Massachusetts surplus funds list
Unclaimed overages from tax deed and foreclosure sales.
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Massachusetts surplus funds rules
- Sales that create surplus
- Tax title foreclosure (Land Court judgment foreclosing right of redemption, then municipality/receivable buyer sells or retains); Power-of-sale mortgage foreclosure (c.244 s.14); Condo lien (c.183A s.6) enforced like a mortgage foreclosure sale
- Who holds the money
- Tax title: the judgment holder (municipality or purchaser of tax receivables) must keep excess equity in a segregated interest-bearing escrow account (c.60 s.64A(e)). Mortgage: foreclosing mortgagee holds surplus in trust for mortgagor/junior lienors (c.183 s.27 statutory form of power of sale).
- Unclaimed funds go to
- Tax title: excess equity not claimed within 19 months after sale or appraisal is disposed of under c.200A (Treasurer's Unclaimed Property Division). Mortgage surplus: reportable to the Treasurer under c.200A after the dormancy period (period). verify
- How owners claim
- Tax title: judgment holder must elect sell/retain within 30 days of final judgment and notify former owners by certified mail; must mail itemized accounting within 30 days of sale/appraisal and pay known parties. If owner unknown, owner submits a written claim by certified mail, personal service, or filing at the collector's office. Disputes: complaint in Superior Court within 12 months after the accounting notice. Pre-Act judgments (on/after May 25, 2021): Superior Court complaint within 12 months of the Act's effective date (DLS reads as ~Nov 1, 2025; ambiguous). Mortgage surplus: written demand to the foreclosing mortgagee/servicer; suit if refused. — deadline: Written claim within 18 months after notice (unknown-owner case); unclaimed after 19 months goes to c.200A; Superior Court dispute within 12 months of accounting.
- Agent / finder fee cap
- None found in c.60 s.64A or c.183 s.27 (- full Ch.140 text not retrievable; check for any assignment/agent clause). Unclaimed-property finder fee cap under c.200A: none known. verify
- Waiting period
- None found verify
- Registration
- None found verify
- Getting the list
- No statewide list. Public-records request (c.66 s.10) to the municipal treasurer/collector for s.64A accountings and escrowed excess equity; Land Court tax-lien cases (TL dockets) via MassCourts; mortgage foreclosure sales from registry-of-deeds affidavits of sale (masslandrecords.com) - surplus amounts not in a public list. After 19 months, search the Treasurer's unclaimed property database (findmassmoney.com).
Law: MGL c.60 s.1 (excess equity definition), s.64A; St. 2024 c.140 ss.80-99, 212 (retroactive claims), 250 (effective date); MGL c.183 s.27; c.200A · confirm details with the county; rules change.
Questions
Is there a free Massachusetts surplus funds list?
Counties publish or provide lists on request; Surplus Funds HQ links to the official sources and is adding Massachusetts lists.
Who gets surplus funds in Massachusetts?
The former owner first (and lienholders in order of priority). The money is held by: Tax title: the judgment holder (municipality or purchaser of tax receivables) must keep excess equity in a segregated interest-bearing escrow account (c.60 s.64A(e)). Mortgage: foreclosing mortgagee holds surplus in trust for mortgagor/junior lienors (c.183 s.27 statutory form of power of sale)..
What is the recovery agent fee cap in Massachusetts?
None found in c.60 s.64A or c.183 s.27 (- full Ch.140 text not retrievable; check for any assignment/agent clause). Unclaimed-property finder fee cap under c.200A: none known.