Surplus funds in Missouri: 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.
Trustee holds non-judicial sale surplus (common law; no RSMo surplus statute). Demand on trustee; juniors then grantor. Disputes: interpleader.
Ch 443 has no surplus-distribution statute. Stulz v. Citizen's Bank, 160 S.W.3d 423 (Mo. App. 2005): juniors take surplus. No pre-escheat fee cap or bar found. Unclaimed → 447.532 (3 yr).
Tax sale overages
Yes — we recover this here.
Ch 140: sheriff/collector deposits surplus with county treasurer; written claim to county commission. Ch 141 (St. Louis/charter): court confirms sale and distributes leftover.
Deadline: Ch 140: claim within 90 days after redemption expires (140.230.3); no payout until that 90 days lapses. Ch 141 leftover: 2 yrs then taxing units (141.580.4).
140.230 (eff. 2018) already returns surplus; no 2024-26 Tyler rewrite. 1-yr redemption (140.340). Lienholders first, then owner. 3-yr school-fund keep is a Tyler target. No fee cap found. Agents allowed.
Courtroom requirement: Process here varies enough that we route files through counsel review — included in the same contingency deal.
If nobody claims it: Ch 140 tax: 3 yrs then permanent county school fund (140.230). Ch 141 leftover: 2 yrs then taxing units (141.580.4). Court/mortgage unclaimed: 3 yrs → Treasurer (447.532); then 447.581 caps.
Cars, boats & RVs in Missouri: 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://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=140.230 · https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=141.580
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