Sussex County, DE tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •The Sussex County Sheriff sells tax (monition) parcels at the monthly sheriff sale on the third Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Georgetown, alongside mortgage foreclosures. Check that the plaintiff is the Department of Finance of Sussex County to confirm a parcel is a tax sale.
• •Bring a $4,000 cash or certified deposit and photo ID, and be ready to pay the full monition bid by 3 p.m. the same day.
• •The owner can redeem within 60 days after the Superior Court confirms the sale, and you cannot take possession until that period ends.
• •For delinquent tax balances and partial payments, the Sussex County Finance Department's delinquent line is (302) 855-7831.

Delaware rules

Redemption

The clock starts at court approval, not at the auction. After the sheriff returns the writ, the Superior Court inquires into the regularity of the proceedings and approves the sale or sets it aside. County offices schedule that confirmation about a month after the sale (New Castle and Sussex: the first Friday after the third Monday of the month following the sale), so the owner's window in practice closes about three months after the auction. Sussex County tells buyers that access to a monition property is not granted until the 60 days after confirmation have run. If the purchaser refuses payment or cannot be found in the county, the owner may pay the amount into the Court. After redeeming, the owner may petition to have the redemption noted on the judgment record and then holds the parcel subject to the same liens as before the sale, except as the sale proceeds reduced them.9 Del. C. 8729, 60-day redemption at purchase price plus 15 percent9 Del. C. 8729Verified Sep 25, 2026

Deed deposit

No statutory deposit. County rules require payment in full for tax sales. New Castle County: $10,000 in certified funds at registration to get a bidder card, and for a Vend Exp Monition (tax) sale 100 percent of the bid or $10,000, whichever is greater, due at the time of sale; cash is not accepted. Sussex County: a $4,000 deposit in cash or certified funds to register, and 100 percent of the monition purchase price due by 3:00 p.m. on the day of sale. Kent County: $2,000 in certified funds per property at the time of bidding, with the balance due to the Sheriff's Office by 2:00 p.m. that day.9 Del. C. 8725, writ commanding the sheriff to sell9 Del. C. 8725Verified Sep 25, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Subchapter II (the monition method) contains no surplus section of its own. In the other two routes the statute is explicit: after an attachment sale in New Castle County the sheriff pays the judgment, interest and costs, then lienholders who were served with notice in priority order, then the former owner (9 Del. C. 8757); after a Kent or Sussex Subchapter IV sale the remainder is paid at once to the owner or banked to the owner's credit (9 Del. C. 8779). For monition sales the sheriff distributes proceeds under Superior Court supervision: New Castle County tells lienholders and owners to contact the Sheriff's Office about excess proceeds and sends proceeds unclaimed after 90 days to the Prothonotary, and the Superior Court publishes unclaimed sheriff's sale excess proceeds lists for each county. Verify the claim procedure with the county sheriff.9 Del. C. 8757, confirmation of an attachment sale and distribution of proceeds9 Del. C. 8757Verified Sep 25, 2026

Governing statute

9 Del. C. Chapter 87Delaware Code, Title 9, Chapter 87 (Collection of Delinquent Taxes)9 Del. C. Chapter 87Verified Sep 25, 2026

A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.

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