Every tab is a working module with built-in tools, ready templates, and live trackers. Nothing to build. Work through the tabs in order.
When a company files bankruptcy, a federal trustee distributes whatever assets remain to the creditors — the businesses owed money. The trustee mails every creditor a check. A large percentage of those checks are never cashed: the creditor moved, dissolved, was acquired, or the AP team simply never chased $8,000 through a bankruptcy process.
The trustee takes all uncashed checks and deposits that money into the U.S. Treasury's Court Registry Investment System (CRIS). Under 28 U.S.C. § 2042, that money is claimable by the original creditor at any time — no statute of limitations. You file the motion on their behalf and take 25–40%.
THIS IS NOT state unclaimed property, mortgage surplus, tax overage, or HUD funds. This is exclusively federal bankruptcy court registry funds owed to business creditors.
Toys R Us filed Chapter 11 in Virginia in 2017. Thousands of vendor creditors — cleaning firms, IT companies, packaging suppliers. Distributions went out 2018–2020. Many checks bounced.
You pull PACER. Trustee's Final Report shows: "Keystone Supply LLC — distribution $11,400 — check returned undeliverable." You verify the court still holds $11,400. You find the owner (now dissolved — but his name is on the Secretary of State record). You call:
"The bankruptcy court is holding $11,400 for your company. I retrieve it for 30%. You get $7,980. You owe me nothing if I don't collect." He says yes. Motion filed. Six weeks later, court issues the check. He gets $7,980. You net $3,020 after the filing fee. Do that 30 times a month.
Sign contingency agreement. File motion. Take 25–40% of recovery. Zero capital required. Lower return per claim.
Pay creditor 40–60¢ on the dollar today. You collect 100% from court. On $20K claim: buy for $10K → collect $20K → profit $10K.
Start with fee agreement (no capital). Convert to a full purchase if the creditor wants immediate cash. Max flexibility.
| Law | Plain English | Use It When |
|---|---|---|
| 28 U.S.C. § 2041 | Courts must deposit unclaimed funds into the U.S. Treasury | Explaining why money is still there years later |
| 28 U.S.C. § 2042 | Original creditor can claim back — no time limit ever | Answering "isn't it too late?" — the answer is always NO |
| Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3011 | The exact procedure to file the reclaim motion | Cite this in every motion you file — memorize the rule number |
| 11 U.S.C. § 347 | Trustees must turn unclaimed distributions over to the court | Explaining chain of custody to skeptical creditors |
Best target: A small B2B company — janitor service, packaging firm, IT staffing, uniform supplier — that provided goods to a large retailer that went bankrupt. Owner is on LinkedIn. Check was for $8K–$80K. He had no idea there was a distribution. He will sign same day.
| Claim | Your Fee % | Gross Fee | Filing Cost | Net — Method 1 | Net — Method 2 (buy at 55¢) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 38% | $1,900 | ~$75 | $1,825 | $1,800 (buy $2,750, collect $5K) |
| $15,000 | 32% | $4,800 | ~$75 | $4,725 | $6,300 (buy $8,250, collect $15K) |
| $50,000 | 28% | $14,000 | ~$75 | $13,925 | $22,000 (buy $27.5K, collect $50K) |
| $150,000 | 25% | $37,500 | ~$75 | $37,425 | $67,000 (buy $82.5K, collect $150K) |
Fee Disclosure — Federal Standard: There is no general cap on finder fees for federal bankruptcy court unclaimed funds. This is a federal matter governed by the district court, not state law. What is expected across virtually all districts: your fee arrangement must be disclosed to the court as part of the application. The court reviews whether the fee is reasonable. Fees of 25–40% on standard claims are routinely approved. What you must do: include your signed fee agreement or a disclosure of your fee percentage with the application. The court will not redistribute funds without knowing the fee arrangement. Transparency is your protection — not a cap.
Every tool you need — with exact steps. Nothing requires building. Everything here is either free or direct-access.
Click Register → "Individual seeking access to federal court records." Use your legal name and email. Confirm your email. Account activates within 24 hours.
Go to pcl.uscourts.gov. Use same credentials. This searches all 94 courts at once — it is your national mining tool and is different from individual court PACER logins.
| District | PACER/ECF URL | Priority Cases |
|---|---|---|
| S.D.N.Y. | ecf.nysb.uscourts.gov | Highest volume district — large corporate Ch.11 cases |
| Delaware | ecf.deb.uscourts.gov | Most large national corps incorporate in Delaware — check registry regularly |
| E.D.Va. | ecf.vaeb.uscourts.gov | Large Ch.11 venue — high vendor creditor volume historically |
| C.D.Cal. | ecf.cacb.uscourts.gov | Largest state volume |
| S.D.Fla. | ecf.flsb.uscourts.gov | Monthly unclaimed funds list — best published data |
| N.D.Tex. | ecf.txnb.uscourts.gov | Solid regional volume — check unclaimed funds registry quarterly |
| S.D.Tex. | ecf.txsb.uscourts.gov | Active Houston district — good mid-size commercial case volume |
Your single PACER username works at all district URLs. No separate logins needed.
Searches all 50 state corporate registries at once. Enter the business name → get: state of formation, registered agent, officers/directors, status (active/dissolved), last annual report. Free. Always run this first.
Open Tool →Search the company name. Even dissolved companies have former employees listing it. Find the CFO, controller, or owner. Message them with the template in the Scripts tab.
Search LinkedIn →Any company that ever filed with the SEC has all officers and directors listed publicly with addresses. Free. Search by company name.
Open EDGAR →Pull the creditor's original Proof of Claim from the bankruptcy docket. Lists: contact person, phone, email, address at time of filing. This person is your entry point — find them on LinkedIn even years later.
No paid skip-trace subscription needed to start. When free tools fail and the claim is over $5,000, buy a single search on TLO.com or IRBSearch.com (pay-per-search, $5–$20). Only then. Do not subscribe monthly until you're at 20+ cases.
The majority of federal bankruptcy districts allow creditors to file pro se. You prepare the motion. The creditor (or you as their authorized agent) signs and files it. The forms are free directly from the court. No attorney required, no attorney fee cutting into your percentage.
Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9010, any party may appear and act on their own behalf. A Motion to Reclaim Unclaimed Funds is an uncontested administrative motion — not a litigation proceeding. Courts routinely grant these without counsel. The filing fee is typically $0 to $75 depending on the district.
| Situation | Attorney Needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pro se reclaim motion, most districts | No | Courts accept creditor pro se filings routinely — this is the norm |
| Trustee or U.S. Trustee files an objection | Yes | Now it is a contested matter — you need counsel immediately |
| Disputed claim — another party claims same funds | Yes | Adversarial proceeding. Do not file contested motions without counsel. |
| Escheated funds (remitted to Treasury) | Sometimes | Procedure is slightly more complex; some districts require counsel for Treasury remittance requests |
| Claim over $100K in a strict district (e.g. SDNY) | Consider it | Worth $300–$500 to protect a large recovery; SDNY clerks can be strict on formatting |
| You cannot get the creditor entity's authorized signer | Consider it | Attorney can help structure affidavit of authority for dissolved entities |
Call the bankruptcy clerk's office. Ask: "Can a creditor file a pro se motion to reclaim unclaimed funds in this court, or does the court require an attorney?" Takes 3 minutes. The clerk tells you exactly. Do this once per district — then you know for every future case in that district.
Most districts publish their own fillable motion forms on their websites. Go to the district's court website → Forms → Bankruptcy Forms. If no specific form exists, use the motion template in the File Claim tab — it is drafted to federal standard and works in any district. The only document you need to draft yourself.
Two sources. Both required. Court reports give you the list. PACER gives you the documents and confirmation.
| District | States Covered | Direct Link | Update Freq. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDNY | Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester | nysb.uscourts.gov → Unclaimed Funds | Quarterly |
| Delaware | Delaware (all major corps) | deb.uscourts.gov → Clerk's Office | Quarterly |
| EDVA | Richmond, Alexandria, Norfolk | vaeb.uscourts.gov → Clerk | Semi-annual |
| CDCA | Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside | cacb.uscourts.gov → Unclaimed Funds | Quarterly |
| SDFL | Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, W. Palm | flsb.uscourts.gov → Unclaimed Funds | Monthly |
| NDIL | Chicago, Northern Illinois | ilnb.uscourts.gov → Clerk | Quarterly |
| NDTX | Dallas, Ft. Worth, Lubbock | txnb.uscourts.gov | Annual |
| SDTX | Houston, Galveston, Laredo | txsb.uscourts.gov | Quarterly |
| DNev | Las Vegas, Nevada | nvb.uscourts.gov | Monthly |
| DNJ | New Jersey | njb.uscourts.gov | Quarterly |
| All 94 | National | uscourts.gov/court-locator → Bankruptcy Court → Clerk → Unclaimed Funds | Varies |
Free conversion. You need it as a spreadsheet to filter efficiently.
Biggest claims at the top. Your time is worth more on a $50,000 claim than a $1,200 one.
Keep rows where Name contains: LLC, Inc, Corp, Co., Ltd, LP, LLP, Associates, Group, Services, Supply, Industries. Delete everything else.
Everything remaining is a qualified lead. Copy into your Pipeline Tracker (see Pipeline tab — it is already built).
Do not chase named cases by case number. Large well-known bankruptcies (Sears, Toys R Us, etc.) have been public knowledge for years. Professionals, attorneys, and other finders have already worked them heavily. Chasing a specific old case by name is a race you likely lost before you started.
The correct use of mega-cases is as a research method, not a hit list. Large Chapter 11 cases with thousands of creditors teach you the pattern — what the TFR looks like, what a returned distribution looks like, how distributions were structured. Use them to practice your PACER research. Then apply that skill to current court reports where you have no competition.
| Source | Why It Has Less Competition | How to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Current court unclaimed funds reports | Published regularly — most finders only check a few districts. Work all 94. | Download monthly/quarterly from court websites (see Find Funds tab) |
| Small regional Chapter 7 cases | Smaller cases attract zero attention from professional finders. Still have real unclaimed distributions. | PACER search in smaller districts: WDMO, NDAL, EDKY, SDMS, NDWV |
| Cases closed 2–4 years ago | Recent enough that creditors are still locatable. Old enough that distributions are clearly unclaimed. | PACER date filter: closed 2020–2022 with unclaimed fund docket entries |
| Districts most finders ignore | Everyone works SDNY and Delaware. Midwest, South, and Mountain districts have large unclaimed registries with almost no competition. | NDOH, SDOH, EDMO, NDAL, DNM, EDTX, WDTX, NDMS |
| Escheated fund cases (5+ years) | Most finders avoid these because they think the money is gone. It isn't. The extra 60–90 day Treasury step deters competition. | Docket entries showing "remitted to U.S. Treasury" — still fully claimable |
The formula: Download the current unclaimed funds report from a district nobody is focusing on. Filter for business entities above $2,500. Verify on PACER. That is where you make money — not chasing cases everyone knows about.
Never contact a creditor until you have confirmed the money is still in the registry. Two confirmations required minimum. This protects you from misrepresentation claims and from wasting time on already-claimed funds.
Confirm your creditor appears on the official report. Record: exact name, case number, dollar amount, date deposited. Save the PDF — you'll reference it in your outreach and your motion filing.
Pull the full docket for the case number. Search entries for: "motion to reclaim," "application for unclaimed funds," "withdrawal from registry." If any of these exist — someone else has already filed. Cross this lead off immediately.
Find and download the TFR from the docket. Confirm your creditor appears with: distribution amount, check number, and a return notation ("undeliverable" or "uncashed"). This document is your evidentiary foundation for the motion.
| Document | What You're Looking For | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee's Final Report (TFR) | Creditor name, distribution, check #, return notation | $0.50–$2.00 |
| Order to Deposit Unclaimed Funds | Court order putting money in registry — confirms exact amount | $0.30 |
| Trustee's Cert. of Unclaimed Funds | Explicit list of creditors with returned checks | $0.30–$1.00 |
| Original Proof of Claim | Creditor's contact person, phone, email, address at filing | $0.30 |
| Full Docket (last 12 months) | No prior reclaim attempts filed by anyone | $0.30 |
After 5 years, unclaimed funds may be transferred to the U.S. Treasury. The court docket will show "remitted to Treasury." The claim is still valid. File the motion → court requests funds back from Treasury → Treasury returns them → court distributes. Adds 60–120 days. Do not skip old cases — they often have zero competition.
Work through steps in order. Free tools first. Paid only when free fails and the claim justifies it.
Search company name. Find former CFO, Controller, President, or Owner. Even if company dissolved 5 years ago, the people still exist on LinkedIn. Message them using the LinkedIn template in the Scripts tab.
Download from the case docket (~$0.30). It lists: contact person name, phone, email, and address at filing. This person is your direct entry point.
Registered agent is public record. Call them: "I have important correspondence for the principals of [Company]. Is there a forwarding contact for the former officers?" Many will provide it or forward your message.
Business that borrowed money had UCC-1 filings. These list the debtor's address. Search the Secretary of State's UCC database in the state of formation. Free in most states.
