Missing money? $2.5 billion has been returned to Floridians since 2017
Missing money? 1 in 5 Florida residents have unclaimed cash, here’s how to search
- One in five Floridians may have unclaimed money or property.
- Florida residents can search for unclaimed property for free through FLTreasureHunt.gov and MissingMoney.com.
- Citizens can claim their property at any time, even after it has been transferred to the state.
With studies showing prices rising and employment dropping in the United States, it’s time to cut costs and build up your savings. But you might have money you didn’t even know about.
One in five Floridians have unclaimed funds and property in forgotten bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, abandoned safe deposit boxes and other locations. Since 2017, the state of Florida has returned about $2.7 billion to residents through the FLTreasureHunt.gov website.
All you have to do to get yours (if you have any) is ask. It’s free.
The average claim of $825, the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property said in February.
This can include money in old bank accounts, insurance and utility company accounts, securities and trust holdings, uncashed checks, traveler’s checks, life insurance benefits, trust distributions, customer overpayments, stocks and bonds, utility security deposits, and more.
It can even be tangible things like watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes.
Here’s how you can check for yourself.
What is Florida Treasure Hunt? What is missingmoney.com?
The FLTreasureHunt.gov site was established in 2017 to allow Florida residents to easily search for missing property.
About four million Floridians have unclaimed property waiting on them, the agency said, which means there’s a 1-in-5 chance some of it is yours.
Missingmoney.com is a nationwide search site. Both are free to use.
What happens to missing property in Florida that isn’t claimed?
Under Florida law, unclaimed money must be held by business or government entities for a set amount of time, usually about five years, while they try to track down the owners.
Then it’s deposited into the state school fund and used for public education, but there is no statute of limitations and citizens may claim their property at any time.
Some unclaimed property may be auctioned off to the public. The next one is in Orlando on Oct. 10 and 11, you can find the schedule and details here. The state also holds regular workshop events to educate the public about unclaimed property in Florida, with the next one in Tampa on Wednesday, Oct 8. Registration ends Oct. 2.
Does it cost anything to reclaim my missing property?
No, the service is completely free, per state law. Don’t trust any services promising to find them for you for a fee.
How do I search for my missing money in Florida?
You’ve got a couple of ways to check for your loose change, both free of charge.
Enter your name or the name of a family member to search for unclaimed property. If something pops up, click on it to see the amount (if available), who reported it, and how to claim it. You’ll have to prove you owned the account.
Be sure to search for different versions of your name, including common misspellings, nicknames, and even your last name and just the initial of your first name. If you are or were married, try a plural version of your last name with just THE after it, like SMITHS THE.
Once you submit a claim with proof of ID, the state has up to 90 days to make a determination. You can check the status here.
Can I claim property that belongs to a deceased relative?
You can claim property on behalf of a deceased person, provided you are the next of kin and can provide certified copies of official documentation that establishes your entitlement to the property and a certified death certificate for the owner.
Are there other ways to find missing money in Florida?
There are several different places to check for money or property that belongs to you.
