Access Liberty County Unclaimed Money

Liberty County unclaimed money searches are free and take just a few minutes online. Even though Liberty County is one of the smallest counties in Florida with fewer than 8,000 people, the state may hold lost funds tied to local names. Old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payments, and forgotten refunds all end up in the state system when holders cannot reach the owner. The Liberty County Clerk of Courts in Bristol may also hold court funds and surplus from property sales. Searching costs nothing. There is no deadline to claim what belongs to you. A quick check at the state website could put money back in your pocket.

Search Liberty County Unclaimed Funds

Start at the state database, fltreasurehunt.gov. This is the official search tool run by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property. It is free to use. Works 24 hours a day. Type in your name and see if there are any funds waiting. One in five Floridians has unclaimed property somewhere in the system. Even people in small Liberty County communities like Bristol, Hosford, and Sumatra could have money sitting with the state.

Try different name variations when you search for Liberty County unclaimed money. Maiden names, former married names, and nicknames can produce different results. If you owned or ran a business in Liberty County, search under that name too. The tool checks both personal and business accounts.

Where Liberty County Lost Money Originates

Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, businesses and government agencies must turn over funds they cannot return to owners. In Liberty County, the most common sources of unclaimed money are dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, and old insurance proceeds. A bank account that stays idle for five years gets sent to the state. Wages left unclaimed for one year go the same way under Section 717.115. Stocks, bonds, dividends, and safe deposit box contents are other types that turn up.

The Liberty County Clerk of Courts may hold some funds locally. Court registry deposits, cash bonds, and surplus from tax deed sales or foreclosures can sit with the Clerk in Bristol. Section 116.21 covers unclaimed court-related monies held by the Clerk. After roughly a year, unclaimed county funds get sent to the state.

Contact the Liberty County Clerk at 10818 NW State Road 20, Bristol, FL 32321 or call (850) 643-2215 for questions about court-held money.

Note: Even small, rural counties like Liberty County can have unclaimed funds in the state system going back years or even decades.

How to File a Claim in Liberty County

When you find unclaimed money linked to your name in Liberty County, start the claim right on the results page at fltreasurehunt.gov. Fill out the claim form. Send in proof that the money is yours. You need a copy of your government-issued photo ID. If your ID address does not match where you live now, include a utility bill or other proof of your current address.

Proving ownership is the most important step. Sharing a name with the account holder is not enough by itself. Many people have the same name. You may need to provide an old bank statement, policy document, or check stub that links you to the account. The claim form for your specific case lists what the state needs. For Liberty County unclaimed money that belonged to a deceased person, you need a certified death certificate and proof that you are an heir or personal representative. The state has up to 90 days to process a complete claim package. Lots of claims get handled faster than that though.

Liberty County Unclaimed Money Laws

Florida law protects your right to claim lost funds in Liberty County. There is no statute of limitations. Your money does not expire, ever. The state holds the funds as custodian but never takes ownership. Owners or their heirs can claim at any time for free.

Under Section 717.102, intangible personal property unclaimed for more than five years is presumed abandoned. Wages take just one year. Safe deposit box contents move after three years per Section 717.116. Travelers checks have a 15-year dormancy period per Section 717.104. Holders in Liberty County must report unclaimed property to the state by May 1 each year as Section 717.117 requires. Before sending funds to Tallahassee, holders must try to reach the owner. When those efforts do not work, the money goes to the Division of Unclaimed Property. It gets deposited into the State School Fund for public education, but the full original amount is always available for the rightful owner to claim.

Florida Treasure Hunt Homepage

The Florida Treasure Hunt website is where Liberty County residents begin their search for unclaimed funds.

Search for lost money, start a claim, or check on a claim you already filed. The state cautions about phishing scams and will never text you about unclaimed property. For help, call 888-258-2253.

Liberty County Clerk and Court Funds

The Liberty County Clerk of Courts in Bristol manages funds that flow through the local court system. Cash bonds, court registry deposits, and surplus from property sales can all end up unclaimed. When a party posts bond or deposits money during a case, the Clerk holds it until a judge orders it released. Sometimes cases close and the money sits there.

Tax deed surplus is another source. When a Liberty County property sells at auction for more than the back taxes owed, the extra money belongs to the prior owner. Foreclosure sales can create the same kind of surplus. Under Florida Statute 45.032, the original property owner or certain lien holders can claim these funds. Reach the Liberty County Clerk at (850) 643-2215 for details on any money held locally.

Search Tips for Liberty County

A few extra steps help when looking for Liberty County unclaimed money.

• Search all names you have gone by, including maiden and married names
• Try misspellings and shortened forms of your name
• Look up any business name connected to you in Liberty County
• Search for deceased family members who lived in the area
• Use MissingMoney.com to check all states at once

The state search tool needs no login. Just type a name and see results. If a match comes up, you see the holder name, property type, and reported amount. Claims can be started from the results page. Liberty County residents who have lived in other states should check those too.

State Claim Search for Liberty County

The Florida Treasure Hunt claim search page is the tool Liberty County residents use to find unclaimed property in the state system.

Search by person or business name. The database covers all of Florida. There is no fee to search or claim, and there is no deadline.

Avoiding Scams in Liberty County

Scam artists target people searching for unclaimed money everywhere, including Liberty County. The state will never text you about a claim. If someone calls or sends an email asking for your Social Security number or bank info to "release" funds, that is a scam. Only the official state website handles real claims.

Some companies charge a percentage to search for and claim unclaimed property on your behalf. You do not need them. The process is free and simple at fltreasurehunt.gov. Keep all your Liberty County unclaimed money for yourself.

Communities in Liberty County

Liberty County includes Bristol, Hosford, Sumatra, and other small communities. No cities in Liberty County meet the population threshold for a separate page. All residents search for unclaimed money the same way through the state database at fltreasurehunt.gov.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Liberty County. Unclaimed money is reported under the address on file with the holder. If you lived near a county line, check both sides.