Minnesota Tax-Forfeiture Surplus

If your land in Minnesota was forfeited for unpaid taxes and later sold, you may now be entitled to the surplus.

What changed in 2023

In Tyler v. Hennepin County, 598 U.S. 631 (2023), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that a county keeping the value of a home beyond the tax debt owed violates the Takings Clause. Minnesota then changed its law so that former owners and other interested parties can claim surplus proceeds from the sale of tax-forfeited property. The process is set out in Minnesota Statutes §282.005.

Who can claim?

The former owner of the forfeited property
Other interested parties, such as heirs, depending on the statute and county process

Notices and deadlines

Counties send notice to interested parties after a sale and set a claim window. Many people never receive these notices because they moved or the owner has passed away. Deadlines vary by county and sale date, and some are only months away.

You can do this yourself, for free. Former owners and heirs may file a claim directly with the county (or court, for foreclosures) without hiring anyone and without paying a fee. We exist for people who would rather have a professional handle the research, paperwork, and follow-up.

How we help

We identify the parcel and former owner using county property records, confirm the surplus with the county, and help you complete and file the county's claim form with supporting documents.

Sources: Minn. Stat. §282.005; Tyler v. Hennepin County (2023). General information, not legal advice.

Ask if you may be owed