It's a fair question — and we wish more people asked it. Surplus funds are real. They exist because foreclosure and tax-sale auctions often sell for more than the underlying debt, and the law requires the difference to go back to the prior owner. The money sits with the court or the state's unclaimed property office until someone files the right claim. We're the people who file it.

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency basis — our fee comes out of the recovery, and only if there is one. If we don't recover funds for you, you owe us nothing. The exact fee is spelled out in writing in a simple agreement before any paperwork is filed.

Most claims take 60–180 days from filing to release. Some go faster, some take longer — it depends on the jurisdiction, the type of claim, and how clean the documentation is. We give you a realistic timeline up front and update you at every step.

When a property is sold at a foreclosure auction or tax-lien sale, it sometimes sells for more than the debt owed against it. The leftover amount — the surplus — legally belongs to the prior owner. It doesn't go back automatically; it sits with the court or the state until the rightful person files the right paperwork to claim it.

No. Shepard Asset Recovery Group is a private asset recovery firm, not a law firm. We partner with experienced attorneys to handle filings and proceedings that require them. For situations that require legal representation directly (contested claims, complex estate matters), we'll let you know if you'd benefit from talking to an attorney.

It varies widely — from a few hundred dollars to tens or even hundreds of thousands, depending on what the property sold for relative to what was owed on it. We tell you the likely recovery amount before you commit to anything.

For the initial claim check: a name, a property address, and an approximate date of sale. If we confirm a claim, we'll request specific identification and supporting documents (which vary by jurisdiction). We never ask for Social Security numbers, banking details, or other sensitive information up front.

Heirs are often entitled to claim surplus funds belonging to a deceased family member. The process involves additional documentation — death certificate, proof of relationship, sometimes letters testamentary or letters of administration. We walk you through what's required.

You can. The information is, in theory, public. In practice, the process involves locating the right office, requesting specific documents, completing court-specific forms correctly, meeting filing deadlines, and following up persistently for months. Many people start the process themselves and ask us to take it over once they realize how much administrative work is involved. There's no judgment from us either way — if you'd rather do it yourself, we'll point you in the right direction.

No, the agreement you sign discloses every fee and every cost. You won't see line items appear later that weren't in the contract.

We review claims from anywhere in the United States. Some states have specific filing rules, waiting periods, or fee limits that determine whether and when a claim can be filed — we'll walk you through what applies to your situation.

Yes, we send updates at every meaningful milestone — claim confirmed, paperwork filed, status changes, funds approved, payment sent. You can also call, text, or email anytime; we typically respond same-day.

No, we are an independent private firm. We are not affiliated with any state, county, or federal agency - we just know the process and follow it diligently.