State Foreclosure Law Library

denton-tx

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Denton County, Texas — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → texas. This page covers how Denton County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Denton · Recording unit: county (one of Texas’s 254 counties)
  • Population: ~979,000 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate; Denton County is among Texas’s fastest-growing counties, tracking toward 1 million) — https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dentoncountytexas/PST045224
  • Parent legal framework: texas — redeemable tax-deed state; judicial delinquent-tax suit → district-court judgment → officer’s (sheriff’s) sale; excess proceeds under Tex. Tax Code § 34.04. Texas does not sell tax-lien certificates; a deed is conveyed at the sale subject to the statutory redemption right. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/1378/Constables-Sale-Rules-and-Information (“This is NOT a tax lien certificate. The real property is sold. There is no Tax Lien Certificate Sale in Texas.“)
  • County seat / courts address: Denton County Courts Building, 1450 E McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? Yes — Denton County runs a monthly online public auction through the third-party platform GovEase. The Sheriff’s Office conducts the tax-foreclosure sales (judgments from district court). The Constable’s Office conducts separate civil execution sales but does not conduct tax-lien sales. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/840/Sheriffs-Sale ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/1378/Constables-Sale-Rules-and-Information
  • Platform / venue: Online auction through GovEase (https://www.govease.com/). Bidders must register and receive approval through GovEase before participating. Bidder-help resources at https://www.govease.com/bidderhelp. Sale notices are also posted physically at: (1) Denton County Courts Building, 1450 E McKinney Street; (2) Courthouse Annex in Lewisville; (3) Denton County Sheriff’s Office, 127 N. Woodrow Lane; and (4) the GovEase website (visible 24/7). — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/840/Sheriffs-Sale ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=286 ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8193/Denton-TX-Flyer-202406
  • Calendar: First Tuesday of every month, beginning at 10:00 a.m., online via GovEase. Sales only occur when Orders of Sale have been issued from the district courts in reference to tax judgments. If no Orders of Sale are pending, no sale is held that month. (If the first Tuesday falls on January 1 or July 4, the sale moves to the first Wednesday per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(r).) — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/840/Sheriffs-Sale ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52
  • Delinquent list / advertisement: Tax sale properties are advertised in the Denton Record Chronicle on the three Wednesdays prior to the first Tuesday of the month (when a sale is set). Properties and rules also appear on the GovEase website. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=286
  • Registration: Bidders must register with GovEase and receive approval before participating. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=287 ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52
  • Deposit: No pre-sale deposit is required. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52 (FAQ: “Do you have to register for the sales?” and “What are the payment requirements?“)
  • Payment terms: Denton County requires payment in the form of ACH/E-Check for the total bid amount, paid via the GovEase website. Payment is not required at the moment of winning; the total amount must be paid by 4:00 p.m. on the day of sale unless special arrangements are made with the Sheriff’s Department. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=288
  • Bidder requirements — Written Statement (bidder’s certificate): Prior to receiving a deed, the winning bidder must present an unexpired written statement from the County Tax Assessor-Collector confirming the purchaser owes no delinquent taxes to the county or to any school district or municipality in the county. (Tex. Tax Code § 34.015.) To obtain:
    • Submit a notarized Request for Written Statement (PDF available on county site) to the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office at least 5 business days before the sale date.
    • Mail to: Dawn Waye, Tax Assessor/Collector, Attn: Tax Certificates, P.O. Box 90223, Denton, TX 76202 or hand-deliver to 1505 E McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209.
    • Fee: $10 (no personal checks accepted). — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/867/Delinquent-Tax-Sales
  • Minimum bid composition: lesser of the total judgment (delinquent taxes + penalties + interest + attorney fees + court costs) or the adjudged/market value, per Tex. Tax Code § 34.01(b). All expenses are included in the opening bid amount; however, property taxes that accrued after the judgment was rendered may still be owed separately by the purchaser. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52
  • Deed issued: Sheriff’s deed without warranty, express or implied. Sales are on an “as-is, buyer-beware” basis. Statutory redemption rights attach per Tex. Tax Code § 34.21 — 2 years for homestead/agricultural/mineral; 180 days for all other property. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/843/Sheriffs-Sale-Rules
  • Bidder default: a winning bidder who fails to complete the purchase faces liability for 20% of the value of the property plus costs incurred. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/843/Sheriffs-Sale-Rules
  • Delinquent tax roll data: The county publishes an SFTP-accessible delinquent tax roll (updated weekly) per Tex. Prop. Tax Code § 1.10. Access via SFTP at 142.147.51.213 (username: tax; password: T@x1505; Filezilla recommended). Files include master file, receivable file, and statistic file by year. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/890/Tax-Roll-Data-Current-Delinquent
  • Delinquent tax attorney firm: (not confirmed from a Denton County primary source — see needs_verification)

