Florida is looking for the owners of $3 Billion — Could some of it be yours?

Ervin Shkulaku/DUANEWS.NET

Billions of dollars in unclaimed property are waiting to be reunited with their rightful owners in Florida, and many residents may not even realize they have money waiting for them.

The Florida Department of Financial Services is encouraging residents to search the state’s unclaimed property database to see whether they are entitled to money or other assets that were never collected.

Where does the money come from?

Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payments, utility deposits, refunds and other financial assets.

For example, someone who moved to a new address might have left behind a utility deposit. Another person could be owed money from an old insurance policy or a paycheck that was never cashed.

When businesses cannot locate the rightful owners, qualifying unclaimed assets are eventually transferred to the state for safekeeping.

How can you check if Florida owes you money?

Residents can search the official Florida Treasure Hunt website at www.FLTreasureHunt.gov.

The search is free and generally begins with entering a name. If a possible match appears, the claimant can follow the state’s instructions to verify ownership and submit a claim.

People who have moved within Florida, changed their names or previously lived in another part of the state may want to check for records under their former information.

Is there a deadline to claim the money?

Florida generally holds unclaimed funds for their rightful owners without a deadline for filing a claim.

However, claimants must provide documentation establishing their right to the property, and processing times may vary.

Watch out for scams

State officials advise residents to use the official website rather than paying an unfamiliar company to locate money.

Searching the database and filing a claim directly through Florida’s unclaimed property program are free.

A simple search could be worth your time

Not every Florida resident will find money waiting for them, and the amount available can vary widely.

Still, with billions of dollars in unclaimed property held by the state, checking the database could uncover a forgotten financial asset.

Official website: https://www.fltreasurehunt.gov/