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

If a home in Stark County (county seat: Canton) 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 Stark 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 Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer. 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 (330) 451-7801.
Mortgage foreclosure surplus
Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas)
Tax sale surplus funds
Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer
County phone
(330) 451-7801
Cost to check yourself
$0. It's public record
How sales happen
In-person sheriff's sales at the courthouse — Stark County has not moved to the statewide sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov online platform; listings and results are posted on the county's own sheriff sales site
Our cost to you upfront
$0. Attorney and filing costs are on us

Is there a Stark 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 Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer at (330) 451-7814 and ask directly, or have us check the record for you free.

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

In-person sheriff's sales at the courthouse — Stark County has not moved to the statewide sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov online platform; listings and results are posted on the county's own sheriff sales site. Foreclosure sales: Mondays, 10:00 AM (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday); delinquent tax sales: first Monday of each month, 10:00 AM, courthouse foyer — in person only, no phone, mail, or online bids. Location: Stark County Courthouse, 115 Central Plaza North, downtown Canton (corner of Market Ave. and Tuscarawas St.). Sale listings and results are public. See the official Stark 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: Stark County sheriff sale: schedule and results.

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

  1. Look up your foreclosure case for free: Stark County CJIS case docket search. Search by your name and note the case number and sale amount.
  2. Check the county's official surplus funds list: view the Stark 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 (330) 451-7801 or the Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer at (330) 451-7814. 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 Stark County

After a Stark County sheriff's sale, leftover money is deposited with the Clerk of Courts under your foreclosure case (R.C. 2329.44 — public information you can verify with the Clerk at (330) 451-7801). You claim it by filing a motion in your case with the Court of Common Pleas at 115 Central Plaza North; the Civil Division is at (330) 451-7795. If the money goes unclaimed after the Clerk's notice period, it transfers to the Stark County Treasurer, whose local unclaimed-money search is free online.

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 (330) 451-7801. We encourage it.

Official form: Motion for Foreclosure Excess Funds (free statewide form assistant, Ohio Legal Help).

How tax-sale surplus funds work in Stark County

Money left over after a Stark County delinquent tax sale is held through your court case, and Ohio law (R.C. 5721.20 — publicly available statute) sets a hard deadline before unclaimed tax-sale money is permanently forfeited, so check early. Start by calling the Clerk of Courts at (330) 451-7801 with your case number, then search the Treasurer's local unclaimed money kiosk online. The Treasurer's office is at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 250, Canton — (330) 451-7814.

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 Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer at (330) 451-7814.

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 Stark County

  • Stark County still runs in-person courthouse sheriff's sales and has not joined the statewide RealAuction platform used by Montgomery, Lucas, and Butler counties — sale listings and results are on the county's own site (sheriffsales.starkcountyohio.gov).
  • Delinquent tax sales are held the first Monday of each month at 10:00 AM in the Stark County Courthouse foyer, in person only — bidders need a 10% deposit (minimum $500) by certified or cashier's check by noon on sale day.
  • Foreclosure case dockets are searchable free through Stark County CJIS (starkcjis.org), linked from the Clerk of Courts page.
  • The Treasurer maintains a local searchable 'unclaimed money kiosk' (scwebnet.starkcountyohio.gov/unclaimedmoneykiosk/) that is separate from the State of Ohio Department of Commerce unclaimed funds database — check both.
  • The Clerk of Courts (Lynn M. Todaro) and the Treasurer sit in different buildings a block apart: Clerk at 115 Central Plaza North, Suite 101; Treasurer at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 250.

We help former homeowners throughout Stark County, including Canton, Massillon, Alliance, North Canton, Louisville, Canal Fulton.

Related guides

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

Stark County questions

Straight answers, before you ask.

The county publishes its official list at https://scwebnet.starkcountyohio.gov/unclaimedmoneykiosk/ (web page). Not finding your name doesn't always mean no money exists. Lists update periodically, so confirm by calling the Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer at (330) 451-7814, 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 Clerk of Courts (in the court case); unclaimed funds transfer to the Stark County Treasurer (R.C. 5721.20). You can confirm either directly with the county at (330) 451-7801, 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.

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