
STATE FORECLOSURE PROCEDURES VARY!
Each state has its own legislation regarding the foreclosure process of a property. It is important to know which type of mortgage instrument is used in your state. Currently, there exists two ways that a property is identified when a buyer purchases a home without paying the entire purchase price in cash. One is known as a mortgage and the other is known as a trust of deed. If a property enters into foreclosure and the property belongs to a state that uses mortgages, this property must be sold under the rules and regulations of a judicial foreclosure. Basically, the property cannot be foreclosed upon unless local legal requirements are adhered to and is supervised by court action. If the property belongs to a state that utilizes a trust of deed, then the property may be foreclosed upon using an auction or any type of sale deemed appropriate by a non-judicial entity, usually the trustee of the deed.
During a foreclosure in a state that is governed by rules and regulations of mortgages, court supervision must be present during the foreclosure proceeding. Initially, the lender, or mortgage financier must prove to the judicial body that the borrower is in default – or not making payments on the property in question. The lender must also provide documentation that the borrower was fully aware his property payments were in default. At this stage of the foreclosure process, an attorney usually represents the lender. The attorney will also be in contact with the homebuyer in an attempt to collect the monies owed to his client and to facilitate with any resolutions that may be available. Once all avenues of collection are exhausted, the attorney will file a lis pendens with the court with presiding jurisdiction. Lis Pendens is defined as "action pending". Lis Pendens is considered to be a public notice that the property in question is in a stage of foreclosure and that property may soon be available for new owners to purchase for an amount to be determined either by auction or sale.
| State | Judicial | Non-Judicial | State | Judicial | Non-Judicial |
| Alabama | ![]() |
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Montana | ![]() |
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| Alaska | ![]() |
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Nebraska | ![]() |
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| Arizona | ![]() |
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Nevada | ![]() |
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| Arkansas | ![]() |
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New Hampshire | ![]() |
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| California | ![]() |
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New Jersey | ![]() |
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| Colorado | ![]() |
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New Mexico | ![]() |
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| Connecticut | ![]() |
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New York | ![]() |
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| Delaware | ![]() |
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North Carolina | ![]() |
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| District of Columbia | ![]() |
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North Dakota | ![]() |
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| Florida | ![]() |
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Ohio | ![]() |
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| Georgia | ![]() |
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Oklahoma | ![]() |
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| Hawaii | ![]() |
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Oregon | ![]() |
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| Idaho | ![]() |
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Pennsylvania | ![]() |
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| Illinois | ![]() |
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Rhode Island | ![]() |
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| Indiana | ![]() |
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South Carolina | ![]() |
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| Iowa | ![]() |
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South Dakota | ![]() |
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| Kansas | ![]() |
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Tennessee | ![]() |
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| Kentucky | ![]() |
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Texas | ![]() |
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| Lousiana | ![]() |
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Utah | ![]() |
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| Maine | ![]() |
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Vermont | ![]() |
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| Maryland | ![]() |
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Virginia | ![]() |
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| Massachusetts | ![]() |
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Washington | ![]() |
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| Michigan | ![]() |
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West Virginia | ![]() |
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| Minnesota | ![]() |
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Wisconsin | ![]() |
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| Mississippi | ![]() |
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Wyoming | ![]() |
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| Missouri | ![]() |
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