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Bradford County tax deed surplus funds
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If your Bradford County property sold at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the extra, after any liens are paid, can belong to you. Here is who holds it, the deadline that applies, and how to claim it yourself for free.
Who holds the money, and until when
Where to go
- Bradford Clerk: tax deeds and surplus (opens in a new tab)
- Bradford Clerk website (opens in a new tab)
Bradford's Clerk states it determines who may be entitled to tax deed surplus and is authorized to refer surplus issues to a private attorney; it currently uses the Law Offices of Travis R. Walker, P.A. The Clerk's site does not post a surplus claim form or a surplus list. Questions go to the Tax Deed Department at (904) 966-6282.
Filing it yourself, step by step
- Confirm the surplus exists and get the notice date. Call or write the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller and ask for the amount on deposit and the date the notice of surplus was mailed. That date starts the 120 days, not the auction date.
- Ask for the county’s claim form. We could not find a claim form on the Bradford Clerk’s website, so ask the Clerk for its form, whether it must be notarized, and what proof to attach.
- Attach your proof. Typically a government-issued photo ID and something showing you held title; lienholders need proof of the debt; estates need the probate order.
- Keep proof you filed. Ask the Clerk to acknowledge your claim in writing, and keep the postmark or receipt.
Foreclosure surplus
Foreclosure surplus under F.S. 45.032 is claimed in the foreclosure court case itself, by filing a claim with the Clerk in that case. Bradford's foreclosure sales section covers bidding, objections and title issuance but not surplus claims. The statewide rules are in F.S. §45.032 (opens in a new tab).
The Florida rules behind all of this
These apply statewide, not just in Bradford County:
- The surplus is yours, after liens. When a tax deed sale brings more than the taxes owed, F.S. §197.582 (opens in a new tab) pays government liens of record first, then mortgage and lien holders who file on time, then the former owner. Since Tyler v. Hennepin County (2023) (PDF) (opens in a new tab), a government that sells property for unpaid taxes can’t keep the surplus from a fair sale; how you claim it depends on your state.
- Governmental liens are paid first. Under §197.582(2)(a) the Clerk pays governmental units holding liens of record before anyone else. Florida Attorney General Opinion 2020-01 (opens in a new tab) (an opinion, not a court ruling) reads those units as entitled to payment even if they never file a request, so a county code lien may reduce your net whether or not it makes a claim.
- Private lienholders are barred after 120 days. §197.582(5) bars every claim except the property owner’s after the 120th day. If a mortgage servicer, HOA or judgment creditor misses it, that interest is waived.
- If nobody claims, the owner is presumed entitled. §197.582(9) creates a conclusive presumption in the titleholder’s favour when no claims arrive, and the Clerk then processes the funds under Chapter 717 (opens in a new tab). Once the money is with the State, we don’t offer paid help; you can claim it yourself, free, at ClaimYourCashFL.gov.
- A code enforcement lien only counts if it runs against your parcel. In Green Terrace E33, LLC v. Abruzzo (opens in a new tab) (Fla. 4th DCA 2024) the former owner beat a city code lien because the lien ran against condominium common elements, not the unit. Worth checking against any lien claimed on your property.
Nothing here is legal advice. It is the statute and the county’s own published process, with links so you can read both yourself.
Want it handled?
- You stay the legal claimant and the named payee on the Clerk’s disbursement.
- You sign the county’s claim form; we send the signed form at your direction.
- If a court filing is needed, the attorney you hire files it.
- Your signature may need to be notarized; you choose the notary.
- We tell the Clerk we’re assisting you and show our agreement if asked.
- We verify the surplus, assemble your documents, and track the 120-day deadline — and we’re paid only after you are: up to 25% of recovered funds, combined with any attorney’s fee and shown in writing before you sign, $0 upfront.
- If your claim needs an attorney, you hire and pay them directly under their own agreement.
- Our fee is set separately, and before you sign we show you both fees and the total in writing, never more than 25% combined. If your attorney’s fee alone reaches that, we charge nothing. Where a state caps recovery fees below that, the cap applies instead.
- We don’t offer paid help for Florida foreclosure surplus; you can claim it yourself, free, in the foreclosure case.
- You don’t need an attorney to claim it yourself.
- Your exact total is set in writing before you sign, and before you sign we give you in writing the sale price, any liens, the surplus amount and the share the county records show as yours.
- You can cancel within three business days; to cancel, email [email protected] or call or text (917) 920-5868.
Check this yourself
County process last checked 2026-10-22. Counties revise forms and procedures without notice; confirm with the Clerk before you rely on any of it.