Lake County Unclaimed Money Search

Lake County residents may have unclaimed money waiting to be found. This central Florida county has over 444,000 people, and unclaimed funds pile up every year from forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, and court surplus. The Lake County Clerk of Courts in Tavares handles local unclaimed funds while the state manages most unclaimed property through its central system. Searching for unclaimed money tied to Lake County costs nothing. You can check both the state database and the local Clerk records to see if any lost funds belong to you or your family.

Search Lake County Unclaimed Property

Start your search at the state level. Florida's Department of Financial Services runs a free database at fltreasurehunt.gov where you can look up unclaimed money from Lake County and the rest of the state. The process is simple. Enter your name and the system pulls up any accounts linked to you. One in five Floridians has unclaimed funds sitting in this database, and Lake County is no different.

Try every version of your name when you search. A maiden name from 20 years ago might have unclaimed money tied to it in Lake County. Old business names work too. Data entry mistakes can bury real claims under misspelled names. Run two or three searches with slight changes each time. The database holds bank deposits, insurance payouts, stocks, utility refunds, and much more from Lake County residents and businesses.

For a broader search, use MissingMoney.com to check several states at once. This is useful if you moved to Lake County from out of state.

Note: The state search is free and available 24 hours a day for Lake County unclaimed money.

Lake County Clerk Unclaimed Funds

The Lake County Clerk of Courts keeps some unclaimed funds at the local level before they move to the state. Court registry deposits sit with the Clerk when a case is open. Tax deed surplus from properties sold in Lake County goes here first. Foreclosure surplus and cash bonds also land at the Clerk's office in Tavares. Uncashed checks from jury duty, vendor work, or county refunds are tracked as well.

Florida Statute Section 116.21 requires the Clerk to report all unclaimed court-related money. Every year, the Lake County Clerk publishes a list of people who have funds waiting. After a holding period of about one year, unclaimed money from Lake County gets sent to the state under Chapter 717. So if you don't find your funds locally, they may already be in the state system.

The Lake County Clerk of Courts website offers access to information about unclaimed property held at the county level.

Visit the Clerk site to check for any local unclaimed funds still held in Lake County before they transfer to the state.

How to Claim Lost Funds in Lake County

When you find unclaimed money linked to your name, the claim process depends on where the funds are held. State-held unclaimed property from Lake County can be claimed through the Florida Treasure Hunt claim page. Click on your account. The site walks you through each step. A claim form is sent to you with a list of documents you must provide.

You will need a copy of your government-issued photo ID. Make sure it shows your current address. If the address on your ID is old, include a utility bill or bank statement with your new address. Proof of ownership is also required. Having the same name as the account holder does not prove the funds are yours. The state gets multiple claims on the same accounts in Lake County and every other county. They need real documentation to release money. Processing takes up to 90 days after they have everything.

For funds held by the Lake County Clerk of Courts, the steps can differ. Tax deed surplus and court registry money may need a court order before the Clerk can pay out. A W-9 is standard. Contact the Clerk at (352) 742-4100 or visit 551 W. Main St. in Tavares for help with a Lake County claim.

Lake County Unclaimed Money Sources

Unclaimed property in Lake County comes from a range of places. Dormant bank accounts are the biggest source statewide. Under Chapter 717, accounts that sit untouched for five years become unclaimed property. Insurance proceeds that go undelivered follow the same rule. Uncashed payroll checks have a shorter timeline of just one year per Section 717.115. Stocks, dividends, and refund checks also feed into the system from Lake County businesses and financial institutions.

At the local level, tax deed sales in Lake County create surplus funds when properties sell for more than the debt owed. Safe deposit box items become unclaimed after three years under Section 717.116. Money orders go dormant after seven years. These time frames are set by state law and apply across all counties in Florida, including Lake County.

Unclaimed Property Rights in Lake County

There is no time limit on claiming your unclaimed money in Lake County. Florida law is clear on this. The state never takes ownership of your property. It holds the funds as a custodian until you or your heirs step forward. This applies whether the money has been in the system for two years or twenty. Your claim is always valid in Lake County.

Unclaimed funds sit in the State School Fund while they wait. That money supports public schools. But the full amount reported is always set aside for the rightful owner. If the original owner has passed away, heirs can file a claim with a certified death certificate and proof of their relationship to the owner. Section 717.124 governs how claims are reviewed, and the administrative rules spell out what heirs must submit. You can reach the state unclaimed property division at 888-258-2253 or email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com.

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage is the central hub for all unclaimed money searches in Lake County and statewide.

This is the main entry point for searching unclaimed property in Lake County and throughout Florida.

Note: Searching and claiming unclaimed money from Lake County is always free through the state system.

Lake County Unclaimed Funds Contact Info

If you need help with an unclaimed money search or claim in Lake County, these offices can assist you. The Clerk handles local funds and the state handles everything else. Both are free to use.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has several cities and towns spread across central Florida. All of them fall under the Lake County Clerk of Courts for unclaimed money at the local level. The state database covers everyone regardless of which city they live in.

Cities in Lake County include Clermont, Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, and Mount Dora. None have separate unclaimed property programs. All unclaimed funds route through the Lake County Clerk or the state system at fltreasurehunt.gov.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lake County. If you have lived or done business in any of them, it pays to search each one for unclaimed money. The state database checks all counties in one search, but local Clerk offices hold some funds separately.