Manatee County Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed money in Manatee County could belong to you or someone you know. This Gulf Coast county has grown past 458,000 residents, and with that growth comes a steady stream of lost funds from dormant bank accounts, old insurance checks, and court surplus. The Manatee County Clerk of Courts in Bradenton handles locally held funds tied to court cases and county operations. The state manages the bulk of unclaimed property through a central database. You can search for unclaimed money in Manatee County for free using both the state tool and the local Clerk's office records.

Search Manatee County Unclaimed Funds

The state database is the first place to check. Florida's Division of Unclaimed Property at fltreasurehunt.gov holds billions in unclaimed funds from every county. Type in your name and see what comes up. The search is free and runs around the clock. About one in five people in Florida have something waiting, and Manatee County adds to that pool every year as businesses report dormant accounts under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes.

Search your maiden name. Search old married names. Try nicknames and common misspellings. Manatee County unclaimed money can hide under any version of your name that a bank or business had on file years ago. The database covers bank accounts, stocks, insurance payouts, refund checks, dividends, utility deposits, and safe deposit box items. You might also find unclaimed wages or vendor payments from Manatee County employers.

A multi-state search at MissingMoney.com is worth running too. It checks several states in one shot. Many Manatee County residents moved here from somewhere else, and funds from a prior state could be sitting unclaimed.

Manatee County Clerk Unclaimed Money

The Manatee County Clerk of Courts holds certain unclaimed funds at the local level. Tax deed surplus is a big one. When a property in Manatee County sells at a tax deed auction for more than the amount owed, the extra cash goes to the former owner. If they don't claim it, the Clerk keeps it. Foreclosure surplus works the same way. Court registry deposits from civil lawsuits, cash bonds, and uncashed county checks all end up here.

Under Section 116.21, the Manatee County Clerk must track all unclaimed court-related money and report it yearly. The Clerk publishes a list of names with funds waiting. After about a year, unclaimed money at the county level gets sent to the state system. So timing matters. Check the Clerk first for recent funds, then search the state database for older Manatee County unclaimed property.

The Manatee County Clerk of Courts website provides information about services and unclaimed property at the local level.

The Clerk site in Bradenton is a good starting point for locally held unclaimed funds in Manatee County.

Note: Manatee County unclaimed funds are typically held locally for one year before being sent to the state under Chapter 717.

Filing a Claim in Manatee County

Found your name? Good. Now you need to prove the money is yours. For state-held unclaimed property from Manatee County, go to the fltreasurehunt.gov claim search and start the process online. The site sends you a claim form that lists exactly what you need to submit. Each claim is different based on the type and amount of unclaimed money involved.

At a minimum, you need a government-issued photo ID with your current address. If your ID has an old address, add a utility bill or bank statement showing where you live now. Proof of ownership is the harder part. Just sharing a name with the account holder is not enough for Manatee County claims or any others in Florida. The state receives multiple claims on the same accounts all the time. You need documentation that ties you to the specific account, like an old bank statement, tax return, or employer record.

Claims for Manatee County funds held by the Clerk may require a court motion. Tax deed surplus and court registry money often need a judge to sign off. Contact the Clerk at (941) 749-1800 or visit 1115 Manatee Ave. W in Bradenton. A W-9 form is required for any payout. The state allows up to 90 days to process a completed claim. Local claims through the Manatee County Clerk can vary in timing.

Types of Unclaimed Property in Manatee County

Unclaimed money in Manatee County takes many forms. Bank accounts that go untouched for five years top the list statewide. Insurance proceeds, stocks, and dividends follow close behind. Uncashed payroll checks become unclaimed after just one year per Section 717.115. Utility refunds, credit balances, and vendor overpayments all end up in the system from Manatee County businesses and residents.

Safe deposit box contents have a three-year dormancy period under Section 717.116. Traveler's checks wait 15 years. Money orders become unclaimed after seven years. At the county level, Manatee County sees surplus funds from tax deed sales and foreclosure proceedings. Court bonds that nobody picks up add to the total. All of these flow through the Clerk's office before eventually reaching the state system if they go unclaimed.

Note: The average unclaimed property claim in Florida is worth over $2,000, making it well worth searching for Manatee County funds.

Manatee County Unclaimed Money Laws

Florida law says you can claim your unclaimed money at any time. There is no deadline. The Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act under Chapter 717 sets all the rules. The state never takes ownership of your funds. It holds them as custodian until the rightful owner or their heirs file a valid claim. This applies to all unclaimed money from Manatee County without exception.

While waiting to be claimed, these funds go into the State School Fund to help pay for public schools. But the full original amount stays available for the owner. Interest is not paid unless the holder reported it along with the principal. Heirs of deceased owners can file claims by providing a certified death certificate and proof of their connection to the owner. Section 717.124 covers how the state reviews claims, and administrative rule 69G-20 gives the details on what heirs need.

The Florida Treasure Hunt claim search page is where you begin the process for any unclaimed money found in Manatee County.

Use this page to look up and start a claim on unclaimed money from Manatee County and across all of Florida.

Contact Info for Manatee County Claims

Both the local Clerk and the state office can help you with unclaimed money questions in Manatee County. The Clerk handles locally held funds and can direct you to the right department. The state handles everything that has been escheated from Manatee County businesses and financial institutions.

Cities in Manatee County

Manatee County includes Bradenton and several surrounding communities on Florida's Gulf Coast. None have separate unclaimed property programs. All local unclaimed money goes through the Manatee County Clerk of Courts, and most older funds end up in the state database.

Bradenton is the county seat and largest city. Other communities include Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch, and Parrish. Search for unclaimed money from any of these areas through the Manatee County Clerk or fltreasurehunt.gov.

Nearby Counties

Manatee County borders several other Florida counties. Search each area where you have lived or worked. The state database covers all counties in one search, but local Clerk offices may hold recent funds separately.