Surplus funds in Washington, D.C.: 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.
Nonjudicial DOT trustee holds proceeds; demand accounting (42-815/42-817; Paroni v. Quick). Court sales: Super. Ct. Civ. R. 308 account + court-directed payout.
No statutory surplus-claim form or pre-escheat fee cap found. Trustee fiduciary duty to juniors then mortgagor. Contested files need Superior Court counsel.
Tax sale overages
Yes — we recover this here.
Lien-sale overbid → OTR Surplus Fund to owner (47-1307). Owner-occupant Class 1A/1B ≤5 units: post-judgment trustee sale + equity (47-1382.01).
Deadline: 6-mo redemption from tax sale (47-1307/47-1361). 47-1315 registry surplus unclaimed 5 yrs → DC revenues.
2014 equity statute (B20-787) predates Tyler. Non-owner-occupant tax deeds under 47-1382 still take remaining equity—Tyler gap. B26-0771 (2026) pending. No fee cap found.
Courtroom requirement: Process here varies enough that we route files through counsel review — included in the same contingency deal.
If nobody claims it: Tax-sale surplus fund (47-1307) paid to owner; no fixed escheat. Assessment-lien sale surplus in court registry 5 yrs then DC revenues (47-1315). UP held indefinitely.
Cars, boats & RVs in Washington, D.C.: 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://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-1307 · https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-1382.01
Think Washington, D.C. 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.