Gwinnett County excess funds: how to check the list and claim what's yours

If a home in Gwinnett County (county seat: Lawrenceville) sold at a foreclosure or tax sale for more than was owed, the leftover money may belong to you. Here's exactly who holds it, how to check for free, and how to claim it.

County contacts verified July 2026
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, excess funds from a tax sale are held by the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax, and surplus from a mortgage foreclosure starts with the foreclosing lender's attorney before any court deposit. The money legally belongs to the former owner, but you must file a claim to get it, and you can confirm whether money exists for free by calling (770) 822-8800.
Mortgage foreclosure surplus
Foreclosing attorney / lender (non-judicial sale); disputed funds interpleaded to Gwinnett County Superior Court
Tax sale excess funds
Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax
County phone
(770) 822-8100
Cost to check yourself
$0. It's public record
How sales happen
In-person auction in front of the Justice & Administration Center, first Tuesday, conducted by the Tax Commissioner; bidder registration required
Our cost to you upfront
$0. Attorney and filing costs are on us

Is there a Gwinnett County excess funds list?

Yes. The county publishes its official excess funds list here (pdf). It shows sales that left money behind; look for your name or the property address. The county's file can be hard to read and is only updated periodically, so if you don't find yourself on it, that does not mean no money exists: call the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax at (770) 822-8800 and ask directly, or have us check the record for you free.

When are Gwinnett County foreclosure sales, and how do I see the results?

In-person auction in front of the Justice & Administration Center, first Tuesday, conducted by the Tax Commissioner; bidder registration required. First Tuesday of selected months only — a few sales per year (2026: Aug 4, Oct 6, Dec 1); exact times advertised in the Gwinnett Daily Post four weeks before each sale. Location: In front of the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Sale listings and results are public. See the official Gwinnett County sale site. Every result matters for one reason most people miss: if a home sold for more than the debt owed, the difference belongs to the former owner. That's the excess funds this page is about. Full details: Gwinnett County foreclosure sales: schedule and results.

How to check if you're owed money from a Gwinnett County sale

  1. Look up your foreclosure case for free: Gwinnett County Superior Court case search (Tyler Odyssey portal, via gwinnettcourts.com). Search by your name and note the case number and sale amount.
  2. Check the county's official excess funds list: view the Gwinnett County list (PDF). Look for your name or the property address.
  3. Call the county directly: the Foreclosing attorney / lender (non-judicial sale); disputed funds interpleaded to Gwinnett County Superior Court at (770) 822-8100 or the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax at (770) 822-8800. Ask whether excess or surplus funds are being held from your sale. This call is free, and you owe nothing to anyone for making it.
  4. Prefer someone to check for you? We'll review the public record at no cost: request a free review. No upfront costs, ever.

How mortgage foreclosure surplus works in Gwinnett County

Gwinnett mortgage foreclosures happen outside of court, so the leftover money (surplus) is first held by the law firm that conducted the sale for your lender — its name is on your foreclosure letters and in the sale ad in the Gwinnett Daily Post, the county's legal newspaper. Contact that firm in writing and ask for the surplus after the loan and sale costs were paid. If ownership of the money is disputed, the firm interpleads it to Gwinnett County Superior Court and you file your claim in that case; search court records free on the Tyler Odyssey portal or call the Clerk at (770) 822-8100.

According to publicly available Georgia statute (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-190), after the foreclosing lender and priority liens are paid, the surplus must be paid to the former owner. Because Georgia foreclosures happen outside of court, the money starts with the foreclosing attorney, and nobody is required to chase you down to hand it over. You can confirm any of this directly with the county at (770) 822-8100. We encourage it.

How tax-sale excess funds work in Gwinnett County

Gwinnett publishes its excess-funds list online (PDF, refreshed regularly) and provides a free claim packet on the same page. The office accepts claim forms only from the claimant or an attorney legally representing them — asset-recovery firms and power-of-attorney holders are refused — and it tells claimants plainly: "You are not required to pay, or be represented by, any third party in order to claim excess funds." Mail the completed, unaltered packet to the Tax Commissioner (P.O. Box 372, Lawrenceville, GA 30046); claims may be reviewed by the county law department, and conflicting claims go to court for a judge to decide. Questions: (770) 822-8800 or tax@gwinnettcounty.com.

