Search Lauderdale Lakes Unclaimed Money

Lauderdale Lakes unclaimed money is held by the state of Florida in a public database that anyone can search for free. Lost bank accounts, old paychecks, forgotten insurance payments, and refund checks that went to the wrong address all end up in this system. With over 37,000 residents, Lauderdale Lakes has a good number of unclaimed accounts waiting to be found. The search takes just a few minutes. There is no deadline for claims, and the state never charges a fee. The Broward County Clerk of Courts may also hold court-related funds from Lauderdale Lakes cases.

How to Find Lauderdale Lakes Lost Funds

Go to the Florida Treasure Hunt search page and type in your name. This is the official state tool for unclaimed property. It costs nothing. It runs around the clock. The database checks all unclaimed accounts in Florida and pulls up anything tied to a Lauderdale Lakes address or any other location in the state.

Lauderdale Lakes has a diverse population with many residents originally from the Caribbean and other countries. Name variations are especially important here. Try every version of your name that might appear in financial records. Full legal names, shortened versions, maiden names, and alternate spellings all matter. Some records may have your name transliterated from another language. Try those variations as well.

Search for family members too. Deceased relatives who lived in Lauderdale Lakes could have unclaimed money that heirs are entitled to claim. All it takes is the right documentation.

Sources of Unclaimed Property in Lauderdale Lakes

Dormant bank accounts are the most common source. Chapter 717 of the Florida Statutes requires banks to report accounts with no activity for five years. The bank tries to contact you first at your Lauderdale Lakes address. If the mail comes back, the money goes to the state.

Wages have a shorter dormancy. One year. If you left a job in the Lauderdale Lakes area without picking up your last paycheck, it could be waiting for you in the state database. Insurance proceeds are another major category. Life insurance benefits in particular. Beneficiaries may not know a policy exists. When the insurer cannot find them at the Lauderdale Lakes address on file, the payout becomes unclaimed.

Lauderdale Lakes has many apartment complexes and rental properties. Security deposits that landlords could not return, utility refund checks sent to former tenants who moved, and credit balances on closed accounts are all types of unclaimed money that residents here should check for. Old medical refunds, overpayments on car loans, and safe deposit box contents also end up in the state system.

Note: Lauderdale Lakes renters who moved without leaving a forwarding address should check for unclaimed security deposits and utility refunds from their old units.

Broward County Clerk of Courts

Lauderdale Lakes is in Broward County. All court funds go through the Broward County Clerk of Courts in Fort Lauderdale. The Clerk holds bond payments, settlement deposits, and other court-ordered money. When parties in Lauderdale Lakes cases do not collect their funds, the money sits with the Clerk until claimed or transferred to the state.

Tax deed surplus applies to former property owners in Lauderdale Lakes. If a property sold at a tax deed auction for more than the outstanding taxes, the overage belongs to the prior owner. Foreclosure sales can generate surplus too. Check with the Clerk if you lost property in Lauderdale Lakes through either process. The surplus may still be available even years later.

The Fort Lauderdale office is not far from Lauderdale Lakes. Call first to check if any court-held funds are tied to your name before going in person.

Claiming Lost Money from Lauderdale Lakes

Found your name? File a claim at fltreasurehunt.gov. The process is done online. Fill in the form and upload your documents. You need a government-issued photo ID. If the address on your ID does not match where you live now, include a utility bill or bank statement showing your current address.

Proof of ownership is what makes or breaks the claim. The state receives claims from people with the same name for the same Lauderdale Lakes account. They need to see documents that tie you to the specific account. Old bank statements, employer records, or insurance letters work. If claiming for a deceased person, submit a death certificate and proof of your relationship to them.

Claims take up to 90 days to process. No fees apply. The state returns every dollar. If anyone asks you to pay something before you can get your Lauderdale Lakes unclaimed money, that person is running a scam.

Florida Treasure Hunt Search Tool

The claim search page on the Florida Treasure Hunt site is the main tool for finding Lauderdale Lakes unclaimed money.

Each result shows the property type, reported amount, and the holder who turned the money in. You can begin a claim right from the results. No account creation is needed.

Lauderdale Lakes Unclaimed Property Under Florida Law

The state does not take your money. It holds it as custodian. Funds reported from a Lauderdale Lakes address years ago or decades ago are still legally yours. There is no time limit.

Section 717.102 sets the basic five-year dormancy for most property. Wages are one year under Section 717.115. Safe deposit box items go after three years per Section 717.116. Businesses in Lauderdale Lakes and surrounding areas file annual reports by May 1 as Section 717.117 requires. Before turning money over, holders must make a good-faith effort to contact the owner.

Court-held funds follow Section 116.21. The Broward County Clerk reports unclaimed court money on a separate timeline. Jury pay, vendor checks, and case refunds from Lauderdale Lakes proceedings go through this channel before entering the state database.

Florida Treasure Hunt Portal

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage serves as the starting point for all unclaimed property services.

From here you can search, track claims, and learn about the program. The site warns about scams and gives practical search tips. Everything is free for Lauderdale Lakes residents and everyone else in Florida.

Scam Warnings for Lauderdale Lakes

Be cautious. The state does not text or call you about unclaimed money. Any contact asking for your Social Security number, bank details, or a fee to release funds is a scam. Do not respond.

Third-party companies that offer to find and claim your money take a portion of what you recover. You do not need their services. The process is free and straightforward. Call the Division of Unclaimed Property at 888-258-2253 for free help if you need it.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Lauderdale Lakes. Searching under nearby addresses gives you a better chance of finding all your unclaimed funds.

Broward County Resources

Lauderdale Lakes is in Broward County. For broader county unclaimed money information, visit the Broward County unclaimed money page.