Polk County Unclaimed Money Lookup

Unclaimed money in Polk County is managed by the Clerk of Courts in Bartow and the state's unclaimed property program. Polk County has more than 852,000 people, making it one of the largest counties in Central Florida. Thousands of accounts sit unclaimed in the state database with ties to Polk County addresses. You can search for these funds online at FLTreasureHunt.gov at no cost. It is free to file a claim, and Florida law puts no deadline on when you can collect unclaimed money in Polk County.

Polk County Clerk of Courts Office

The Polk County Clerk of Courts is located at 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830. The phone number is (863) 534-4000. This office manages court records, financial reporting, and any unclaimed funds from local court operations in Polk County. Court registry deposits, uncashed checks issued by the county, cash bonds from criminal cases, and surplus from tax deed sales all fall under the Clerk's management.

The Polk County Clerk's website is a good starting point when you want to check for locally held unclaimed money. The office handles all types of court-related financial matters for the county.

When someone overpays a court fee or a vendor check goes uncashed, the Clerk holds the money in Polk County. Under Florida law, the Clerk must publish a list of these unclaimed funds each year and make an effort to reach the owners. If nobody claims the money, it eventually gets sent to the Florida Department of Financial Services. So you should check both the local Clerk and the state database when looking for unclaimed money in Polk County.

Search Polk County Unclaimed Property

The FLTreasureHunt.gov database holds the bulk of unclaimed money for Polk County. The Florida Department of Financial Services operates this free search tool. It includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, insurance payouts, stocks, dividends, and safe deposit box contents from all across the state. One in five Floridians has unclaimed funds waiting, and the average claim value tops $2,000.

Under Chapter 717 of the Florida Statutes, businesses and financial groups must report unclaimed property after a dormancy period. Section 717.102 sets the general rule at five years for most types of property. Wages have a one-year period under Section 717.115. The money stays in the state database forever until someone claims it. There is no deadline.

Search under every name you have used in Polk County. Maiden names, married names, and nicknames all count. Close matches are worth checking since misspellings happen often.

Note: The state search is free to use and available 24 hours a day for Polk County residents.

How to Claim Unclaimed Money in Polk County

Start at the FLTreasureHunt.gov search page to find your account. If your name shows up, follow the online steps to begin your claim. You will need a government-issued photo ID that shows your current address. If your ID does not match your current address, include a recent utility bill or bank statement. Each claim form lists the exact documents required for your type of account.

The Florida Department of Financial Services has 90 days from when it gets your complete paperwork to make a decision. Many claims process faster. But if you leave something out, the timeline starts over once you send the missing items. Mail everything at once to the Division of Unclaimed Property at P.O. Box 8599, Tallahassee, FL 32314-8599.

For unclaimed money still held locally in Polk County, contact the Clerk at (863) 534-4000. You may need specific forms depending on the fund type. Court registry deposits require a Motion and Order to Disburse with a judge's signature before the Clerk can release the funds in Polk County.

Polk County Unclaimed Funds Under Florida Law

Florida Statute 116.21 controls court-related unclaimed money in Polk County. The Clerk must report funds from court activities that go unclaimed before January 1 of the prior year. These include jury payments, refunds from case fees, and cash bond money in Polk County. The Clerk has to publish a notice and give owners time to file a claim before sending the money to the state.

Chapter 717 covers the broader world of unclaimed property. Section 717.106 deals with bank deposits, setting a five-year inactivity threshold. Section 717.107 covers life insurance proceeds with the same five-year rule. Section 717.116 handles safe deposit box contents at three years. Traveler's checks under Section 717.104 use 15 years and money orders use 7 years. All of these apply to Polk County residents and businesses.

The most important rule for Polk County claimants is Section 717.129. It says no contract, deadline, or court order can take away your right to claim unclaimed property. The money is always yours. Florida charges no fees to search for it or collect it.

Polk County Multi-State Search

Polk County residents who have lived in other states should also check MissingMoney.com. This site searches multiple state databases at once and is run by the National Association of State Treasurers. It covers nearly every state in the country. If you moved to Polk County from somewhere else, you may have unclaimed money in your old state too. The search takes a few seconds and costs nothing.

Over $3 billion in claims were paid through this network in the last year. One in seven people has unclaimed property somewhere. Enter your name and check every state where you have lived, worked, or done business.

Florida Unclaimed Property Portal

The state search tool is the fastest way to find unclaimed money tied to a Polk County address. You can search by person or business name.

After finding a match, print the claim form and gather your documents. Mail them to Tallahassee or email questions to FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com. The toll-free help line is 888-258-2253 for Polk County residents who need assistance with their claim.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County is home to Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, and many other communities. Lakeland is the largest city with a population over 124,000 and has its own dedicated page for unclaimed money information. All unclaimed money claims go through the Polk County Clerk in Bartow or the state database.

Other communities in Polk County include Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Bartow, and Davenport. Residents of these areas search through the Polk County Clerk's office or FLTreasureHunt.gov for unclaimed funds.

Nearby Counties

Polk County borders many other counties. If you lived or owned property near the county line, check nearby counties for unclaimed money too.