Does a minor own the proceeds of a tax forclosure auction if they own the property being auctioned?

Question

In the state of New York a minor is the legal owner of a building (don't worry about how they came to own a building, but just assume they do).

At some point the property taxes on the building become past due and the building goes for auction. The property taxes owed were $15,000. But someone bids $50,000 for the building.

I assume the county would take $15,000 from the sale, but who would be the owner of the remaining $35,000. Would it be the the minor, minor's legal guardian, or some other entity.

Answer 1

The minor would be the beneficial owner of the foreclosure proceeds. Taking possession of those assets held for his or her benefit by the county official conducting the foreclosure might as a practical matter be difficult. The official could probably insist on having someone appointed to act for the minor's benefit before disbursing the funds.

Often, someone to represent the minor's interest would have been appointed in the foreclosure proceedings. Selfishly, this is because there are problems associated with the finality of a foreclosure obtained against an unrepresented minor that might not be resolved until the minor is 21 years old. So, often a guardian ad litem would be appointed in the proceeding and make arrangements for disposition of the funds (often under a Uniform Transfers To Minors' custodial account with a parent or guardian as custodian).

Even if there is a guardian, custodian, trustee, or conservator appointed for the minor, the minor would still be the beneficial owner of the proceeds. In the case of a guardian or conservator it is splitting fine and technical hairs but there is a legitimate argument that the minor is also still the legal owner of the funds but can only act through his or her court appointed guardian or conservator because the minor lacks legal capacity.