Find Miami Gardens Unclaimed Money

Unclaimed money from Miami Gardens residents is being held by the state of Florida. Lost bank account balances, uncashed paychecks, old insurance refunds, and forgotten utility deposits connected to Miami Gardens addresses are all sitting in the state database. You can search for free anytime. With more than 116,000 people living in Miami Gardens, the volume of unclaimed accounts linked to this city is substantial. A fast name search is all it takes to check whether any of that money belongs to you.

How to Search for Unclaimed Money in Miami Gardens

Start your search at the Florida Treasure Hunt search page. The Florida Department of Financial Services runs this free tool. Enter your name and the system checks all unclaimed accounts in the state, including those tied to Miami Gardens addresses.

Try multiple versions of your name. Search your legal name, then nicknames and former names. Married names, maiden names, and even shortened first names can all appear differently in records. Businesses along NW 27th Avenue and NW 183rd Street may have reported money under a spelling that does not exactly match what you use day to day.

Also search for relatives. Parents and grandparents who lived in Miami Gardens may have left behind unclaimed funds. The state holds this money indefinitely, so it does not matter how long ago the account was reported.

Note: Roughly one in five Florida residents has unclaimed money, and Miami Gardens residents are no exception.

Sources of Unclaimed Money in Miami Gardens

Chapter 717, Florida Statutes requires businesses and government agencies to report money they cannot return to the rightful owner. For Miami Gardens, this covers many common situations. Bank accounts with no activity for five years get reported as dormant. Payroll checks go unclaimed after just one year under Section 717.115.

Insurance companies are another big source. Life insurance proceeds that beneficiaries never claimed, refund checks from auto insurance, and health insurance overpayments all end up in the system. Utility deposits from companies serving the Miami Gardens area get reported too, especially when residents move and do not request their deposit back.

Safe deposit box contents abandoned for three years become unclaimed under Section 717.116. Boxes held at bank branches in and near Miami Gardens could contain cash, jewelry, or important documents. The state inventories these items and holds them until the owner comes forward.

Which County Handles Miami Gardens Unclaimed Funds

Miami Gardens is part of Miami-Dade County. Court-related unclaimed funds for Miami Gardens residents go through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts, located at 111 NW 1st St., Miami, FL 33128. You can call the Clerk at (305) 275-1155.

The Clerk holds bond money, lawsuit deposits, and surplus from tax deed and foreclosure sales. When a Miami Gardens property sells at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the surplus goes to the former owner. Many people do not know this money exists. Foreclosure surplus works the same way under Florida Statute 45.032. Former Miami Gardens property owners should check with the Clerk directly.

If money from a Miami Gardens court case is still with the Clerk, staff can help you locate it. If it has been transferred to the state, they can tell you where to go next.

How to File a Claim in Miami Gardens

Found a match? Go to fltreasurehunt.gov and click the account to begin your claim. The site walks you through every step. You will need to prove your identity and your connection to the account.

A government-issued photo ID is the baseline. If the address does not match your current Miami Gardens address, add a utility bill or bank statement showing where you live now. Older accounts may require old bank records, insurance letters, or employment documents that tie you to the specific account.

For accounts belonging to a deceased Miami Gardens resident, you need a certified death certificate and proof of heirship. The state processes complete claims within 90 days, and many go faster. Filing is free. You never pay to claim your own money.

Miami Gardens City Website

The City of Miami Gardens website offers information about local government services and community programs.

The city itself does not manage unclaimed funds. That is handled at the state level. However, the Miami Gardens website provides contact information for local offices that may be helpful if you need assistance with related matters.

Florida Treasure Hunt Search Tool

The Florida Treasure Hunt search page is where Miami Gardens residents should go to look for unclaimed property.

Search by name and view results showing the holder, type of property, and the amount reported. You can start a claim from the search results page. No registration is needed and there is no cost.

Florida Unclaimed Money Laws and Miami Gardens

There is no expiration date on unclaimed money in Florida. The state acts as custodian only. It never takes ownership of your funds. Whether the money was reported recently or years ago, it is still yours to claim for free.

Section 717.102 is the core provision. Intangible property unclaimed for five or more years is presumed abandoned. Wages fall under a one-year rule per Section 717.115. Safe deposit items follow a three-year schedule under Section 717.116. Holders operating in and around Miami Gardens must file unclaimed property reports with the state by May 1 each year as required by Section 717.117.

Section 116.21 governs court-related unclaimed funds. The Miami-Dade Clerk handles jury payments, vendor checks, and other uncashed court-issued payments from Miami Gardens proceedings before sending them to the state.

Search Tips for Miami Gardens Residents

Maximize your chances of finding unclaimed money by being thorough with your searches:

• Search all variations of your name
• Try maiden names and married names from previous relationships
• Look up deceased relatives who lived in the Miami Gardens area
• Search business names connected to Miami-Dade County
• Use MissingMoney.com to search multiple states at once

New unclaimed property gets reported to the state every May. Make searching an annual habit. Today's empty search might turn up Miami Gardens results after the next reporting cycle. It costs nothing to check.

Protecting Yourself from Scams in Miami Gardens

Stay alert for fraud. The state will never text or call you out of the blue about unclaimed money. If somebody asks for your Social Security number, bank account information, or a fee to release funds, that is a scam. The only real way to search and claim is through the state website. It is always free.

Third-party companies sometimes offer to find unclaimed money for you in exchange for a percentage. You do not need their services. The search and claim process at fltreasurehunt.gov is simple enough for anyone. If you need help, call the Division of Unclaimed Property toll-free at 888-258-2253.

Note: The state website is the only source you should trust for unclaimed money searches tied to Miami Gardens.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Miami Gardens. If you have lived or worked in surrounding areas, search under those addresses too.

Miami-Dade County Page

See the full Miami-Dade County page for county-wide unclaimed money information.