Jefferson County Unclaimed Money Lookup

Unclaimed money in Jefferson County could include old bank accounts, insurance payments, uncashed checks, and other financial assets that no one has collected. Florida's Department of Financial Services holds these funds and makes them searchable at no cost. Jefferson County is one of the smallest counties in the state, with its seat in Monticello. The Clerk of Courts there may also hold court-related funds that went unclaimed. A free search takes just a few minutes and might reveal money you did not know was waiting for you.

Find Jefferson County Unclaimed Funds

The state search tool at fltreasurehunt.gov is the best starting point for finding unclaimed money in Jefferson County. The Florida Department of Financial Services operates this free database. It contains records from every holder in the state, including banks, insurance companies, employers, and government bodies. Jefferson County may be small, but its residents have the same opportunities to find lost money as anyone else in Florida. One in five people statewide has some unclaimed property.

Try every name you have used. Maiden names, married names, and nicknames can all bring up different results. If you ever ran a business in Monticello or anywhere in Jefferson County, search under that name too. Spelling errors in old records happen more often than you might think, so try slight variations of your name.

Sources of Unclaimed Money in Jefferson County

Chapter 717, Florida Statutes requires businesses and government agencies to report unclaimed property after set dormancy periods. Bank accounts with five years of inactivity get sent to the state. Wages become unclaimed after one year. Safe deposit box items go after three years. Insurance proceeds, stock dividends, credit balances, and utility refunds all follow similar timelines. Every holder in Jefferson County and across the state must file annual reports by May 1.

The Jefferson County Clerk of Courts at 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344, may hold court-related funds as well. Cash bonds posted during criminal cases, deposits from civil lawsuits, and surplus money from tax deed and foreclosure sales can sit unclaimed at the Clerk office. Florida Statute 116.21 governs these court-related monies. After about a year, unclaimed court funds from Jefferson County are typically sent to the state. You can call the Clerk at (850) 342-0218 for more information about any locally held funds.

Note: Tax deed surplus and foreclosure surplus are common sources of unclaimed money at the county level.

Claiming Lost Funds in Jefferson County

If you find unclaimed money linked to your name in Jefferson County, go to fltreasurehunt.gov and click on the matching account. The site guides you through a claim form. You will need a copy of your government-issued photo ID. If the address on it does not match where you live now, include a current utility bill or bank statement.

The real work is proving the money is yours. Having the same name is not enough. The state often receives multiple claims for the same account from people who share a name. You may need old bank records, an insurance document, a pay stub, or a tax form that connects you to the account. For Jefferson County unclaimed money from a deceased family member, the state requires a certified death certificate and proof that you are an heir or personal representative of the estate. Processing takes up to 90 days after they receive all your documents, though it often goes faster.

The whole process is free. No fees at any step.

Jefferson County Unclaimed Property Laws

Florida law is clear. There is no deadline to claim your money. Under Chapter 717, the state acts as custodian and never takes ownership of unclaimed funds. Jefferson County residents or their heirs can file a claim whenever they want, at no cost.

Different property types have different dormancy periods. Section 717.102 sets the general rule at five years for most intangible property. Section 717.115 shortens it to one year for wages. Safe deposit box contents under Section 717.116 have a three-year period. Life insurance proceeds fall under Section 717.107 at five years. Travelers checks under Section 717.104 have the longest dormancy period at 15 years. Holders in Jefferson County report unclaimed property to the state by May 1 each year under Section 717.117. Once received, these funds get deposited into the State School Fund to support public education. The original amount, however, remains available for the rightful owner to claim at any time.

Search Tips for Jefferson County Residents

A careful search gives you the best chance of finding unclaimed money in Jefferson County. Try these steps:

• Search every past name, maiden and married names included
• Try misspellings and shortened versions of your name
• Look up any business you ran in Monticello or Jefferson County
• Search deceased family members who lived in the area
• Check MissingMoney.com to search all states at the same time

If you moved to Jefferson County from another state, check that state's unclaimed property database as well. The money follows the address the holder had for you, which might be a former address in a different state. A few extra searches can make a real difference.

Florida Treasure Hunt Homepage

The Florida Treasure Hunt website is the official state portal for unclaimed property, and it covers Jefferson County along with every other county in Florida.

You can start a search, check the status of a claim you already filed, or read about the types of unclaimed property the state holds. The site has warnings about phishing scams that target people looking for lost money.

State Unclaimed Property Search Tool

The claim search page lets Jefferson County residents type in a name and instantly see if there is unclaimed money in the state system.

Search by person or business. The results show the property type, the holder that reported it, and the amount. You can begin a claim directly from the results page. There is no fee and no time limit on filing.

Scam Awareness for Jefferson County

Scam artists prey on people who are looking for lost money. In Jefferson County, as in the rest of Florida, you should be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue about unclaimed funds. The state will never text you about a claim. No legitimate state employee will ask for your Social Security number or bank details over the phone to "release" your money. The real process goes through the official website only.

Paid search services exist, but you do not need them. Everything from the search to the claim to receiving your money is free when you go through fltreasurehunt.gov. Call the state toll-free line at 888-258-2253 if you need help. Save your money and keep every dollar of your Jefferson County unclaimed funds.

Note: The state deposits unclaimed funds into the State School Fund but always reserves the full original amount for the rightful owner.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County sits between Leon County to the west and Madison County to the east. Check neighboring counties too if you have lived near the border.