Florida Statute 197.582 governs the process for claiming surplus funds from tax deed sales. The statute states that if a property is purchased for more than the statutory bid, the clerk must pay and disburse the surplus. The clerk will then issue a "Notice of Surplus Funds From Tax Deed Sale" to all relevant parties.

According to Florida Statute 45.033, the owner of record of real property on the date of filing a lis pendens is the person entitled to surplus funds. This is after payment of subordinate lien holders who have timely filed a claim.

STATE STATUTES

"It's your money!"

Florida

Alabama

Section 40-10-28

Disposition of excess arising from sale.

(a)(1) The excess arising from the sale of any real estate remaining after paying the amount of the decree of sale, including costs and expenses subsequently accruing, shall be paid over to a person or entity who has redeemed the property as authorized in Section 40-10-120 or any other provisions of Alabama law authorizing redemption from a tax sale, provided proof that the person or entity requesting payment of the excess has properly redeemed the property is presented to the county commission within three years after the tax sale has occurred. The county commission may retain any interest earned on those funds. Until and unless the property is redeemed, the excess funds from the tax sale shall be held in a separate account in the county treasury during the three-year period. If at the end of the three-year period there has been no proper request for the excess funds, those funds and any interest earned on those funds shall be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the county and shall thereafter be treated as part of the general fund of the county. text here...