Millions In Unclaimed Property Returned

By  //  October 18, 2014

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — One of the ways the Department of Financial Services is always working to put money back in the pockets of Floridians is through our Bureau of Unclaimed Property.

Jeff Atwater
Jeff Atwater

“Since 2011, $861 million in unclaimed property has been returned to its rightful owners.

Unclaimed property consists of dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. It can also include tangible belongings such as jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes. We work hard to return these unclaimed, lost or unknown funds to their rightful owners, and we are having more success than at any time in the program’s history.

Nearly 35 percent of all unclaimed property returned since the program’s creation in 1961 has occurred since 2011. Returned money not only benefits families, it also stimulates Florida’s economy by circulating additional discretionary income back into our local communities and businesses.

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Until claimed, unclaimed funds are deposited into Florida’s school fund for the benefit of public education. There is no statute of limitations, however, and consumers have the right to claim their property at any time, at no cost.

Our team’s tireless work to reunite Floridians with their money and property for the betterment of families, our economy and schools is tremendous. I encourage anyone who has ever resided in Florida or has relatives who live or have lived in our state, to visit www.fltreasurehunt.org. Our website has an unlimited “search” function, which allows you to create and print claim forms for any accounts to which you are entitled. Each claim form includes instructions and lists the documentation required to prove the claim.”

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