FAQs: Reporting Property Office of the Maine State Treasurer · maineunclaimedproperty.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    There is a one year dormancy period for all property types held by municipalities and government entities.

17. La. R.S. 15:86.1 Unclaimed bail bonds; disposition; return to owner Louisiana State Legislature · legis.la.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    Any owner who claims a cash bail bond which has been deposited in the general fund of the sheriff or, in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Bossier, and St. Mary parishes, in the governing authority's general fund, pursuant to this Section shall be reimbursed from the sheriff's general fund or said governing authority's general fund upon establishing his claim thereto by a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

18. Unclaimed Property Law and Regulations California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · February 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    (2) Any property in the official custody of a local agency if such property may be transferred to the general fund of such agency under the provisions of Sections 50050-50053 of the Government Code.

    (3) Any property in the official custody of a court if the property may be transferred to the Trial Court Operations Fund under Section 68084.1 of the Government Code.

19. How to find unclaimed money from the government USAGov · usa.gov · Sept. 24, 2025 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    State governments hold most unclaimed money. Bank accounts, insurance policies, or state agencies are common sources of unclaimed funds.