Somewhere out there there could be money with your name on it.
It could be a little money, or it could be a lot. In some cases, the total could be tens of thousands of dollars. It comes from many sources: abandoned bank accounts and mailed checks that never clear. Unexpected dividends on stocks. In the haste and hassle of an interstate move, you forget about utility deposits. Reimbursements from medical practices after insurance checks are released.
Florida’s unclaimed real estate fund is holding an estimated $2.7 billion in funds that have gone missing, some from accounts that are a decade or older. It is estimated that approximately 20% of Floridians (or former Floridians) have at least one account that has been turned over to the state. In a perfect world, the companies that hold this money would be forced to return it to the rightful owners, but figuring out how to do this isn’t always easy; Florida law requires companies, financial institutions and government agencies to conduct “due diligence” to find owners, but even that isn’t always easy; A significant proportion of the people named in the state database are probably deceased. (This money can still be claimed by their qualified heirs).
Demanding money is not difficult. Floridians, former Florida residents and potential heirs of people who lived in Florida can visit www.fltreasurehunt.gov to begin a search. When property comes up, the site walks people through the process of filing a claim, which typically involves establishing your identity and a valid claim for financing. For a nationwide search, try another trustworthy website, MissingMoney.com (operated by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators), which redirects people to government websites.
In a few weeks – maybe a month or two – a check will appear. Make sure you redeem it this time.
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We could do better
There are a few things Florida could do better when dealing with unclaimed property, and the first starts with notification.
Under state law, money always flows into the fund, but it flows out more slowly. In April, the Florida Department of Financial Services announced a “record” total payout of more than $92 million in March, but that’s obviously just a fraction of the respective account totals. One of the biggest obstacles is simple ignorance: Floridians aren’t aware that they’re owed money, so they never look.
We suspect the state — which updated address information using driver’s license and voter registration data — could do a better job of tracking down the owners of this misplaced money. One possibility: Install self-service kiosks in driver’s license offices, libraries and other government buildings that would prompt Floridians to check the database in a trusting atmosphere.
Private companies are already starting to close the gap here. But they often charge a percentage of the amount owed, which is pure profit for them – there’s no good reason for Floridians to use these services.
The state should also consider expanding the definition of “unclaimed property.” We see at least three areas where more could be done.
The first: unused gift cards and vouchers. Florida has eliminated expiration dates on many types of gift cards, but most of them are not considered unclaimed property. It’s not always easy to prove ownership of a gift card, but in cases where it is, there should be a process for reclaiming that money. Current estimates put the value of lost or misplaced gift cards at $1.7 billion to Florida’s unclaimed real estate pool.
Second: uncashed paychecks. Technically, these fall under the definition of unclaimed property, but are typically not treated as such – even if there is no dispute between the employer and employee over the amount owed. They should be.
The third: unemployment benefits that were legitimately owed but never paid – including unemployment checks that were issued but not cashed. The state has sent reports of some of those checks to the Office of Unclaimed Property, many of which date back to the time of COVID-19, which devastated Florida’s unemployment system. The state made efforts to recover erroneously submitted payments, but there was no comprehensive audit and reconciliation for people who should have received benefits but did not, or for those whose payments were misleading.
Florida is doing well at reuniting its residents with the money that’s theirs, but it could get even better. This is something the legislature should investigate. For now, however, every Floridian should check this database regularly – and encourage their family and friends to log in, too.
The Orlando Sentinel editorial team includes opinion editor Krys Fluker, managing editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints editor Jay Reddick. Use insight@orlandosentinel.com to contact us.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/07/09/editorial-its-your-money-go-get-it/