TLO.com or IRBSearch.com — pay-per-search, no subscription. $5–$20 per search. Run the last-known officer's personal name, not just the company. Returns: current address, phone, relatives, associated businesses.
| Entity Type | Who Can Sign | Documentation Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Active Corporation | Officer: President, CEO, CFO, or Secretary | Corporate resolution or officer's certification |
| Dissolved Corporation | Last officers of record at dissolution | State dissolution record + officer affidavit of authority |
| Active LLC | Manager (manager-managed) or any Member (member-managed) | Copy of operating agreement showing authority |
| Dissolved LLC | Last managing member with winding-up authority | State dissolution record + member declaration |
| Partnership | General Partner | Partnership agreement showing GP authority |
| Acquired Company | Authorized officer of the successor/acquiring entity | Acquisition or merger documents showing claim transfer |
The critical point most people get wrong: whether a dissolved entity can file a pro se motion to reclaim funds in a federal bankruptcy court is determined by the federal district's local rules and the individual judge — not by state corporate law. The state's position on reinstatement is a secondary consideration. The federal court is the gatekeeper.
Known districts requiring extra scrutiny or counsel for dissolved entity claims: Parts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA) require an attorney for corporate entities in certain proceedings. Parts of the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) apply similar requirements. These are not absolute rules applied to every case — they depend on the specific judge, the size of the claim, and whether the motion is flagged for review. The point is: you cannot assume pro se is acceptable just because it works in most districts. You must verify per district AND per judge before investing work in a dissolved entity case.
| Step | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check district local rules | Go to the court's website. Download the Local Bankruptcy Rules. Search for "pro se," "corporate debtor," "attorney," and "unrepresented." Some districts have explicit rules; others are silent (meaning it depends on the judge). | A district with an explicit attorney requirement for corporate claimants tells you upfront. Silence means you move to step 2. |
| 2. Research the assigned judge on PACER | Pull 10–15 prior Motions to Reclaim in that judge's cases. Look specifically for dissolved entity claimants. Did the judge grant them pro se? Deny them? Request counsel? This 30-minute search tells you exactly what you are walking into. | Judge behavior is the real rule. Local rules set the floor; individual judges set the ceiling. Some judges in pro se-permissive districts still require counsel for dissolved corporations every time. |
| 3. Locate the former officer before anything else | Do all skip tracing first. Confirm you have a living, reachable former officer who can sign and who can produce identification if the judge demands it. Some judges specifically ask for ID to confirm the person authorizing the claim was a legitimate officer and that any transfer of claim rights was legal — not a third-party assignment dressed up as an officer action. | No locatable officer = no viable dissolved entity claim in any district, regardless of rules. This is the most common reason dissolved entity cases fail. |
| 4. Assess reinstatement as a tool — not a default | Reinstatement restores the entity's active status with the state. This can satisfy courts that want an active entity. But: check whether back franchise taxes are owed first (they can exceed the claim), confirm the reinstatement window hasn't closed, and confirm the reinstated status is actually what the judge requires vs. just proof of former officer authority. | Reinstatement costs $50–$500 depending on the state and back taxes owed. It is only worth it if the judge or district actually requires it and the claim value justifies the cost. |
| 5. Make the attorney decision based on data, not assumption | If steps 1–3 show: (a) the district or judge has a pattern of requiring counsel for dissolved entities, or (b) the claim is large and the judge's history is unclear — this is when you bring in an attorney. Your role: deliver the complete research file, the located officer, and the verified documentation. The attorney evaluates it and files. You do not hand off a case cold. | An attorney reviewing a fully researched, documented case costs $200–$400. An attorney doing the research from scratch costs $1,000+. You control that cost by doing the work first. |
The alternative to reinstatement in some cases: A direct assignment from the former officer — signing in their individual capacity as the last authorized agent of a wound-up entity — combined with a clear ownership chain affidavit, works in some districts without any reinstatement. Whether it works depends entirely on the district and that judge's history. Research first, file second. Never the reverse.
Most operators only know Method 1. All three methods can be applied to the same lead pool. Your choice depends on the creditor's situation and your available capital.
Sign a Contingency Fee Agreement. You act as the creditor's authorized representative, prepare and file the motion, and take your percentage from the proceeds. No out-of-pocket cost to you or the creditor.
Fee 30% = $4,500 · Filing ~$75
Net: $4,425
Fee 28% = $14,000 · Filing ~$75
Net: $13,925
Fee 25% = $30,000 · Filing ~$75
Net: $29,925
After filing, a creditor could theoretically try to bypass you and file a competing claim or direct the court to pay them only. Prevent this with three agreement provisions: (1) a fee lien on the proceeds, (2) an exclusivity clause, and (3) written authorization that you direct payment. The agreement template in the Agreements tab includes all three. Get it signed before you do any filing work.
Instead of taking a percentage, you purchase the creditor's entire right to the funds for a lump sum payment now. You pay them 40–60 cents on the dollar. They get immediate cash. You file the motion as the assignee of the claim and collect 100% from the court.
Some private investors fund claim purchases in exchange for a share of the profit. You find and structure the deal; they supply the capital. As you build a track record with Method 1 closings, funding partners become easy to find. Start with Method 1 to build cash, then deploy into Method 2 purchases.
Sign every creditor on a Method 1 contingency agreement first. Zero capital deployed. Lead is locked. As you progress — and especially after filing — gauge the creditor's patience. If they push for speed or want out early, offer the buyout conversion.
Why this is the default approach: You enter every deal risk-free. You only deploy capital on claims that are already verified, filed, and nearly certain to pay. By the time you offer the buyout, you know the court has the money, the motion is clean, and the order is coming. Your risk is minimal.
| Method | Capital Needed | Your % of Claim | Risk Level | Best When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 — Finder Fee | $0 | 25–40% | Low | Starting out; all early cases |
| M2 — Buy Claim | 40–60¢ on $ | 100% | Medium | Impatient creditor; capital available; verified claim |
| M3 — Hybrid | $0 to start | 25–100% (flexible) | Low→Med | Default approach — every single deal |
Use these word-for-word. Change only the bracketed fields. Every line is optimized for this specific type of call.
| Objection | Your Exact Response |
|---|---|
| "This sounds like a scam." | "Completely understand. Look up Case Number [XXX] on PACER.gov — that's the official federal court system. Your company's name is in the docket. You can also call the court clerk directly. I make zero money unless you get paid." |
| "Why haven't I heard about this?" | "Courts are required to hold the money but they're not required to track you down and notify you. That's exactly why billions in distributions go unclaimed every year — no one tells creditors the money is there." |
| "Can I just do this myself?" | "You can file pro se in most districts — the courts actually allow it. It requires a motion citing specific federal rules, proper exhibits, and service on required parties. I've done it many times and I'm faster and more accurate than a first-timer. But you can absolutely verify everything with the court yourself first — I encourage it." |
| "Your fee is too high." | "Without this call, this money never comes to you — it stays in the court indefinitely. I'm the only reason it moves. That said — what feels fair to you? I'm flexible. Let's find a number we both agree on." |
| "The company is dissolved." | "Very common situation. The right to the funds belongs to the former principals — that's you as a former officer. I'll research exactly what this specific court needs to confirm your authority before we file anything. I do that work first so we know what we're dealing with before you sign anything." |
| "I need to think about it." | "Of course. While you're thinking — is your main concern the fee percentage, the timeline, or just verifying this is real? I want to make sure I answer the right question before we hang up." |
Hi [Name],
I came across your profile while researching a matter related to [Company Name], where you served as [Title].
