Hennepin County, Minnesota Tax-Forfeiture Surplus

If land in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth and the rest of Hennepin County forfeited for unpaid taxes and was later sold for more than was owed, former owners and other interested parties may be able to claim the surplus from Hennepin County.

Tyler v. Hennepin County started here: the 2023 Supreme Court case involved a Minneapolis condo. Today Hennepin County runs an excess proceeds claim process for properties that forfeited after January 1, 2024 and then sold for more than the total owed, and it publishes a regularly updated Notice of Surplus Funds list with claim deadlines.

Hennepin County claim details

The county mails a claim form to the former owner and others with title rights; the form must be approved before proceeds are paid.
If multiple claims are received for the same property, a civil court case may decide how the proceeds are divided.
Post-classification sales are not eligible for excess funds claims, according to the county.

Minnesota rules that apply

Under Minn. Stat. §282.005, subd. 6, the county auditor must mail a notice of the surplus and a claim form to interested parties within 60 days of the sale. You have six months from the date the notice is first mailed to file. If claims conflict, the county may ask the district court to decide. The law followed Tyler v. Hennepin County, 598 U.S. 631 (2023).

How to check and claim, for free

Find the parcel on the county's surplus or excess proceeds list (links below), or call the office.
Get the county's claim form and gather proof of your interest (deed, lien, or death certificate and heirship documents).
File before the deadline and keep proof of mailing.

You can do this yourself, for free. Former owners and heirs may file a claim directly with the county (or court, for foreclosures) without hiring anyone and without paying a fee. We exist for people who would rather have a professional handle the research, paperwork, and follow-up.

How Owner Guardian helps

If you would rather not handle it alone, we confirm the funds with the county, gather records, prepare the claim, help heirs assemble proof, and track the deadline. No upfront fee; our contingency fee is disclosed in a written agreement before you sign. We work remotely and are not affiliated with the county.

Official sources

Hennepin County tax-forfeited land and excess proceeds

Other counties: St. Louis County · Ramsey County · Dakota County · Anoka County · Olmsted County. Back to Minnesota overview.

Information checked October 2026 from the official county sources above. Deadlines and procedures can change; always confirm with the county. General information, not legal advice.

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