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

  • Periods (state default, inherited from texas § 34.21): 2 years for property that was the owner’s residence homestead, agricultural-use land, or a mineral interest (running from the date the purchaser’s deed is filed for record); 180 days for all other property. Denton County’s Sheriff’s Sale Rules confirm these periods without deviation. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/843/Sheriffs-Sale-Rules
  • Where to redeem: Redemption follows the statutory Tex. Tax Code § 34.21 process — the redeeming owner pays the purchaser directly (or the Tax Assessor-Collector if the purchaser cannot be located). No county-specific redemption desk page identified; see texas for the full formula (bid + recording fee + purchaser’s taxes/costs + statutory premium). (County-specific redemption contact not confirmed — see needs_verification.)
  • Redemption contact: Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector — 1505 E McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209 · Phone: 940-349-3500 · Email: property.tax@dentoncounty.gov · https://www.dentoncounty.gov/778/Tax-Assessor-Collector
  • Deviations from state default: none identified.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

  • Where funds are held: Because the tax foreclosure in Texas is a district-court action, excess proceeds (the amount the winning bid exceeds taxes, penalties, interest, attorney fees, and costs) are deposited into the registry of the court (held by the District Clerk). — Tex. Tax Code § 34.03; texas Module 3.
  • Claim filing venue: A petition/application for disbursement of excess proceeds is filed in the district court that ordered the sale, identified by the underlying cause number. The filing is with the Denton County District Clerk’s Office. — Tex. Tax Code § 34.04(a); https://www.dentoncounty.gov/230/District-Clerk
    • District Clerk: David Trantham
    • Physical address: 1450 E McKinney Street, 1st Floor, Denton, TX 76209
    • Mailing address: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202
    • Phone: 940-349-2200 (also 972-434-8822)
    • Email: dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov
    • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • Claim form: The District Clerk publishes an “Excess Tax Funds” document (PDF) addressing the claim process. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3044/Excess-Tax-Funds-PDF (The specific form name and all required attachments should be confirmed directly with the District Clerk’s office before filing — see needs_verification.)
  • Local deadline notes: The statutory 2-year window from the date of sale governs (Tex. Tax Code § 34.04(a)). If no valid claim is established within 2 years, the clerk distributes the proceeds to the participating taxing units. (No shorter local deadline identified.)
  • Unclaimed-funds list published: The county’s Document Center contains a historic unclaimed-funds list (dated April 16, 2015 — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/110/Unclaimed-Funds-List-PDF); a current published list for court registry excess proceeds was not located. Excess proceeds that escape the 2-year claim window are distributed to the taxing units (not escheated to the state Comptroller under the general unclaimed-property scheme). Separately, unclaimed county vendor/operational funds may be reported to the Texas Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division (https://www.claimittexas.gov/ / 1-800-654-3463). (Confirm with District Clerk whether a current excess-proceeds list is published online — see needs_verification.)
  • Recovery-agent rules: The statewide Tex. Tax Code § 34.04(f) assignment regime applies — assignments are void unless made on or after the 36th day after proceeds are deposited, the assignee pays the assignor at least 80%, and no solicitation was used; the § 34.04(i) attorney-fee cap (25% of amount recovered or $1,000, whichever is less) applies. See texas Module 3 and third-party-recovery-rules.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Tax Assessor-Collector (issues Written Statement; redemption contact)Dawn Waye1505 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76209 (mail: P.O. Box 90223, Denton, TX 76202)940-349-3500https://www.dentoncounty.gov/778/Tax-Assessor-Collector
District Clerk (court registry / excess-proceeds filing)David Trantham1450 E McKinney St, 1st Floor, Denton, TX 76209 (mail: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202)940-349-2200https://www.dentoncounty.gov/230/District-Clerk
County Clerk / Recorder (deed recording; real property records; foreclosure notice filings)Juli Luke1450 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76209940-349-2012https://www.dentoncounty.gov/173/County-Clerk
County Clerk Recording DivisionJuli Luke1450 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76209940-349-2010https://www.dentoncounty.gov/262/Recording-Division
Sheriff (conducts tax-foreclosure sales via GovEase)Tracy Murphree127 N. Woodrow Lane, Law Enforcement Center, Denton, TX 76205-6397940-349-1600https://www.dentoncounty.gov/707/Sheriff
County TreasurerCindy Yeatts Brown1 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1400, Denton, TX 76208940-349-3150https://www.dentoncounty.gov/174/County-Treasurer

