RUCKWOOD RECOVERY LLC.
100% Veteran owned, family-run, state-licensed, Treasury-registered
Services: Tax Sale Surplus Funds Claims/ Unclaimed Property Claims/ Heirfinders/ Bankruptcy Court Funds
You are not alone. There is hope.
OUR MISSION
Based in St.Louis County, RuckWood Recovery's sole purpose and goal is to assist homeowners and heirs with filing a successful claim to recover funds they are legally entitled to. The funds we recover are a result of an overage that happens when a property is sold at a local tax sale OR state funds held by the Missouri Unclaimed Property Division. We strive to give our clients the most caring, compassionate, and professional experience while helping them gain in a time when they need it the most. We service all of Missouri.
*Ruckwood Recovery is also licensed to recovery funds in the state of California. Call for details
WHAT IS A TAX SALE AUCTION?
In Missouri, any overdue property taxes automatically become a lien on your home. If you don't pay the amount due, the sheriff will likely hold a tax sale and sell the home to a new owner. At the sale, the winning bidder bids on the property and gets a certificate of purchase.
WHAT ARE SURPLUS FUNDS (AKA: EXCESS PROCEEDS)
"When real estate has been sold for taxes or other debt by the
sheriff or collector of any county within the state of Missouri, and the same sells for a
greater amount than the debt or taxes and all costs in the case"
AFTER MY HOME HAS SOLD, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Well, a homeowner has 2 choices...
A homeowner can overturn the sale by paying the back taxes PLUS interests and fees to the county.
A homeowner can wait for the redemption period to pass and collect the overage from the sale.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THERE IS AN OVERAGE AMOUNT TO CLAIM?
After the sale has taken place, and the highest bidder has won, the county should send out a notice that the sale occurred. This notice should inform a homeowner of their right to redeem the property, the amount the property sold for, and the surplus amount that the homeowner can claim once the redemption period has passed. Often times, in most cases, the property owner has been deceased for some time, therefore the notice never makes it to the next of kin. Very minimal to no effort is put in by the county to contact the proper person. That is why over 95% of surplus funds go unclaimed. Thousands of citizens and property owners are unaware that they are entitled to the overbid amount from the sale of their property.
WHO ALL HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM THE SURPLUS?
According to state statute Revisor Statute of Missouri RSMo 140.230 only the legal homeowner at the time of sale, their legal heirs, or their legal representative has the right to submit a claim for the funds. If there is a lien on the property from any other entity, that lienholder has first priority to the funds over the homeowner.
Below is a link to the Missouri Statute regarding surplus funds and the complete tax sale manual
