Florida Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Florida is holding about $2.0 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at fltreasurehunt.gov, the official Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Florida’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is fltreasurehunt.gov, run by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property. Searching is free, and so is filing your claim. You never pay the state to get your own money, and you never need to hand over money to see what is waiting for you.
Search your last name first, then try maiden names, nicknames, and any business you owned. Florida lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property
Florida’s unclaimed property is held by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property. When a bank, employer, or insurer loses touch with you for the state’s dormancy period, it must turn your money over to this office, which then holds it for you to claim.
Florida's program, branded 'Florida Treasure Hunt,' is run by the Department of Financial Services under the Chief Financial Officer. Florida reports to MissingMoney.com and is one of the faster-paying states for simple claims. A Florida-specific note: the state auctions the contents of unclaimed safe-deposit boxes, but it holds the cash proceeds for the owner forever, so you can still claim the money later.
What’s specific to Florida
- Branded 'Florida Treasure Hunt' at fltreasurehunt.gov.
- Florida sells unclaimed safe-deposit box contents but keeps the cash proceeds for you indefinitely.
- Many single-owner cash claims under $1,000 are approved automatically.
How to claim in Florida
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search fltreasurehunt.gov
Search your name on Florida Treasure Hunt. Try maiden names and any Florida business you owned.
Add your accounts to a claim
Select each matching property. Florida lets you file one claim for multiple items.
Verify your identity
Provide your Social Security number and address. There is no fee.
Submit documents
Upload a government ID and proof of address. Larger claims may need notarized forms.
Get your money
Florida pays approved claims by check or direct deposit, often within a few weeks for simple claims.
Claiming for a deceased relative in Florida
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Florida will ask for more than a simple claim needs. Expect to provide a certified death certificate and proof that you are entitled to the estate — a will, letters testamentary, or a small-estate affidavit, depending on the amount.
Here’s the honest part: heir claims take longer than claims in your own name, sometimes several months, because the state verifies the chain of inheritance. If several heirs exist, each may need to sign. Our guide on claiming unclaimed money from deceased relatives walks through exactly which documents Florida accepts.
Dormancy periods in Florida
“Dormancy” is how long an account can sit untouched before the holder must report it to the state. It varies by property type:
| Property type | Dormancy period |
|---|---|
| Bank accounts | 5 years |
| Uncashed wages | 1 year |
| Utility deposits | 1 year |
| Insurance proceeds | 5 years |
| Stocks and dividends | 5 years |
| Money orders | 7 years |
Florida finder-fee cap
You do not need a finder. A finder is a company that offers to recover your money for a cut. Their letters are not a scam, but they are unnecessary — the same claim is free if you file it yourself.
Florida caps what a finder can charge at 20%, under Fla. Stat. §717.1351. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Florida unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. Florida Treasure Hunt is the official site of the Florida Department of Financial Services. Searching and claiming are free. Florida also reports to MissingMoney.com.
Yes. 'Found money' is another name for unclaimed property — money the state holds for you after a business loses touch. In Florida it is free to search and claim at fltreasurehunt.gov, and Florida also reports to MissingMoney.com.
Go to fltreasurehunt.gov and enter your name. Searching is free, and filing your claim is free — you never pay the state.
Simple single-owner cash claims are often paid within a few weeks. Claims involving securities, estates, or businesses take longer.
Under Fla. Stat. §717.1351, a finder's fee is capped at 20% and finders must be licensed. You never need a finder to claim in your own name.
Yes, as an heir, with a death certificate and estate documents. See our deceased-relative guide for the specifics.
Unclaimed property in nearby states
See all state guides, or read how to find unclaimed money in your name for free across every state and federal source.