How to Find Out If You're Owed Foreclosure Surplus Funds

By the Lakeshore Asset Recovery team · Founded by a former IRS auditor · Serving Cook, Lake, Will & McHenry County, Illinois

Key takeaways

You may be owed surplus funds if your foreclosed Illinois home sold at auction for more than the debt owed.
The court file in the county of foreclosure shows the sale price and the order confirming sale — the key documents.
Heirs of a deceased former owner can also be entitled to the surplus.
Checking costs nothing: court records are public, and reputable recovery firms review records for free.

Who is most likely to be owed surplus funds?

You are a candidate if all three are true: (1) you owned an Illinois property that completed foreclosure; (2) the property sold at the judicial sale for more than the total judgment debt; and (3) you (or the estate, if the owner died) never received the leftover funds.

Homes with significant equity — long-held properties, homes in appreciating neighborhoods, or low remaining mortgage balances — are the most likely to produce a surplus.

How do I check the court records myself?

Go to the circuit court clerk for the county where the foreclosure happened (Cook, Lake, Will, and McHenry County each have online case search portals). Find your foreclosure case and look for two documents: the Report of Sale and the Order Confirming Sale. These show the sale price, the total debt, and whether a surplus existed. Some orders state the surplus amount explicitly and direct where it is deposited.

What if the foreclosure was years ago?

Older surpluses may have been transferred to the Illinois State Treasurer's unclaimed property program. Search your name (and a deceased relative's name) at the Treasurer's I-Cash website. If the funds moved to the state, the claim process — and the fee rules — are different from a court claim.

What does a free professional review include?

A legitimate recovery firm will pull the docket, confirm the sale figures, identify where the funds currently sit, check for competing lien claims, and tell you honestly whether a claim is worth pursuing — before you sign anything or pay anything. If a firm asks for money up front to “check,” walk away.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check if a deceased parent's foreclosure produced a surplus?+

Yes. Heirs frequently recover surpluses. Search the court records under the deceased owner's name and the property address; an estate or heirship showing is usually required to claim.

Is there a deadline to find out?+

There is no single deadline to look, but waiting has costs: funds eventually move to the State Treasurer, competing claims can arise, and documentation gets harder to assemble. Check sooner rather than later.

Does it cost anything to find out if I'm owed money?+

No. Court records are public, the Treasurer's database is free to search, and Lakeshore Asset Recovery reviews records at no cost and no obligation.

Related guides

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about Illinois foreclosure surplus funds, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws and procedures change and vary by county and case. Lakeshore Asset Recovery LLC is not a law firm. You may be able to pursue surplus funds yourself, directly through the court or the Illinois State Treasurer, at little or no cost.