Franklin County surplus funds: how to check the list and claim what's yours

If a home in Franklin County (county seat: Columbus) 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 Franklin County, Ohio, surplus funds from a mortgage foreclosure sale are held by the Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas), and excess funds from a tax foreclosure are held by the Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case). The money legally belongs to the former owner, but it is not mailed out automatically. You must file a claim, and you can check whether money exists for free by calling (614) 525-3600.
Mortgage foreclosure surplus
Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas)
Tax sale surplus funds
Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case)
County phone
(614) 525-3600
Cost to check yourself
$0. It's public record
How sales happen
Online via RealAuction (franklin.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov); in-person only when court-ordered
Our cost to you upfront
$0. Attorney and filing costs are on us

Is there a Franklin County surplus funds list?

Yes. The county publishes its official surplus funds list here (web page). 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 Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case) at (614) 525-3438 and ask directly, or have us check the record for you free.

When are Franklin County sheriff sales, and how do I see the results?

Online via RealAuction (franklin.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov); in-person only when court-ordered. Fridays at 9:00 AM (no sales on federal holidays); listings advertised in the Tuesday Daily Reporter, results in Thursday's edition. Location: Online; court-ordered in-person sales at the Franklin County Courthouse, 373 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Sale listings and results are public. See the official Franklin 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 surplus funds this page is about. Full details: Franklin County sheriff sale: schedule and results.

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

  1. Look up your foreclosure case for free: Case Information Online (CIO) — Franklin County Clerk of Courts. Search by your name and note the case number and sale amount.
  2. Check the county's official surplus funds list: view the Franklin County list (Web Page). Look for your name or the property address.
  3. Call the county directly: the Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas) at (614) 525-3600 or the Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case) at (614) 525-3438. 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 Franklin County

Leftover money from a Franklin County sheriff sale is held by the Clerk of Courts in your original foreclosure case until a judge orders it paid out. To claim it, you file a motion in that same Common Pleas case and attend a hearing — the Clerk publishes a step-by-step 'Foreclosure – Excess Fund Process' guide with the documents to file, and you can do it without an attorney. Look up your case free at Case Information Online (CIO), or call the Clerk at (614) 525-3600 to ask whether money is being held in your case.

According to publicly available Ohio statute (R.C. 2329.44), when a sheriff's sale brings in more than the judgment and costs, the balance belongs to the former owner, and the clerk must send notice when the surplus is $500 or more. The claim is made by motion in your original foreclosure case. You can confirm any of this directly with the county at (614) 525-3600. We encourage it.

Official form: Foreclosure – Excess Fund Process (Clerk's step-by-step guide and filing documents).

How tax-sale surplus funds work in Franklin County

Extra money from a Franklin County tax foreclosure starts out with the Clerk of Courts in the court case, and unclaimed amounts are transferred to the County Treasurer, who holds them in the former owner's name. Search your name free at the county's unclaimed funds portal or call the Treasurer at (614) 525-3438. According to Ohio R.C. 5721.20, unclaimed tax-sale excess can eventually be forfeited permanently, so verify your case status early — you can confirm directly with the county, and we encourage it.

According to publicly available Ohio statute (R.C. 5721.20), excess from a tax foreclosure is held for the former owner, but unclaimed money can be permanently forfeited three years after it is paid into the county treasury. This is the one deadline in Ohio you cannot miss. You can confirm any of this with the Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case) at (614) 525-3438.

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 Franklin County

  • Franklin County's Clerk publishes a running public 'Excess Sales Proceeds' report online — money from sheriff sales being held by the Clerk pending further court order, viewable by case (https://clerk.franklincountyohio.gov/CLCT-website/media/Docs/PRRreports/ExcessSalesProceeds.html).
  • Claiming requires filing documents in your Common Pleas foreclosure case and attending a hearing; the Clerk states the money can be collected without an attorney and posts both a process guide and an ExcessFundsInfo.pdf explainer.
  • The county runs a separate searchable unclaimed-funds portal (unclaimedfunds.franklincountyohio.gov) covering treasurer/auditor-held money, including tax overpayments — distinct from case-held excess funds.
  • Sheriff sales moved online: every Friday 9:00 AM at franklin.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, with in-person sales only by court order — useful when checking what your home actually sold for.
  • Free case lookup via the Clerk's Case Information Online (CIO) system shows the full foreclosure docket, including deposit of sale proceeds.

We help former homeowners throughout Franklin County, including Columbus, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Hilliard, Gahanna.

Related guides

Nearby counties: Butler County, Cuyahoga County, Delaware County, Hamilton County, Lorain County, Lucas County, or see all of Ohio.

Franklin County questions

Straight answers, before you ask.

The county publishes its official list at https://unclaimedfunds.franklincountyohio.gov/ (web page). Not finding your name doesn't always mean no money exists. Lists update periodically, so confirm by calling the Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case) at (614) 525-3438, or request a free record check from us.

Mortgage foreclosure surplus is held by the Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas) in the original foreclosure case (per publicly available Ohio statute R.C. 2329.44). Excess money from a tax foreclosure is handled through the Franklin County Treasurer (after initial deposit with the Clerk of Courts in the court case) (R.C. 5721.20). You can confirm either directly with the county at (614) 525-3600, and we encourage it.

It depends on which kind of sale it was. Mortgage-foreclosure surplus stays with the clerk until 90 days after the last notice, then moves to the county treasurer, who holds it for the owner; under R.C. 9.39, money unclaimed there for five years reverts to the county's general fund. Tax-foreclosure excess is stricter: according to R.C. 5721.20, it is permanently forfeited three years after it is paid into the county treasury. Don't wait. Confirm your dates with the county, and read our deadline guide.

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.

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