Cook · DuPage · Lake · Will · Kane · McHenry · Kendall County, Illinois
When a foreclosed property sells for more than the debt owed, the leftover money — the surplus — belongs to the former owner or their heirs. Lakeshore Asset Recovery helps Illinois families claim it.
Got a call or letter about surplus funds? Before you sign anything, run the six free checks that tell you whether it's legitimate →
Primary service areas
Start with the county where the foreclosed property was sold. Each review routes into the same intake system so we can qualify the lead quickly.
Cook County
For former owners, heirs, and estates connected to a Cook County foreclosure sale that may have produced excess proceeds.
Lake County
For Lake County foreclosure sales where the final sale price may have exceeded the amount owed and higher-priority claims.
Collar counties
We also review foreclosure sales in the collar counties: DuPage County · Will County · Kane County · McHenry County · Kendall County.
Lost a home to unpaid property taxes instead?
Illinois' 2026 tax-sale reform (HB 4537 / Public Act 104-0553) created a surplus equity fund for former owners who lost a home to a tax deed. See if you may be able to claim your lost equity: Cook County tax sale · Lake County tax sale · Will County tax sale · DuPage County tax sale · Kane County tax sale · McHenry County tax sale · Kendall County tax sale · how to claim the Illinois surplus equity fund (step-by-step guide)
What is a surplus?
It's simpler than it sounds — and the money is legally yours.
At the foreclosure auction, a home often sells for more than the remaining mortgage balance, taxes, and fees.
The difference between the sale price and what was owed is the surplus. By Illinois law it belongs to the former homeowner — not the bank.
The court holds the money, but many people never learn it exists. If it sits too long, it can be turned over to the State of Illinois.
Free guides
Plain-English answers with the Illinois statute cited. Everything here is something you can act on yourself — we're here if you'd rather have it handled.
How a surplus is created at an Illinois judicial sale and who it belongs to under 735 ILCS 5/15-1512.
A quick self-check using the sale price, the judgment amount, and the court's report of sale.
The petition-for-turnover process, step by step, and what to expect from the court.
What happens when the former owner has died, and what heirs need to show the court.
Why the clerk holds the money at first, when it moves to the Illinois State Treasurer, and how that changes the claim.
How to search the state's unclaimed-property program and the court record for money that may be in your name.
Why Lakeshore
This field unfortunately attracts bad actors. We built Lakeshore to be the opposite: a credible, detail-driven team that treats your money — and your trust — seriously.
Our transparent fee
of the surplus we recover for you — and never more than Illinois law allows. No recovery, no fee.
Note: For funds already turned over to the Illinois State Treasurer's unclaimed property program, state law caps recovery fees at 10%. We always honor the applicable legal limit.
What to expect
Before you sign anything, you should understand the records, the likely claim path, the fee, and your right to pursue the funds yourself.
We start with the foreclosure county, sale records, and surplus indicators before asking you to make a decision.
If there may be a claim, we explain the process, fee, timeline, and limits in writing.
You can pursue surplus funds yourself through the court or the Illinois State Treasurer at little or no cost.
A free, no-obligation consultation is the fastest way to know. If there's nothing to recover, you owe us nothing.