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Online-only auction (GovEase) — key local feature: Unlike many Texas counties (e.g., Bexar) that hold in-person auctions, Denton County’s sheriff’s tax-foreclosure sales are conducted entirely online through GovEase, with payment via ACH/E-Check through the platform. Bidders must pre-register and be approved by GovEase. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/840/Sheriffs-Sale ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8193/Denton-TX-Flyer-202406
  • No upfront deposit: Denton County does not require a pre-sale deposit, a notable operational difference from some other Texas counties. Full payment is due by 4:00 p.m. on the sale day. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52
  • Written Statement (bidder’s certificate) required: Must be obtained from the Tax Assessor-Collector (notarized request + $10, allow 5 business days) before a deed can be issued. This is a Tex. Tax Code § 34.015 requirement enforced county-wide. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/867/Delinquent-Tax-Sales
  • Sheriff vs. Constable: Denton County has both a Sheriff’s Office and Constable precincts. The Sheriff conducts tax-foreclosure (delinquent-tax judgment) sales online via GovEase. The Constable’s Office conducts civil execution sales in-person at the Denton County Courts Building but does not conduct tax sales or trustee foreclosure sales. Payment for Constable sales is cashier’s check/money order (not ACH). — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/1378/Constables-Sale-Rules-and-Information ; https://www.dentoncounty.gov/840/Sheriffs-Sale
  • Mortgage (trustee) foreclosures — in-person: Non-judicial deed-of-trust foreclosures are conducted by the substitute trustee (not the county) at the southwest corner of the Denton County Courts Building, 1450 E McKinney Street, on the first Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Trustees file their Notice of Sale with the County Clerk. If the County Clerk’s office closes for inclement weather, postings may be filed up to 48 hours after reopening. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/293/Foreclosure-Information
  • Foreclosure notice records: Mortgage foreclosure Notices of Sale can be searched free through https://dentontx.search.kofile.com (Denton County real-property records). Foreclosure documents are not permanent county records; “each month’s file is destroyed the day after the sale.” — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/294/Foreclosure-Sale-Property-Search
  • Sales not guaranteed monthly: The Sheriff’s Office FAQ notes that a sale only occurs “when Orders of Sale are issued from the District Courts.” Months with no pending Orders of Sale will have no auction on GovEase. Check the GovEase website or Denton Record Chronicle to confirm whether a given month has a scheduled sale. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/faq.aspx?TID=52
  • Delinquent tax roll (SFTP): The county makes its full delinquent tax roll available via SFTP per Tex. Prop. Tax Code § 1.10. This is a more granular data source than the typical county website search. — https://www.dentoncounty.gov/890/Tax-Roll-Data-Current-Delinquent

C6. Records Access

C7. Meta

  • sources:

  • needs_verification:

    • Delinquent tax attorney firm — the law firm(s) retained by Denton County taxing units to file delinquent-tax suits and administer the sale list (analogous to Linebarger for Bexar County) were not confirmed from a Denton County primary source. Candidates include Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson (taxsales.lgbs.com) and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott (pbfcm.com); confirm by contacting the Denton County Tax Assessor-Collector (940-349-3500) or checking taxsales.lgbs.com for a Denton County listing.
    • Excess Tax Funds PDF content — the District Clerk’s Excess-Tax-Funds PDF (DocumentCenter/View/3044) could not be rendered as text (binary PDF). The specific form name, required attachments, and whether an interactive petition template is provided need to be confirmed directly with the District Clerk at 940-349-2200 / dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov before filing.
    • Current online unclaimed excess-proceeds list — no live published list of pending unclaimed excess proceeds was located for Denton County. Confirm whether the District Clerk publishes such a list, or whether an open-records request is required.
    • County-specific redemption desk procedure — no Denton County page specifying exactly where/how to tender redemption payments was found. The controlling process is Tex. Tax Code § 34.21 (pay purchaser directly, or Tax Assessor-Collector if purchaser unavailable). Verify with the Tax Assessor-Collector (940-349-3500 / property.tax@dentoncounty.gov) whether a dedicated redemption desk or process exists locally.
    • Next confirmed sale date — sales only occur when Orders of Sale are issued; no county-published calendar listing the next specific scheduled date was retrieved. Check https://www.govease.com/ or the Denton Record Chronicle to confirm current sale listings.
    • Population (exact figure) — Census QuickFacts 2024 estimate cited; exact census figure not directly rendered (403 response); rounded to ~979,000 from secondary sources citing the same dataset.
    • Sheriff’s Sale Rules document (dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9105/Sale-Rules-PDF) — a direct PDF of sale rules exists but was not separately fetched; the C1/C5 entries were built from the HTML rules page (dentoncounty.gov/843/Sheriffs-Sale-Rules) and FAQ (faq.aspx?TID=52), which are consistent.

  • cross_links: texas, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, sheriff-sale, due-process-notice

  • changelog:

    • 2026-06-02 — Initial population from Denton County official sources (Sheriff’s Sale + FAQ pages, Sale Rules, Delinquent Tax Sales, Constable’s Sale Rules, Foreclosure Information, District Clerk, County Clerk, Recording Division, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Treasurer, Sheriff, Elected Officials, GovEase flyer, Delinquent Tax Roll, GIS, Census QuickFacts). C0–C7 filled; GovEase online platform, ACH/E-Check payment, no pre-sale deposit, Written Statement procedure, surplus filing venue (District Clerk / district court registry), and records portals pinned to county primary sources. Honest gaps flagged in needs_verification.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Denton County’s local tax-sale and surplus procedures from the county’s own official sources as of the last_verified date. Procedures, venues, contacts, and sale dates change; verify against the cited county pages and consult a licensed Texas attorney before acting.

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