Duval County Unclaimed Funds

Duval County and the City of Jacksonville operate as a consolidated government, which makes this one of the largest local jurisdictions in the country. With more than a million residents, Duval County generates a large volume of unclaimed money from court proceedings, county operations, and private businesses. The Duval County Clerk of Courts handles local unclaimed funds while the state holds property that has passed the dormancy period. You can search for unclaimed money in Duval County for free through the clerk's office or at FLTreasureHunt.gov.

Duval County Clerk of Courts

The Duval County Clerk of Courts is the local office that manages court records and county finances in Jacksonville. The clerk's office sits at 501 West Adams Street in Jacksonville. You can call (904) 255-2000 for general questions. Because Duval County has a consolidated government with Jacksonville, the clerk serves both city and county functions. This means all unclaimed funds from local government operations flow through one office.

The Duval Clerk's website provides access to court case searches, official records, and other county services. If the county issued a check to you that went uncashed, or if money from a court case in Duval County was never collected, this is where your search starts. Unclaimed funds held by the clerk for less than a year may still be at the local level. After that, most funds get reported to the state under Florida law.

Unclaimed Money Sources in Duval County

Unclaimed money in Duval County comes from several sources. Court registry funds make up a big part of it. When money gets deposited with the court during a lawsuit, foreclosure, or other proceeding, it sits in the registry until a judge orders it paid out. If the case closes and nobody claims the money, it becomes unclaimed. Foreclosure surplus is a common example. When a foreclosed home in Jacksonville sells at auction for more than the mortgage balance, the extra money belongs to the former owner. Many former homeowners in Duval County do not realize they have surplus funds.

Tax deed surplus works the same way. A property sold for back taxes in Duval County may bring in more than what was owed, and that surplus goes to the former owner. The county also generates unclaimed funds from its daily operations. Vendor payments, refund checks, jury compensation, and other disbursements that go uncashed become unclaimed money in Duval County after the holding period.

Under Florida Statute 116.21, unclaimed court-related funds held by the clerk get deposited into the Fine and Forfeiture fund. But before that happens, the clerk makes efforts to return the money. Dormant bank accounts, insurance payouts, payroll checks, and utility deposits from businesses in Duval County eventually go to the state program under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes.

Note: Because Jacksonville and Duval County share a consolidated government, unclaimed money from city operations also flows through the Duval Clerk's office.

Search Florida Unclaimed Property

The Florida Treasure Hunt database is the primary statewide tool for finding unclaimed money. It holds billions of dollars from every county in the state, including Duval. The Florida Department of Financial Services runs this program from Tallahassee. Under Florida Statute 717.102, most intangible property becomes unclaimed after five years of no owner contact. Wages under Statute 717.115 go unclaimed after one year. Safe deposit box contents under Statute 717.116 become unclaimed after three years.

Go to FLTreasureHunt.gov/ClaimSearch and type in your name. Search all versions of your name, including maiden names, married names, old nicknames, and common misspellings. The database covers accounts from every type of holder: banks, insurance companies, employers, utilities, courts, and government agencies. If you have ever lived, worked, or done business in Duval County or anywhere in Florida, it is worth a look.

The search costs nothing. There is no fee to file a claim either. Beware of third-party companies that charge a percentage to search for you. You can do the same search for free. Florida law does not put a time limit on claims, so you can recover your money no matter how long it has been unclaimed.

How to Claim Duval County Unclaimed Money

Once you find unclaimed funds tied to Duval County, the claim process depends on where the money is held. For funds still with the Duval Clerk, contact the office at (904) 255-2000. Court registry funds typically require a motion and court order before the clerk can release them. For uncashed checks or refunds, the process may be simpler, and the clerk's staff can walk you through it.

For funds at the state level, file your claim through FLTreasureHunt.gov. The state mails you a claim form with instructions. You will need to send back the signed form along with required documents. At a minimum, expect to provide:

• Government-issued photo ID showing your current address
• Proof that the account belongs to you, like old statements or records
• A W-9 form for tax purposes
• For deceased owners, a certified death certificate and heir documentation

The state allows up to 90 days to process a complete claim. Most go faster. If something is missing from your package, the 90-day clock restarts once you send in the remaining papers. The state does not take ownership of your money. It acts as a custodian until you come forward. For help with Duval County claims, you can call the state at 888-258-2253 or email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com.

Jacksonville-Duval County Consolidated Government

Duval County is unique in Florida because it shares a consolidated government with the City of Jacksonville. This happened in 1968 when voters approved merging the city and county into one government. What this means for unclaimed money is that there is no separate city process and county process. Everything runs through the Duval County Clerk of Courts and the consolidated city-county budget. If the city of Jacksonville or Duval County issued a check that you never cashed, the same clerk's office handles the claim.

The City of Jacksonville website has information on city services, but for unclaimed funds, the Duval Clerk is your contact. The consolidated setup simplifies things. You only need to check one local office instead of two. That said, the state database at FLTreasureHunt.gov is still a separate search that you should do on top of checking with the Duval Clerk. Funds from private businesses in the Jacksonville area also end up in the state system after the dormancy period runs out.

Protect Yourself from Unclaimed Money Scams

The Florida Department of Financial Services warns about scams related to unclaimed property. Some people get text messages or emails that claim to be from the state. The state does not contact people by text message about unclaimed property. If you get a text about unclaimed money in Duval County or anywhere in Florida, it is likely a scam. The state sends official correspondence by mail.

You should never pay anyone to search for your unclaimed money. The state database is free to search. Filing a claim is also free. Some legitimate companies do offer to find unclaimed property for a percentage fee, but you can do the same search yourself at FLTreasureHunt.gov in minutes. If someone asks for your bank account number, Social Security number, or money up front, that is a red flag. The Florida Administrative Rules outline the official process for all unclaimed property claims. Stick to the official channels for any Duval County unclaimed money claim.

Note: The state will never ask you to wire money or pay a fee to release unclaimed property in Duval County or anywhere in Florida.

Florida Unclaimed Property Portal

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage is the starting point for statewide unclaimed property searches, including all funds from Duval County that have been sent to the state.

One in five Floridians has unclaimed funds in this database. The site runs 24 hours a day and is managed by the Division of Unclaimed Property under the Florida Department of Financial Services in Tallahassee. Use it to check for money from Duval County or any other Florida location.

Cities in Duval County

Duval County is consolidated with Jacksonville, which covers most of the county's land area. A few smaller municipalities exist within the county borders, including Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Baldwin. All unclaimed money for these areas is handled through the Duval County Clerk of Courts in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is by far the largest city in Duval County and the most populous city in all of Florida. Smaller beach communities and the town of Baldwin also fall under the Duval County Clerk for unclaimed money searches.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Duval County in Northeast Florida. If you have lived or worked in any of them, search for unclaimed money there too. Funds are tied to where the business or agency was located, not your current address.