According to publicly available Georgia statute (O.C.G.A. § 48-4-5), the county must notify the record owner within 30 days of the sale, and unclaimed excess funds are sent to the Georgia Department of Revenue after five years. After that, only a court order can release them. You can confirm any of this with the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax at (770) 822-8800.

Official form: Excess Funds Claim Packet.

You can do all of this yourself, for free.The county will never charge you to check, and you don't need anyone's permission to file your own claim. Where we help is when it gets complicated: a deceased owner, competing liens, missed deadlines, or a court hearing. Our licensed attorneys handle the entire claim with no upfront costs: attorney fees, filing fees, and court costs are on us, and you pay nothing unless money is recovered.

Good to know in Gwinnett County

  • Gwinnett explicitly refuses excess-funds claim forms from third parties except a licensed attorney legally representing the claimant — no recovery firms, no powers of attorney.
  • The official excess-funds page states verbatim: "You are not required to pay, or be represented by, any third party in order to claim excess funds."
  • The excess-funds list is posted online as a PDF and refreshed regularly (revision dated June 30, 2026 at verification), covering all years with unclaimed funds.
  • Altered or incomplete claim forms are rejected outright, and claims may sit with the county law department for legal review before payment.
  • Gwinnett holds only a few tax sales per year (2026: August 4, October 6, December 1); the county legal organ is the Gwinnett Daily Post.

We help former homeowners throughout Gwinnett County, including Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Snellville.

Related guides

Nearby counties: Bibb County, Chatham County, Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, or see all of Georgia.

Gwinnett County questions

Straight answers, before you ask.

The county publishes its official list at https://www.gwinnetttaxcommissioner.com/property-tax/tax-sale-excess-funds (pdf). Not finding your name doesn't always mean no money exists. Lists update periodically, so confirm by calling the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax at (770) 822-8800, or request a free record check from us.

Tax-sale excess funds are held by the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office — Department of Property Tax (per publicly available Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 48-4-5). Mortgage-foreclosure surplus starts with the foreclosing lender's attorney and, if disputed, is deposited with the Superior Court. You can confirm directly with the county at (770) 822-8800, and we encourage it.

According to O.C.G.A. § 48-4-5, tax-sale excess funds unclaimed for five years are sent to the Georgia Department of Revenue, after which recovery requires a court order. The earlier you act, the simpler the claim. Confirm your sale date with the county and see our deadline guide.

Most Georgia counties accept claim forms only from the owner or a licensed attorney representing the owner, not from recovery firms or power-of-attorney holders. That is exactly how we work: a licensed Georgia attorney files your claim, with no upfront costs to you.

Yes. You never need to pay anyone to find out if money exists or to file a claim. The county process is free apart from routine court costs. Our guide on claiming surplus funds yourself walks through it. Where claims get complicated (a deceased owner, competing liens, missed notices), our attorneys handle everything with no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless money is recovered.

Heirs can usually claim, but the money is treated as part of the estate, so counties and courts typically require probate paperwork before paying anyone. See our guide for heirs. This is one of the situations where attorney help matters most, and ours costs nothing upfront.

Free case review

Start with a free review. No cost, no obligation.

Share a few details and a case manager will check the public record for your property and tell you what may be there, in plain language, before you decide anything.

  • Nothing to pay to request a review
  • You can verify us with the county before you sign anything
  • If there's nothing there, we'll tell you that too

Request your free review

A case manager will reach out within one business day.

Text messages (optional)

Both boxes are optional and you can submit this form without checking either. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Capital Quest Groupis a private recovery company, not a law firm, government agency or court. We don't guarantee any recovery or eligibility. A free review creates no obligation.

Call (888) 301-1182Free review