I located [$amount] in unclaimed funds held by the federal bankruptcy court from the [Bankrupt Company] case — Case No. [XXX]. These funds were distributed to [Company Name] but the check was returned undeliverable and has been sitting in the court registry since [year].
I recover these funds for former creditors. No cost to you — my fee comes only from the recovery. Filing is handled directly with the court.
Are you the right person to discuss this, or could you point me to another former officer of [Company Name]? I can share the court documentation immediately.
Best,
[Your Name] · [Your Company] · [Phone]
Subject: [$Amount] Federal Court Funds — [Their Company Name]
Dear [Name],
Following up on my call today — I've confirmed that [$amount] in unclaimed funds is held in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court registry belonging to [Their Company Name].
These funds originate from the [Bankrupt Company] bankruptcy, Case No. [XXX], filed in the [District]. A distribution was made to your company, but the check was returned undeliverable and has remained in the court registry since [year].
I have attached the court record confirming the funds. My service is 100% contingency. I file the claim directly with the bankruptcy court — no attorney fees come out of your share.
You may verify directly with the court clerk at [clerk phone], referencing Case No. [XXX].
I will follow up on [day]. Please don't hesitate to call me directly at [your phone].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Company]
Three documents. Use them as-is. All brackets are fill-in fields. Copy button on each.
CONTINGENCY FEE AND AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of [Date], between [Creditor Company Name], a [State] [LLC / Corporation / etc.] ("Client"), and [Your Company Name], a [State LLC / Corporation] ("Agent").
1. ENGAGEMENT. Client engages Agent to identify, file for, and recover unclaimed funds held in the registry of the United States Bankruptcy Court in the matter of [Bankrupt Company Name], Case No. [XXX] (the "Funds"), in the approximate amount of [$Amount].
2. AUTHORIZATION. Client authorizes Agent to: (a) act as Client's representative in all matters related to recovery of the Funds; (b) prepare and file, or arrange for the filing of, any required motions or applications with the Court; (c) communicate with the Court, trustee, and all relevant parties regarding the Funds; and (d) direct distribution of proceeds as set forth herein.
3. CONTINGENCY FEE. Agent's fee is [X]% of the total gross amount recovered ("Fee"). The Fee is deducted from recovery proceeds before disbursement to Client. Client receives [100 minus X]% of the gross recovery. If no funds are recovered, Client owes Agent nothing.
4. COSTS. Agent bears all costs of recovery including filing fees and research costs. These are included in Agent's contingency fee and are not charged separately to Client.
5. FEE LIEN. Client grants Agent a lien on the Funds and any proceeds thereof in the amount of Agent's Fee. This lien attaches upon execution of this Agreement and is enforceable regardless of where the Funds are held.
6. EXCLUSIVITY. Client agrees not to engage any other party to recover the Funds during the term of this Agreement without Agent's prior written consent, and agrees to promptly notify Agent of any contact from any third party regarding the Funds.
7. TERM. This Agreement remains in effect until the Funds are recovered or either party terminates in writing with 30 days' notice. Termination does not extinguish Agent's Fee lien if a claim has already been filed with the Court.
8. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of [Your State].
Client Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Printed Name & Title: [Name, Title]
Agent Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Printed Name & Title: [Your Name, Your Title]
ASSIGNMENT OF CLAIM AGREEMENT
This Assignment of Claim Agreement is made as of [Date], between [Creditor Company Name] ("Assignor") and [Your Company Name] ("Assignee").
RECITALS. Assignor is a creditor in the bankruptcy proceeding captioned [Bankrupt Company Name], Case No. [XXX], in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the [District]. Assignor has an unclaimed distribution of approximately [$Amount] held in the Court's registry (the "Claim Proceeds").
1. ASSIGNMENT. For valuable consideration, Assignor irrevocably assigns, transfers, and conveys to Assignee all of Assignor's right, title, and interest in and to: (a) the Claim Proceeds; (b) all rights to file for, recover, or receive the Claim Proceeds from the Court or any custodian; and (c) any interest accrued thereon.
2. PURCHASE PRICE. In consideration for the Assignment, Assignee shall pay Assignor [$Purchase Price] by [wire / certified check / ACH] within [3–5] business days of full execution. Payment constitutes full and final consideration.
3. REPRESENTATIONS BY ASSIGNOR. Assignor represents that: (a) Assignor is the rightful owner of the Claim Proceeds; (b) no prior assignment, pledge, or encumbrance exists; (c) Assignor has full authority to execute this Agreement; and (d) no prior claim or motion has been filed to recover the Claim Proceeds.
4. COOPERATION. Assignor agrees to execute any additional documents, authorizations, or affidavits reasonably requested by Assignee or the Court to effectuate recovery of the Claim Proceeds.
5. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties regarding the Assignment. It is binding on successors and assigns of both parties.
ASSIGNOR — Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Printed Name & Title: [Name, Title] · Company: [Company Name]
ASSIGNEE — Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Printed Name & Title: [Your Name, Your Title] · Company: [Your Company]
The baseline: Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9010, any party may represent themselves. For individuals filing a standard unclaimed funds application, pro se is almost universally accepted. For corporations and LLCs, it depends on the specific federal district. Some districts have written local rules requiring a licensed bar member. Others explicitly permit business entity filings without counsel. The two most important confirmed examples are below — and the rule for every district you work must be verified before you invest time in a business claim.
