St. Louis County, Minnesota Tax-Forfeiture Surplus

If land in Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Ely and the rest of St. Louis 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 St. Louis County.

St. Louis County's Land and Minerals Department handles tax-forfeited land sales and posts a List of Property Sales with Surplus with Unexpired Claims Period, along with its Statement of Claim for Surplus Proceeds from Tax-Forfeited Land Sale. The current list shows claim periods expiring between late 2026 and early 2027.

St. Louis County claim details

You may claim as a former owner, a lienholder, or another interested party, with documents showing your interest (for example a deed).
Return the claim and documents to St. Louis County Land and Minerals Department, 320 W. 2nd St., Suite 302, Duluth, MN 55802.
Claims are due within six months after the county first mails the surplus notice (Minn. Stat. §282.005, subd. 6).
The county notes that properties forfeited before 2016 are not part of the separate tax-forfeited lands settlement.

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

St. Louis County tax-forfeited land sales (surplus list and claim form)

Other counties: Hennepin 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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