Summary of State Foreclosure Laws

If you're in foreclosure or are about to become delinquent on mortgage payments, it's crucial that you understand the foreclosure process. The information in the linked chart below summarizes some of the important features of each state's law on foreclosures.

You can also get details about foreclosure procedures in your state by clicking on your state's name.

What to Keep In Mind

The foreclosure information in the linked chart and articles is a summary of your state's laws. It's intended for owners of single-family residences and generally doesn't address special laws, like for agricultural land or the rights of tenants in foreclosed homes owned by their landlords.


Laws change. Foreclosure laws and procedures are complex and subject to change by legislatures and to interpretation by courts.

The linked information likely discusses only the most common method of foreclosure in your state. For example, the linked pages could provide information about nonjudicial foreclosures for the states where that is the most common procedure, even though judicial foreclosures are also allowed.

You can do additional research or talk to a lawyer to get more information. For the above reasons, you should use this information as a starting point for additional research. Citations to each state's statutes are often included so you can look up the laws themselves. To find out specific information about foreclosure laws in your state and how they apply to your particular situation, consult with a local foreclosure attorney.

Summary of How Foreclosures Work in Your State

To learn the basics about foreclosure laws in these states and others, see our Key Aspects of State Foreclosure Law: 50-State Chart.

For detailed information on the foreclosure process in your state, click on the relevant link below.

Links to State-Specific Foreclosure Articles

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Talk to a Foreclosure Lawyer

To get further information about how foreclosures work in your state and your rights during the process, talk to a foreclosure attorney.