| District | Individuals | Corporations / LLCs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.D. Virginia (EDVA) | Pro Se OK — must attach LBR 2090-1 certification | Attorney Required — explicitly stated in local rules: "Applications filed by parties who are not individuals — including corporations, LLCs, and business trusts — must be signed and filed by a member in good standing of the Bar of this Court" | EDVA Local Rule 3011-1; vaeb.uscourts.gov (confirmed in writing) |
| D.C. Bankruptcy Court | Pro Se OK | Effectively Attorney Required — court rejected a Dilks & Knopik application because their agent (Brian Dilks) signed instead of the actual creditor. Judge ruled only the creditor with personal knowledge — or their admitted attorney — could certify the application. | In re Filloramo, D.C. Bankruptcy Court — in this specific district, the judge required the creditor to personally certify; agent signature was not accepted. D&K has successfully filed across hundreds of other districts. This is a D.C.-specific practice, not a universal rule. |
| E.D. Pennsylvania (EDPA) | Pro Se OK | Verify Before Filing — Local Rule 3011-1 exists; court has history of scrutiny on business entity claims; current practice must be confirmed with clerk directly | EDPA local rules at paeb.uscourts.gov; call clerk: 215-408-2800 |
| N.D. Illinois (Chicago) | Pro Se OK | Pro Se OK with Documentation — use Form 1340, provide notarized proof of authority, serve U.S. Attorney; no attorney requirement stated | ilnb.uscourts.gov unclaimed funds instructions |
| D. Massachusetts | Pro Se OK | Pro Se OK — explicitly stated — MLBR 9010-1(g) does NOT apply to unclaimed funds applications; business entities need not be represented by counsel | mab.uscourts.gov — written explicitly in their instructions |
| W.D. Michigan | Pro Se OK | Pro Se OK — Locator with POA — explicitly has a separate "Application for Release of Unclaimed Funds (Funds Locator)" form; you file with notarized POA from creditor | miwb.uscourts.gov — locator form exists and is provided by the court |
| S.D. Ohio, D. Oregon, W.D. Tenn., D. Maryland | Pro Se OK | Pro Se OK with Documentation — authorized representative files; notarized POA required if filing as agent; no attorney mandate | ohsb, orb, tnwb, mdb.uscourts.gov respectively |
| All Other Districts (80+) | Generally Pro Se OK | Verify First — 3 Minutes — most permit business entity pro se with proper documentation; ALWAYS call clerk before first filing in any new district | Call clerk: "Does this court require an attorney for a business entity filing an unclaimed funds application?" |
One District, One Judge, One Ruling — What It Actually Means: In a D.C. bankruptcy case (In re Filloramo), a judge in that specific court rejected an application because the agent signed instead of the creditor. Dilks & Knopik has filed successfully across hundreds of districts over 20+ years and built a $75M+ business doing exactly this work — one ruling in one district does not define the field. What it does tell you is that the D.C. district specifically requires the creditor to certify personally, and that some judges anywhere may scrutinize agent-signed filings. The practical takeaway: know your district's expectations. In courts that require the creditor to certify — have the creditor sign the certification. In courts that accept agent filings with a notarized POA — your POA process works. The protocol is not universal; it is district-specific. This is why the pre-filing clerk call matters.
| # | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go to the district court website → find their specific unclaimed funds instructions and download their form (Director's Form 1340 or local equivalent) | Using a generic form gets an immediate deficiency notice. The court's own form is free and is the only accepted form in most districts. |
| 2 | Check whether the district requires an attorney for business entity claimants — call the clerk if not stated on the website | EDVA requires it in writing. D.C. effectively requires it. Others vary. Three minutes on the phone before investing days of work. |
| 3 | Get the creditor's application notarized — every district requires this | No district reviewed accepts an un-notarized application. This is universal. Build notarization into your closing process — have the creditor sign in front of a notary before you do anything else. |
| 4 | Collect unredacted government photo ID from the creditor's authorized signer (driver's license or passport showing current address) | Every district requires proof of identity of the signing representative. If their ID address doesn't match records, application is returned. |
| 5 | If you are filing as the agent/locator: prepare a notarized power of attorney from the creditor authorizing you to act | Required in most districts when the applicant is not the claimant themselves. Without POA, your filing is deficient regardless of how accurate the underlying claim is. |
| 6 | Serve the U.S. Attorney for the specific district and division — address is on the court's unclaimed funds instructions page | Required in every district. Missing service is automatic grounds for rejection or delay. |
| 7 | Include a completed W-9 (or court-specified tax form) signed by the claimant | Required for the court to issue payment. EDVA specifically requires W-9 — they no longer accept AO 213 forms. Check which form each district requires. |
National search tool: ucfl.uscourts.gov — the U.S. Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator. Searches multiple bankruptcy districts simultaneously. Not every court participates, but it is the fastest cross-district search available and is free.
Dilks & Knopik has collected over $75 million for 20,000+ clients since 2002. They are not lawyers. They are researchers. Their operation tells you exactly how to build yours:
| Their Reason | The Accurate Picture |
|---|---|
| "Corporations need an attorney" | Confirmed only in EDVA and effectively D.C. The other 90+ districts accept business entity filings without counsel when documentation is correct. Know the district, do the pre-work. |
| "The business is dissolved" | Former officers retain authority to collect on behalf of a wound-up entity. Research the specific judge's history on PACER before investing time — 20 minutes of research tells you exactly what you face. |
| "Too much documentation" | One extra form beyond an individual claim: a notarized officer authorization. Most courts provide the exact form. 15 minutes of additional prep per case. |
| "Business claims are too competitive" | Opposite is true. Most finders in this space chase individuals. Business creditor claims are avoided by the majority, which means the highest-value claims face the least competition. |
| "Too complex" | It is more complex than an individual claim on the first filing. By the third filing it is routine. The economics — $25K vs $500 average claim — make it worth the learning curve every time. |
| # | Document | What It Is | Where You Get It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motion to Reclaim Unclaimed Funds | Core filing. Cites Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3011 and 28 U.S.C. § 2042. Names claimant, case, and amount. | Use template below |
| 2 | Exhibit A — Court Registry Confirmation | The page from court's unclaimed funds report showing the creditor's balance | Downloaded from court website or PACER |
| 3 | Exhibit B — Claimant Authority Documentation | Shows the signer is authorized for the entity (officer cert, SOS record, affidavit) | Secretary of State + signer's affidavit |
| 4 | Exhibit C — Original Proof of Claim | The creditor's original Proof of Claim from the bankruptcy case | Downloaded from PACER (~$0.30) |
| 5 | Proposed Order | A draft order for the judge to sign directing release of funds | Use template below |
| 6 | Certificate of Service | Proof that required parties (trustee, U.S. Trustee) received notice | You prepare after mailing notice copies |
| Day | What Happens | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Motion filed via PACER/ECF or by mail (check district rules) | Save filing receipt and docket entry number |
| Day 1–5 | Clerk reviews for completeness | Watch for any deficiency notice in your email or on PACER |
| Day 7–21 | Notice period — trustee and U.S. Trustee may object (extremely rare for clean cases) | Monitor docket for any objection filings |
| Day 21–45 | Judge signs the Order (usually without a hearing) | Check docket for the signed Order |
| Day 45–90 | Clerk processes check and mails it | Confirm mailing address on file is correct |
| Day 90–150 | Escheated Treasury funds take longer — court must request from Treasury | Follow up with clerk at Day 60 and Day 90 for status |
Follow-up call script for the clerk's office: "Hi, I'm calling to check on a Motion to Reclaim Unclaimed Funds filed on [date] for [Creditor Name] in Case No. [XXX]. Can you tell me the current status?" Clerks give status updates freely. Call at Day 30 and Day 50 if you have not received an order.
