You can claim it yourself, no finder needed

Checklist: Delaware, money left over after a tax-deed sale

Who holds it: The county Sheriff after a tax (monition) sale, then the Prothonotary of the Superior Court. For Kent and Sussex tax-collector sales, the excess is paid to the owner or deposited in a county bank in the owner's name.

How long: Not researched yet — ask the clerk

How you claim: Contact the county Sheriff's Office soon after the sale. Once the money passes to the Prothonotary, petition the Superior Court through Project Rightful Owner.

Your deadline: ____________ (confirm it with the clerk)

Steps

1. Ask the county Sheriff's Office whether your sale left excess proceeds.
2. If moved to the Prothonotary, check the Project Rightful Owner list for your name, address and sale date.
3. E-file a petition with the Superior Court (plus one paper copy), with your supporting documents and a recent title search.
4. Serve the petition on other people with an interest and on lienholders.

Documents

• Petition stating property, owner, sale date, amount, case number and your basis for claim
• Certified copies of public records you rely on (court orders, wills)
• Title search as of the sale date, prepared within 60 days
• Delaware Substitute Form W-9 (paper only)

What it costs you

$75 e-filing fee (waived if the proceeds are $1,000 or less). The court also requires a title search as of the sale date, prepared within 60 days, which it estimates at about $100.

If someone offers to do it for you

• Fee limits: Not researched yet — ask the clerk.
• You never need to pay anyone to file.

Official links

• 9 Del. C. ch. 87, subch. IV (incl. § 8779): https://delcode.delaware.gov/title9/c087/sc04/index.html
• Delaware Superior Court - Project Rightful Owner: https://courts.delaware.gov/superior/rightfulowner
• Project Rightful Owner - petition requirements: https://www.courts.delaware.gov/superior/rightfulowner/sale2.aspx