Madison County Unclaimed Money

Madison County residents can search for unclaimed money at no cost through the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Financial Services holds lost funds from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payments, and forgotten deposits tied to Madison County names. Even in a county with about 18,000 people, the state database often has entries that local residents do not know about. The Madison County Clerk of Courts may also hold court-related funds that were never picked up. A search takes only a few minutes. It is free and there is no limit on how long you can wait to claim your money.

Search Madison County Unclaimed Property

The state database at fltreasurehunt.gov is the best starting point for finding unclaimed money in Madison County. This is the official tool from the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property. It costs nothing to use. You can search at any hour. Enter your name and see if there are any funds held for you. About one in five people in Florida has some form of unclaimed property. Madison County residents should take a few minutes and check.

Search all your name variations. Maiden names, old married names, and nicknames can each pull up different results. Try common misspellings of your last name. If you owned a business in the Madison area, search that company name too. The state tool covers both personal and business accounts for Madison County unclaimed money.

Note: The search is free 24 hours a day with no account or login needed.

Where Madison County Unclaimed Funds Come From

Unclaimed money in Madison County comes from a range of sources. Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, businesses and government entities must hand over funds they cannot return to the owner. Bank accounts that sit dormant for five years get sent to the state. Uncashed payroll checks, insurance payouts, stock dividends, and utility deposits all end up in the system. Wages that go unclaimed for just one year are turned over under Section 717.115. Safe deposit box contents follow after three years per Section 717.116.

The Madison County Clerk of Courts may hold funds as well. Court registry deposits from lawsuits, cash bonds, and surplus from tax deed sales or foreclosures can sit with the Clerk at the courthouse in Madison. These funds are held for roughly a year before being sent to the state under Section 116.21. If you had a court case or a property sale in Madison County, check both the Clerk and the state database.

Reach the Madison County Clerk at 125 SW Range Ave., Madison, FL 32340 or call (850) 973-1500 to ask about court-held funds.

Claiming Lost Money in Madison County

When you find unclaimed money tied to your name in Madison County, you can file a claim right from the results page at fltreasurehunt.gov. The website walks you through every step. Fill out the claim form and send proof that the money is yours. You need a copy of your government-issued photo ID. If your ID does not show your current address, include a utility bill or similar document.

Proving you own the account is what matters most. Just sharing a name with the listed owner does not cut it. Many people have the same name. You might need an old bank statement, insurance policy, or pay stub that ties you to the account. The claim form for each case spells out exactly what documents are required. For Madison County unclaimed money that belonged to a deceased relative, submit a certified death certificate and proof of heirship. The state has up to 90 days to process a complete claim, but many go through faster than that.

It is free to file. There is no charge at any step.

Madison County Unclaimed Money Laws

Florida law protects your right to claim lost money in Madison County. There is no statute of limitations on unclaimed property claims under Chapter 717. Funds do not expire. The state acts as custodian and never takes ownership. Owners or their heirs can claim at any time, free of charge.

Under Section 717.102, intangible personal property unclaimed for over five years is presumed abandoned. The dormancy period for wages is only one year. Travelers checks go 15 years before the state takes custody per Section 717.104. Businesses and holders in Madison County must report unclaimed property by May 1 each year as required by Section 717.117. Holders are supposed to try to locate owners before turning over funds. When they cannot find them, the money goes to the Division of Unclaimed Property in Tallahassee. The state deposits these funds into the State School Fund for public education, but the original amount remains available for the rightful owner.

Note: Heirs can claim unclaimed funds even if the original owner passed away decades ago.

Florida Treasure Hunt for Madison County

The Florida Treasure Hunt website is the main portal for Madison County residents to look for unclaimed property.

From this site you can search for funds, start a new claim, or check the status of one already submitted. The state warns about phishing scams. They will never text you about unclaimed property. Call 888-258-2253 with questions.

Madison County Clerk Court-Held Funds

The Madison County Clerk of Courts manages all money that moves through the local court system. When someone posts a cash bond or deposits money into the court registry during a case, those funds stay with the Clerk until a judge orders them released. Sometimes people move. Cases close. Nobody comes to get the money. That is how court funds become unclaimed in Madison County.

Tax deed surplus is another possible source. When a Madison County property sells at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the extra money belongs to the prior owner. Foreclosure sales can also leave surplus funds behind. Under Florida Statute 45.032, the original property owner or certain lien holders have a right to that money. Call the Madison County Clerk at (850) 973-1500 to ask about any funds held in court accounts or from property sales. If funds have already been sent to the state, you can still claim them through fltreasurehunt.gov with no time limit.

Tips for Finding Madison County Funds

• Search every name you have used including maiden and married names
• Try misspellings and alternate spellings
• Check any business names tied to you in Madison County
• Look up deceased relatives who lived in the area
• Search MissingMoney.com for a multi-state check

The state search tool runs 24 hours a day with no account needed. Results show the holder name, property type, and dollar amount. You can start a claim right from the results. Madison County residents who have lived in other states should search those programs too since each state handles unclaimed property separately.

State Unclaimed Property Search

The Florida Treasure Hunt claim search page is where Madison County residents look up any state-held unclaimed property.

Search by person or business name. The database covers all of Florida including Madison County. There is no cost, no deadline, and no interest paid beyond what was originally reported by the holder.

Protect Yourself from Scams

Scam artists go after people looking for unclaimed money in Madison County and throughout Florida. The state will never reach out by text about a claim. If someone calls or emails asking for your Social Security number or bank details to "release" unclaimed funds, that is fraud. Only the official state website handles real claims.

Third-party companies sometimes offer to find and claim unclaimed property for a fee. You do not need their help. The entire process is free when you do it yourself at fltreasurehunt.gov. Keep all your Madison County unclaimed money and do not pay someone else to get it for you.

Communities in Madison County

Madison County includes the town of Madison, Greenville, Lee, and other small communities. No cities in Madison County meet the population threshold for a separate page. All residents use the state database at fltreasurehunt.gov to search for unclaimed money.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Madison County. Unclaimed money gets reported under the address the holder had on file for you. Search neighboring counties if you lived near a border.