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Surplus funds in Alaska.

When a property in Alaska sells at a tax sale or a foreclosure sale for more than what was owed, the extra can belong to the former owner. Here is who holds it, the law behind it, and every recording district office linked so you can check for yourself, free.

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Foreclosure sales here

Both judicial and non-judicial.

Our fee here

Tax-sale surplus: up to 25% of what you receive, shown in writing before you sign, $0 upfront, only if you are paid. We don't offer paid help for foreclosure surplus; you can claim it yourself, free.

Tax sale surplus

When a municipality sells tax-foreclosed property it has held for less than 10 years after the redemption period and never designated for a public purpose, the former record owner is entitled to the proceeds above taxes, penalty, interest and the municipality's costs (AS 29.45.480). The municipality must mail the former owner written notice of the excess and how to claim it. A claim filed more than six months after the sale date is barred.

Foreclosure surplus

Foreclosure type
Both
Who holds the surplus

Non-judicial (deed of trust): the trustee, who must keep sale proceeds in a trust account until paid out. Judicial: held under the court's orders in the foreclosure case.

A deed of trust can be foreclosed by a trustee's sale out of court (AS 34.20.070-.080). After delivering the deed, the trustee pays the beneficiary in full, then holders of recorded junior interests in priority order, then the trustor (or the trustor's record successor if the property was transferred) (AS 34.20.080(f)). The former owner claims by contacting the trustee; the statute sets no claim form or deadline. In a judicial foreclosure, ask the court that ordered the sale about any surplus.

Fees and assignments. No specific statute found for foreclosure surplus held by a trustee. If the money is turned over to the state as unclaimed property, AS 34.45.700 applies: a finder agreement is unenforceable if signed before, or within 24 months after, the funds are delivered to the state; after that it must be in writing, signed, last no more than 6 months, state the fee and net amount, and the fee may not exceed 20% (property under $500) or 10% ($500 or more).

Published surplus lists

These official Alaska pages publish lists or lookups of unclaimed surplus or excess proceeds. If your name or parcel appears, the office that runs the list can tell you how to claim, free.

Lists change often and may be out of date. Checked October 2026.

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Every Alaska recording district office(50)

Surplus is public record. Call the office that held the sale with the parcel or case number; in most places it will confirm whether a surplus exists, how much, and the deadline. Self-filing is free. Each entry links the county's tax office and court clerk where the directory lists them, plus the full set of county offices.

Each dot is a county below. Pick one from the list to see it up close.© OpenStreetMap contributors

What we do, and your other options

Filing yourself, your own attorney, or us. Our fee in Alaska is above.

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Check this yourself

This page is plain-language orientation, not legal advice. Statutes were checked against official sources in October 2026, and county links come from the NETR public-records directory, an independent resource. Laws and county procedures change, so confirm with the office before you rely on any of it. You can always file a claim yourself with no recovery fee (a court or notary may charge a small fee).