Which record identifies your property's current stage?
A delinquent-tax bill, a notice related to a tax sale, a tax-deed petition and an order entered by a court are different records. Start by matching the parcel number, property owner, tax year and case number. Then identify the document date and any stated deadline. A guide cannot verify your deadline or substitute for the official record.
The articles below provide three distinct starting points: organize a notice, review the court-file sequence, or identify the source of money or relief you may be asking about. They should help you describe the issue without assuming that redemption, indemnity and surplus claims are interchangeable.
Choose the question you need to answer
- I received a notice: compare parcel details, gather the envelope and identify the official tax and court records.
- A tax deed may be pending or entered: organize the petition, service, notice and order history for legal review.
- I am asking about money after a sale: separate indemnity, statutory surplus equity, actual auction surplus and mortgage foreclosure surplus.
Which property records should you gather?
Prepare the notice and envelope, tax account information, any redemption estimate or receipt, and the complete court orders you have. Include documents showing your ownership or other interest in the property. A Chicago or Cook County street address alone is not enough to identify the parcel or determine the available procedure.
Use the service links for a consultation about representation. Explain whether your immediate concern is keeping the property, reviewing a tax deed or pursuing a possible monetary claim. Those goals may require different records and work.