Surplus funds in Kentucky: the rules, straight.
We recover foreclosure surplus, tax sale overages, and vehicle/boat/RV repossession surplus here.
Foreclosure / mortgage surplus
Yes — we recover this here.
Master commissioner holds; cash excess paid to defendant (KRS 426.500). Practice: motion plus court order of distribution after sale confirmation.
Judicial MC sales. KRS 426.500; 426.006 juniors must plead. No pre-escheat fee cap found. Redeem 6 mo if sale <2/3 appraisal (426.530).
Tax sale overages
Yes — we recover this here.
Certificate-of-delinquency foreclosure via circuit court/MC sale; excess to taxpayer. Louisville first-class city leftover via 91.504/91.517 court distribution.
Deadline: Louisville leftover: 2 yrs after sale then escheat (91.517(3)). Statewide 426.500 has no claim deadline.
KRS 134.546 already returns excess; Tyler-compliant, no 2024-26 overhaul. Redeem if sale <2/3 appraisal (134.546(5)+426.530). No pre-escheat fee cap found.
Courtroom requirement: Claims here move by court motion. Licensed local attorneys on our bench handle the courtroom work inside the same contingency deal — you never pay hourly legal bills.
If nobody claims it: Court funds may go to Treasurer at 1 yr, must by 5 yrs (KRS 393A.040(9)); Louisville tax leftover 2 yrs then Ch. 393/393A (91.517(3)). Still claimable.
Cars, boats & RVs in Kentucky: Vehicle/boat/RV repo surplus: UCC § 9-615(d) obliges the LENDER to return the surplus; § 9-616 explanation on request; § 9-625(c)(2) statutory damages for noncompliance. Demand-letter work against the secured party — no county, no state surplus-fee cap in this table.
This page summarizes public statutes for general information — it is not legal advice, rules change, and unverified items are confirmed by our desk (and counsel where needed) before any agreement is papered. Primary source: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=18485 · https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=28449
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