Your entire business on one screen. Data saves automatically in your browser — it will still be here when you return.
| ID | Creditor Name | Case # | Dist. | Amount $ | Method | Status | Fee % | Net Est. | Owner/Contact | Phone | Notes | Del |
|---|
Model any deal before you commit. Move the sliders to see your exact numbers instantly.
How to use AI to do 80% of your repetitive work — filtering reports, researching businesses, drafting emails, summarizing dockets, and scoring leads — so you focus only on calls and closings.
Download a court unclaimed funds Excel file. Paste the data into Claude or ChatGPT. Prompt: filter for business entities above $2,500, sorted by amount descending. A 1,000-row spreadsheet is processed in under 10 seconds.
Give AI the company name, state, and approximate year of operation. It aggregates LinkedIn, news, SEC filings, and public sources to identify officers, principals, and current whereabouts.
Give AI the creditor name, contact name, amount, case number, and bankrupt company. It writes a professional, non-generic first contact email ready to send in 30 seconds.
Copy and paste the docket text from PACER. Ask AI: "Has any motion to reclaim unclaimed funds been filed? What is the current status of distributions?" Cuts 20-minute docket reviews to 2 minutes.
Paste your filtered lead list. Ask AI to score each lead 1–10 based on: amount, years since case closed, entity type, and industry. Returns a ranked, prioritized list in seconds.
Give AI the case details, claimant name, and amount. It drafts the full Motion to Reclaim citing the correct federal rules. You review, sign, and file. Saves 45 minutes per case.
Download updated unclaimed funds reports from SDFL (monthly), SDNY (quarterly), DDel, EDVA, CDCA. Check your calendar for which are due this week.
Paste each report into your AI tool with Prompt 1. Get back business-entity leads above $2,500 sorted by amount. Five districts in 25 minutes — something that used to take half a day.
For your top 10 leads by amount: pull TFR and docket. Use Prompt 4 to summarize each docket in 2 minutes instead of 20. Confirm no prior claims filed. Green-light leads go into your Pipeline Tracker.
OpenCorporates + LinkedIn for each verified lead. Use Prompt 2 for any that don't yield through direct search. Log contact info into Pipeline Tracker.
Use Prompt 3 to generate personalized first-contact emails for each lead in 30 seconds each. Make your calls using the scripts in the Scripts tab. Log all activity in Pipeline Tracker. Follow up on anyone who didn't respond to prior week's outreach.
One person running this workflow can process 50+ leads per week, verify 15–20, and contact 12–15 — with no paid database subscriptions beyond PACER. When volume justifies it, add ZoomInfo for instant B2B contact data. Until then, AI + free sources is your entire research stack.
Atul Gawande proved that checklists prevent expert failure — not because experts don't know what to do, but because complexity causes drift. Every recovery has 6 stages. Each stage has failure points that cost real money. These checklists catch them before they do.
These are not theoretical. They are reverse-engineered from firms like Dilks & Knopik that have quietly built $75M+ operations. Most people in this business never discover these. The ones who do build empires.
Most operators in this business think transactionally: find a claim, close it, move on. Top firms think relationally. A single Fortune 500 company was a creditor in potentially hundreds of bankruptcy cases over its history — as a vendor, lender, landlord, or service provider. That company has unclaimed distributions sitting in court registries across dozens of districts simultaneously.
A verified BBB reviewer wrote about Dilks & Knopik: "I was contacted by [their associate] over a 2-year period. For the first year I did not act on their findings. She did not give up. When I finally acted, I had $2,000 that I had no idea was there."
Two years. On a $2,000 case. Most operators give up after two calls. D&K followed up for two years. That creditor eventually signed. That is not stubbornness — it is a systematic follow-up engine that treats every verified lead as a long-term asset.
The math of persistence: If 20% of your cold/unresponsive leads convert in year 2 and another 10% in year 3, a pipeline of 200 unresponsive leads is worth $40,000–$80,000 in future revenue that costs you almost nothing to capture. Your pipeline is a long-term asset. Treat it like one.
Dilks & Knopik specifically advertises: A+ BBB rating since 2003. Zero AG complaints in all 50 states. Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance. A formal Service Agreement defining their responsibilities.
These are not just feel-good credentials. They are a closing tool. When a skeptical CFO or corporate attorney asks "why should I trust you?" — a BBB A+ rating, insurance certificate, and zero complaints record closes that objection instantly. Most operators have none of these.
D&K specifically mentions their Service Agreement as a client protection document that defines their responsibilities. This is the opposite of how most operators think about agreements — most think of it purely as a fee protection tool.
When you present your agreement, lead with what it does for the client: "This agreement spells out exactly what we will do, the timeline, how you'll be kept informed, and that you owe us nothing if we don't collect. It's as much for your protection as ours."
A corporate client's legal department will review your agreement before signing. An agreement that reads as client-protective — not just fee-protective — gets through legal review faster and generates referrals.
Every amateur in this business is mining the same SDNY and Delaware reports everyone knows about. Top operators systematically work the districts no one focuses on — and the case characteristics that deter everyone else.
| The "Dead Zone" | Why Others Avoid It | Why You Should Work It |
|---|---|---|
| Cases 10–20 years old | People assume funds are gone or the creditor is untraceable | Funds are still claimable under 28 U.S.C. § 2042. No competition. Creditor is easier to find now — they've had more time to leave a digital footprint. Escheated funds (Treasury) just require one extra step. |
| Small Midwest and Southern districts | NDOH, SDOH, EDKY, NDAL, SDMS, NDWV — no one downloads these reports | Every district has unclaimed funds. These registries are untouched. One download of a district nobody's looking at can produce 20 exclusive leads. |
| Dissolved creditor entities | Extra work to find the officer; some courts require more documentation | Zero competition. Every other finder skipped this lead. The extra 2 hours of work is yours alone. A $40,000 dissolved entity claim with no competition is worth more than a $60,000 active entity claim with 5 people racing to close it. |
| Claims under $5,000 | Too small for most operators to bother | Batch them. If you find 40 claims averaging $3,000 in one district's report, that's $120,000 in potential gross recovery. Process them in batches — same filing template, same district, minimal incremental work per case. Volume creates income even at small sizes. |
| Chapter 12 (family farm/fishing) cases | Almost nobody works these | Small but consistent unclaimed fund situations. Rural districts. Completely uncontested. If you work agricultural states, this is an untapped layer. |
| Post-M&A successor entity claims | Documentation complexity deters most finders | The acquiring company has a legal department that can produce chain-of-ownership documentation in one afternoon. These close fast once you find the right contact. And the amounts tend to be large — acquired companies were often significant creditors. |
The exclusive district rotation: Build a calendar of every district's unclaimed funds report publication schedule. Download each one the week it's published. Work it before anyone else sees it. The first person to verify and contact a creditor on a fresh report has a near-monopoly on that lead.
