Surplus funds in Washington: the rules, straight.
We work this state with local counsel or extra verification in the loop where the process calls for it.
Foreclosure / mortgage surplus
Legal — no statutory fee cap found pre-escheat.
Trustee deposits with clerk; motion with 20-day notice (RCW 61.24.080).
The old 5% cap was REPEALED in 2023 — no current cap.
Tax sale overages
Assignments are restricted here; claims move under owner-signed service agreements only.
County treasurer pays the RECORD OWNER only (RCW 84.64.080(10)) — post-delinquency assignments are ineffective.
Owner-signed service agreements only; we never take the claim by assignment here.
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: Tax excess: 3 yrs with the treasurer, then EXTINGUISHED. Post-escheat located-property fee cap 5%.
Cars, boats & RVs in Washington: 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.
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