State by state
Foreclosure laws and free help in every state
Foreclosure is governed by state law. In some states the lender must sue you in court. In others the home can be sold without a judge in a few months. Start with the page for the state where the home is.
Compare the states
“Judicial” means the lender has to file a lawsuit. “Nonjudicial” means a trustee can sell the home without going to court. “Redeem” means buying the home back after the sale. A “deficiency” is what you could still owe if the sale does not cover the loan.
| State | Process | Catch up to stop sale | Redeem after sale | Deficiency possible | Mediation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Nonjudicial | Limited | Yes | Yes | No statewide program |
| Alaska | Nonjudicial | Yes | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Arizona | Nonjudicial | Yes | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Arkansas | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| California | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Colorado | Nonjudicial | Yes | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Connecticut | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Judicial | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Florida | Judicial | Limited | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Georgia | Nonjudicial | No | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Hawaii | Judicial | Limited | No | Limited | Yes |
| Idaho | Nonjudicial | Yes | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Illinois | Judicial | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Judicial | Limited | No | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Kansas | Judicial | Limited | Yes | Yes | No statewide program |
| Kentucky | Judicial | No | Limited | Yes | No statewide program |
| Louisiana | Judicial | Limited | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Maine | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Maryland | Judicial | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Michigan | Nonjudicial | Limited | Yes | Yes | No statewide program |
| Minnesota | Nonjudicial | Yes | Yes | Limited | No statewide program |
| Mississippi | Nonjudicial | Yes | No | Yes | No statewide program |
| Missouri | Nonjudicial | Limited | Limited | Yes | No statewide program |
| Montana | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Nebraska | Nonjudicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Nevada | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Yes | No statewide program |
| New Jersey | Judicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| New Mexico | Judicial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York | Judicial | Limited | No | Limited | Yes |
| North Carolina | Nonjudicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| North Dakota | Judicial | Limited | Yes | Limited | No statewide program |
| Ohio | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Oregon | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Judicial | Yes | No | Limited | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Yes | Yes |
| South Carolina | Judicial | Limited | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| South Dakota | Both | Limited | Yes | Limited | No statewide program |
| Tennessee | Nonjudicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Texas | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Limited | No statewide program |
| Utah | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Vermont | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Virginia | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Yes | No statewide program |
| Washington | Nonjudicial | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| West Virginia | Nonjudicial | Limited | No | Yes | No statewide program |
| Wisconsin | Judicial | Limited | Limited | Limited | No statewide program |
| Wyoming | Nonjudicial | Limited | Yes | Yes | No statewide program |
One-word answers hide real conditions. Open your state’s page for the details and the statute behind each one.
Ask a question
Not sure what to do next? Ask.
Tell us where things stand. A person reads every message and writes back with the options that fit your situation and the free, official help available in your state.
- Free. There is nothing to buy and no fee, ever.
- No loan number, Social Security number or documents needed.
- We are not your lender, a law firm or a government agency.
If a sale is days away, do not wait for an email. Call a free HUD-approved housing counselor now at (800) 569-4287.