Terms of service

Who we are

Porchlight Claims is a document-preparation service operated by Tx Civil Help Inc, 5900 Balcones Dr #13025, Austin, TX 78731. We are not a law firm and we are not lawyers. We do not give legal advice or represent anyone. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any county, court or state.

What we do

At your direction, we prepare the documents a county office or court asks for to claim money left over from a tax sale or foreclosure. That means the county's claim form or, in Ohio counties that decide claims in court, a motion in the foreclosure case, filled in from the information you give us and the county's public records. It also means an ID checklist, notary instructions and a cover letter.

You review, sign and file every document yourself, in your own name. You make all decisions about your claim. We communicate by text and email only.

What we don't do

• We don't file anything for you or act as your agent.
• We don't take an assignment of your claim, a power of attorney, or any share of the money.
• We don't represent you before any office or court, and we don't tell you which legal position to take.
• We don't prepare claims for the estate or heirs of an owner who has died, or for businesses.

What we tell you about county and court procedures is general information, not legal advice.

Fees

• Owed under $10,000: $199 for a claim on the county's own form, or $299 for an Ohio claim filed as a motion in the foreclosure case.
• Owed $10,000 or more: $399.
• The amount owed is the amount the office holding the money confirms to us.
• You pay before we prepare anything, and only after we have found your name on the county's list and the office has confirmed the amount.
• If the county returns your packet because of a mistake in our documents, we correct it and send it again at no charge.
• Notary fees, postage, and any court or notice costs are yours to pay and are not part of our fee.
• Our fee is a flat fee. It is never a percentage of the money.

No guarantee of outcome

The county office or the court decides who is paid, how much and when. Others, such as lienholders, may claim the same money. We can't promise that you will be paid.

Time limits are yours

Claim time limits apply to you whether or not you use us. You are responsible for filing your claim in time.

Text messages

• Porchlight Claims texts about money a county lists in your name and about your claim packet.
• We text only people who asked us to. You can ask us for texts with the sign-up form on our home page, by texting us first, or by giving us your mobile number when you write to us.
• Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
• Reply STOP to stop all texts, permanently. Reply HELP for help, or email uma@porchlightclaims.com.
• Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
• Agreeing to receive texts is not a condition of any purchase.
• We never sell or share your mobile number. No mobile information is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. See our privacy policy.

Email

When you write to us, we may reply by email about your claim. Every email that isn't a reply to you carries an unsubscribe link.

Contact

Email uma@porchlightclaims.com, or write to Tx Civil Help Inc, 5900 Balcones Dr #13025, Austin, TX 78731.