D&K's ZoomInfo profile notes they rely on "referrals, and direct client engagement to build a network." After 20 years, a significant portion of their business comes inbound — people finding them, referring others, or returning as repeat clients. This is the end state you are building toward.
When D&K says they cover "unclaimed funds, court claims, stale dated warrants, tax overpayments, and class action claims" — they are not just offering multiple services. They are running a comprehensive audit against every client across every category simultaneously. One company. Five categories. Multiple recoveries.
Search the client's legal name + all known former names + all known subsidiaries across PACER and ucfl.uscourts.gov. This is what you specialize in. Run it across all 94 districts.
Search topclassactions.com, classaction.org, and PACER class action dockets for any settlements the company may have qualified for as a class member. Companies in retail, technology, financial services, and healthcare are particularly frequent class members in antitrust, data breach, and price-fixing settlements.
Search for uncashed government checks from: IRS (tax refunds), HHS, VA, DOD contractor payments, USDA, SBA loan refunds. Each agency has its own unclaimed payment process. This requires agency-specific research but the amounts can be substantial.
Run a quick search on missingmoney.com and the company's home state unclaimed property database. If you find something, refer to a state unclaimed property specialist and take a referral fee. This is not your core competency but it builds goodwill and positions you as the comprehensive resource.
Deliver a one-page "Unclaimed Assets Audit Report" showing every category searched, what was found, estimated recovery value, and recommended next steps. Even if only one category produces results, the report demonstrates thoroughness and justifies an ongoing monitoring retainer.
The audit report as a sales tool: A corporate client who receives a professional multi-category audit report — even if it only shows $15,000 in court registry funds — immediately understands the value of ongoing monitoring. "If we found this in one audit, what has accumulated since the last time anyone looked?" That question sells the retainer for you.
D&K's website states: "Dilks & Knopik makes it a point to be honest and upfront with our clients. No information pertinent to a case will be withheld from the client." This is not a values statement. It is a business strategy that eliminates the most common objection in this industry — that the finder knows something the client doesn't and is exploiting them.
The operators who hide information lose long-term. Telling a creditor the case number costs you nothing — they can't file the claim themselves without weeks of work, a notary, serving the U.S. Attorney, and knowing exactly which forms to use. Your value is not the information. Your value is the execution. Operators who understand this stay in business for 20 years. Operators who think their value is secrecy get disrupted the moment the creditor learns to Google.
D&K has been running since 2002. In 20+ years, every case they worked, every client they contacted, every district they filed in — that is a proprietary database no competitor can replicate. This is the ultimate moat in this business.
The compounding advantage: Year 1 you are learning. Year 3 you have systems. Year 5 you have a network. Year 10 you have a moat. D&K's $75M was not built in one year — it was built by compounding every case, every contact, every district into institutional knowledge that takes a decade to replicate. Start building it on Day 1.
The goal: a business that runs research, monitors filings, tracks case status, and generates outreach — with minimal manual input. Here is every tool, every automation, and every income layer available to you right now.
PACER has a built-in notification system called ECF (Electronic Case Filing) Notifications. Once you are set up, you can request email alerts on any case. Every time a new document is filed in that case — including the Order granting your motion — you receive an email automatically.
Go to the specific district's ECF login (e.g., ecf.vaeb.uscourts.gov for EDVA). Log in with your PACER credentials.
In the ECF menu: Utilities → Maintain Your Email → Add email notifications for specific cases. Enter the case number. Select: notify me of ALL filings, or specific event types (Orders, Judgments).
Use a dedicated email address for PACER alerts — not your main inbox. Create a Gmail filter that labels all PACER emails and forwards urgent ones (containing "ORDER" or "PAYMENT") to your phone as a push notification.
When your Order is signed, you get an email within minutes. When any objection is filed, you get an email. When the case is administratively closed, you get an email. No manual PACER checking required.
Note: ECF notification access varies slightly by district. Some districts require you to be a registered ECF filer to receive notifications — which means either your attorney receives them and forwards to you, or you register as a pro se ECF filer in that district. Call the clerk and ask: "Can a pro se filer receive ECF email notifications on a case?" Most allow it.
CourtListener is a free service run by the Free Law Project. It monitors federal court dockets and sends email alerts when new documents are filed. Coverage is not 100% of all districts but is expanding. Set up an alert for any case number and receive notifications without logging into PACER.
Takes 2 minutes. Free forever for basic docket alerts.
Enter the bankruptcy case number. If it's in their database, it will appear. Click "Get Alerts" on the case.
Choose: real-time, daily digest, or weekly. Set to real-time for active filings you are monitoring.
PACER has an API (Application Programming Interface) that developers can query programmatically. Combined with Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat), you can build automated workflows that:
This requires some technical setup. Use a freelancer from Upwork (search "PACER API automation") — typically a one-time cost of $200–$500 to build. Once running, it monitors every case you have filed with zero manual effort.
