Find Unclaimed Money in Miami Lakes
Unclaimed money connected to Miami Lakes addresses is sitting in the Florida state database. Dormant bank balances, old payroll checks, insurance refunds, utility deposits, and other unclaimed financial assets from Miami Lakes residents and businesses are held by the state until the rightful owner comes forward. Searching is free and takes just a few minutes online. Miami Lakes has over 33,000 residents, and many have no idea the state could be holding money in their name. A fast search is all it takes to find out.
Miami Lakes Quick Facts
Searching for Lost Funds in Miami Lakes
Go to the Florida Treasure Hunt search page. This is the official state search tool run by the Florida Department of Financial Services. There is no cost. Type in your name and the system checks all unclaimed accounts in the state, including those tied to Miami Lakes zip codes.
Search more than one version of your name. Try your full legal name, then nicknames, maiden names, and any former married names. Miami Lakes was incorporated in 2000, so some older records for this area may show an unincorporated Miami-Dade County address instead of Miami Lakes. Try both when searching. Businesses along Miami Lakes Drive and NW 154th Street may have reported money under a name that does not match perfectly.
Do not overlook family searches. Parents, grandparents, and other relatives who lived in Miami Lakes could have unclaimed accounts. The state holds these funds forever.
Note: Miami Lakes has a significant number of corporate offices, so business-related unclaimed money searches are particularly worth trying here.
Sources of Unclaimed Money in Miami Lakes
Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, businesses must report property they cannot return to the rightful owner. Bank accounts with five years of no activity become dormant. Uncashed paychecks go after one year per Section 717.115. Insurance payments, vendor refunds, and stock dividends follow their own reporting timelines.
Miami Lakes is home to several corporate headquarters and business parks. Companies in the Miami Lakes Business Park along NW 67th Avenue generate unclaimed vendor payments, customer refunds, and payroll checks when they cannot find the recipient. Employee bonuses and commission checks are common sources too. Utility deposits from FPL and the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department get reported when Miami Lakes residents move without collecting their deposit.
Safe deposit box contents from bank branches in the Miami Lakes area go to the state after three years of no activity per Section 717.116. Contents can include cash, jewelry, and personal documents. The state inventories them and waits for the owner to come forward.
Which County Handles Miami Lakes Unclaimed Funds
Miami Lakes is in Miami-Dade County. Court-related unclaimed money for Miami Lakes goes through the county system. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts at 111 NW 1st St., Miami, FL 33128 handles bond money, lawsuit deposits, and surplus from tax deed and foreclosure sales. Call (305) 275-1155 for information.
Tax deed surplus is worth checking for Miami Lakes property owners. When property sells at auction for more than the owed taxes, the surplus goes to the former owner. Foreclosure surplus follows similar rules under Florida Statute 45.032. Former Miami Lakes homeowners who lost property through one of these sales may have surplus money waiting at the Clerk's office or in the state system.
| Office | Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 NW 1st St., Miami, FL 33128 |
| Phone | (305) 275-1155 |
Contact the Clerk to ask about court-held funds from Miami Lakes cases. They can check if the money is still at the courthouse or has been sent to the state.
How to Claim Miami Lakes Unclaimed Money
Found a match in the database? Go to fltreasurehunt.gov and start your claim. Click the account and follow the prompts. The website walks you through each step.
You will need a government-issued photo ID. If your ID shows an address that does not match your current Miami Lakes address, include a utility bill or bank statement as proof. For older accounts, the state may ask for old bank records, insurance letters, or employment documents connecting you to the account. The claim form tells you exactly what to provide.
Heirs claiming money from a deceased Miami Lakes resident need a certified death certificate and proof of their right to the funds. Complete claims are processed within 90 days. Many finish sooner. There is no fee at any point.
Florida Treasure Hunt Search Tool
The Florida Treasure Hunt search page is where Miami Lakes residents should go to look for unclaimed property.
Search by name to view results. Each entry shows the holder, property type, and reported amount. Begin a claim from the results page without creating an account or paying anything.
Florida Treasure Hunt Homepage
The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage is the main portal for all unclaimed property activity in Florida, including searches for Miami Lakes.
Use this portal to search, submit claims, track claim status, and read about scam prevention. The state updates this site regularly with fraud alerts and claim process information.
Florida Unclaimed Money Law for Miami Lakes
Unclaimed money does not expire in Florida. The state holds funds as custodian. It never takes ownership. Whether the money was reported one year ago or decades ago, it is still yours to claim for free.
Section 717.102 is the baseline: intangible property unclaimed for five or more years is presumed abandoned. Wages follow a one-year rule under Section 717.115. Safe deposit items become unclaimed after three years per Section 717.116. Businesses operating in Miami Lakes must file unclaimed property reports by May 1 each year as Section 717.117 requires. Before remitting funds, holders must attempt to reach the owner.
Section 116.21 governs court-related unclaimed funds at the county level. The Miami-Dade Clerk manages jury payments, vendor checks, and other uncashed court-issued payments from Miami Lakes proceedings before they go to the state.
Search Tips for Miami Lakes Residents
Make your search as thorough as possible:
- Search every name you have used, maiden and married names included
- Try alternate spellings and shortened name forms
- Look up deceased relatives who lived in Miami Lakes
- Search business names tied to Miami-Dade County
- Use MissingMoney.com for a multi-state search
- Check every state where you have lived
New reports come in every May. What turns up nothing today might show Miami Lakes unclaimed money after the next reporting cycle. Search annually. It is always free.
Scam Warnings for Miami Lakes
Stay careful. The state will never text you or call without you reaching out first about unclaimed money. If anybody asks for your Social Security number, bank information, or a fee to release lost funds, that is a scam. Only use the official state website to search and file claims.
Third-party companies that charge a percentage to find unclaimed money are legal but not necessary. The process at fltreasurehunt.gov is free and simple. If you need help, call the Division of Unclaimed Property toll-free at 888-258-2253.
Note: The state sends legitimate unclaimed property notices only by regular mail, never by text, email, or phone.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Miami Lakes. Search under other addresses if you have lived or worked in neighboring areas.
Miami-Dade County Page
Visit the full Miami-Dade County page for more on unclaimed money across the county.