Surplus funds in Ohio: the rules, straight.
We work this state today — records, filings, and payouts move on the standard timeline.
Foreclosure / mortgage surplus
Legal — no statutory fee cap found pre-escheat.
Clerk of courts holds the residue (R.C. 2329.44); simple clerk claim.
No pre-escheat cap; top-5 REO volume.
Tax sale overages
Legal — no statutory fee cap found pre-escheat.
Clerk claim in the tax case (R.C. 5721.20).
No pre-escheat cap.
Courtroom requirement: Standard claims here are administrative — no attorney legally required for a routine filing.
If nobody claims it: Mortgage surplus: 90 days with clerk → county (still claimable). Tax: 3 yrs → land bank. Post-escheat R.C. 169.13: 10% cap + 2-yr wait.
Cars, boats & RVs in Ohio: 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.
Think Ohio is holding your money?
Five minutes, zero cost. We verify the record and tell you the truth about what's there — including when the answer is nothing.