| Task | Tool | Cost | Time Saved/Week | How to Set Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filter court reports for business entities above threshold | Claude / ChatGPT | $20/mo | 3–5 hrs | Paste Excel data into AI chat. Use Prompt 1 from AI tab. Done in 30 seconds per district. |
| Summarize PACER dockets for red flags | Claude / ChatGPT | $20/mo | 4–8 hrs | Copy docket text from PACER. Paste into AI with Prompt 4. 2 minutes vs 20 minutes per case. |
| Research business officers and find contact info | Clay.com | $149/mo | 5–10 hrs | Enter company name list. Clay auto-runs OpenCorporates, LinkedIn, and web searches. Returns contact data automatically. |
| Draft personalized outreach emails | Claude + Clay | $20–$149/mo | 2–4 hrs | Clay enriches contacts. Claude writes personalized emails based on the company name, amount, and case details. Merge and send via Gmail or Instantly.ai. |
| Send outreach email sequences automatically | Instantly.ai or Lemlist | $37–$59/mo | 3–5 hrs | Upload your contact list. Set up 5-email sequence from Scripts tab. Tool sends, tracks opens, and stops sequence automatically when someone replies. |
| Monitor PACER dockets for order status | CourtListener (free) or PACER ECF alerts | $0 | 2–4 hrs | Set up case alerts. Receive email when order is filed. No manual checking. |
| Score and prioritize leads | Claude / ChatGPT | $20/mo | 1–2 hrs | Paste lead list. Use Prompt 5 from AI tab. Get ranked list in 30 seconds. |
| Draft motion language | Claude | $20/mo | 1 hr/case | Use Prompt 6 from AI tab. Claude drafts the motion in 60 seconds. You or your attorney review and file. |
| Download court reports on a schedule | Make.com (formerly Integromat) | $9/mo | 1–2 hrs | Set up a scheduled scenario that visits each court URL and downloads the unclaimed funds report. Runs automatically monthly or quarterly. |
| Update Pipeline Tracker from email | Zapier + Google Sheets | $20/mo | 1–2 hrs | Zapier watches your email for PACER notifications. When "ORDER" is detected, it updates the corresponding row in your Google Sheets pipeline to "Order Received" automatically. |
| Send creditor status update emails | Zapier + Gmail | $20/mo | 1 hr | When Pipeline status changes to "Order Received," Zapier auto-sends the creditor a pre-written "Great news — the court has approved your claim" email. You never manually send status updates again. |
| Generate weekly pipeline report | Claude + Google Sheets | $20/mo | 1 hr | Export Pipeline Tracker CSV. Paste into Claude: "Summarize this pipeline — how many cases in each stage, total pending revenue, cases needing attention this week." 30-second weekly briefing. |
This $20/month stack saves 15–25 hours per week. At your hourly value of $200–$400 (based on fee income), that is $3,000–$10,000 per week in recovered time — every week, forever.
Full advanced stack: ~$245/month. Eliminates 30–40 hours of manual work per week. At 50 cases/month this stack pays for itself on the first case filed each month.
Most operators have one income stream — the contingency fee. A mature operation has 8. Each builds on the last. You do not need all 8 on Day 1. Build them in sequence as your volume justifies each one.
| # | Income Stream | Type | When to Add | Realistic Monthly Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contingency Finder Fee (Method 1) 25–40% of recovered funds. Your core business. |
Active | Day 1 | $5K–$120K depending on volume and claim size |
| 2 | Claim Purchase Profit (Method 2) Buy at 40–60¢, collect 100%. Capital required. |
Active | Month 4+ (once you have capital from M1) | $8K–$100K+ depending on capital deployed |
| 3 | Fund Monitoring Retainer $200–$500/mo per corporate client to continuously monitor all 94 districts for their entity names. |
Recurring | Month 3+ (after first corporate recovery) | $2K–$15K/mo from 10–30 retainer clients |
| 4 | Initial Corporate Audit Fee $500–$2,500 one-time fee to run a comprehensive historical audit across all districts and asset types. |
Active | Month 3+ (pitch after first corporate contact) | $3K–$20K/mo depending on corporate pipeline |
| 5 | Class Action Claims Recovery 25–35% contingency on class action settlement recoveries for corporate clients. |
Active | Month 6+ (add to every corporate audit) | $2K–$30K/mo as corporate client base grows |
| 6 | Stale Dated Warrant Recovery 25–35% contingency on uncashed government warrants/checks from federal agencies. |
Active | Month 6+ (natural add-on to court claims) | $1K–$15K/mo as you develop the research process |
| 7 | Referral Fees 5–10% of gross fee on leads you refer to other specialists (tax overpayments, state unclaimed property, probate situations outside your scope). |
Passive | Month 2+ (formalize referral relationships early) | $500–$5K/mo as your network grows |
| 8 | Training / Licensing Your System License your research system, checklists, and processes to other operators for a flat fee or revenue share. D&K's knowledge after 20 years is itself worth millions. |
Passive/Recurring | Year 3+ (after you have a documented, proven system) | $5K–$50K/mo at scale |
Focus entirely on Method 1 finder fee cases. Get 10 signed agreements. Get 5 filed. Learn the filing process. Build your pipeline. Do not add any new streams until you have consistent monthly income from Stream 1.
Once you have capital from Stream 1 payouts, start converting the best leads to Method 2 purchases. Simultaneously, pitch your first recovered corporate clients on monitoring retainers. These two additions can double your income without doubling your workload.
Add corporate audits as a front-end fee. Add class action and stale warrant research to every corporate audit. Now every corporate client generates 3–5 income events instead of 1.
Build referral relationships with bankruptcy attorneys, CPAs, and business brokers. Implement the advanced automation stack. Hire your first researcher or VA. The business begins running systems instead of people.
If you have a documented, repeatable system with a track record, licensing or training becomes a natural extension. Your experience after 3 years is genuinely worth money to new entrants.
The goal: every Monday at 8am, you receive an email containing: (1) new leads from this week's court reports, already filtered and scored, (2) status updates on every active filing, (3) any creditors who opened your emails but haven't responded, (4) cases approaching their 30-day or 50-day follow-up call date.
You spend 30 minutes reviewing the briefing, making calls, and taking action. The research, monitoring, and tracking happened automatically while you were doing other things.
In Make.com, create a scenario that runs on the 1st of each month. It visits each court URL, downloads the unclaimed funds report, and saves it to a shared Google Drive folder. You wake up on the 1st with all reports already downloaded.
A second Make.com scenario reads each downloaded file and sends the data to Claude or ChatGPT via API with Prompt 1. The AI returns a filtered, scored lead list. Make.com appends new leads to your Google Sheets pipeline automatically.
CourtListener sends email alerts when orders are filed. Zapier watches your email inbox for CourtListener alerts. When detected: parse the case number from the email, find the matching row in Google Sheets, update status to "Order Received," trigger the creditor notification email.
Every Monday, Zapier exports your pipeline to a text summary and sends it to Claude with a prompt. Claude returns a prioritized action list. Zapier emails it to you.
The end state: You make calls. You close agreements. You review AI briefings. The research, monitoring, filtering, scoring, email sequencing, and pipeline tracking happen automatically. This is how a solo operator manages 50+ active cases simultaneously — the same way D&K manages their caseload with a small team of 10 people covering thousands of cases over 20 years.
You asked about the print issue — yes, it's because the file is running locally (file://). Browsers block popup windows from local files as a security measure. Once hosted, every feature works perfectly. Hosting options:
| Option | Cost | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netlify Drop | Free | 30 seconds | Go to netlify.com/drop, drag and drop the HTML file. You get a public URL instantly. Print works immediately. |
| GitHub Pages | Free | 10 minutes | Upload to a GitHub repository, enable Pages. Professional URL. Free forever. |
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| Private Web Server | $5–$10/mo | 30 minutes | Full control. Password-protect it. Only your students can access. Use DigitalOcean or Hostinger. |
Go to app.netlify.com/drop. Drag the HTML file onto the page. In 30 seconds you have a live URL. Share that URL with your students. Print works. All features work. Free.