Putnam County Unclaimed Money

Putnam County residents may have unclaimed money held by the state and not know about it. The Florida Department of Financial Services runs a free database where anyone can search for lost funds tied to their name. Old bank accounts, forgotten insurance checks, uncashed refunds, and abandoned safe deposit box contents all end up in the system. The Putnam County Clerk of Courts in Palatka may also hold court-related funds like tax deed surplus and bond refunds. A quick name search is all it takes to see if unclaimed money from Putnam County is waiting for you.

Search Putnam County Unclaimed Property

The best way to find unclaimed money in Putnam County is the state database at fltreasurehunt.gov. This is the official site run by the Florida Department of Financial Services. It costs nothing. You can search any time of day. Type your name and see what turns up. The state reports that one in five Floridians has some form of unclaimed property, so Putnam County residents should take a few minutes and check.

Use every name you have gone by. Maiden names, married names, and even nicknames can all be tied to unclaimed funds. Misspellings matter too. A data entry error years ago may be hiding your money in Putnam County's records. The state search page covers both personal and business accounts. If you have owned or run a business in the Palatka area, search under that name as well.

You can also try MissingMoney.com. This site runs a multi-state search. If you have lived outside Putnam County or Florida, it can find funds from other places in one shot.

Putnam County Clerk of Courts

The Putnam County Clerk of Courts holds certain types of unclaimed money at the local level. This office sits at 410 St. Johns Ave., Palatka, FL 32177. Call (386) 329-0361 to reach them. The Clerk manages funds from court cases that nobody has picked up. Tax deed surplus is one category. When a property in Putnam County sells at a tax deed sale for more than what was owed, the extra cash goes to the former owner. If they never claim it, the Clerk holds it.

Foreclosure surplus works the same way in Putnam County. Court registry deposits from civil and criminal cases sit with the Clerk too. Uncashed checks for jury service, vendor payments, and county refunds are another source of lost money. Under Florida Statute Section 116.21, the Clerk must track all unclaimed court-related funds. Each year the office publishes names of people and businesses with money waiting. After about a year, unclaimed funds get sent to the state database.

Note: If the Putnam County Clerk no longer holds your funds, they may have been sent to the state at fltreasurehunt.gov.

How to Claim Lost Money in Putnam County

The claim process is different depending on where the money sits. For state-held unclaimed property from Putnam County, go to the state search page and click on the account you want to claim. The site walks you through it. You will get a claim form that spells out what documents to send. A government-issued photo ID with your current address is required. If your ID has an old address, include a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Proving ownership is the most important part. The state gets claims from multiple people with the same name all the time. Just having a matching name is not proof. You may need old account statements, insurance policy documents, or employer records that tie you to the funds. For Putnam County unclaimed money belonging to a deceased person, heirs must send a certified death certificate along with proof of their relationship.

The state can take up to 90 days to process a complete claim. Many go faster. But if a document is missing, the clock resets. Send everything the form lists the first time. For county-held funds in Putnam County like tax deed surplus, you may need a court order. Call the Clerk at (386) 329-0361 for those steps.

Unclaimed Property Types in Putnam County

Unclaimed money from Putnam County falls into several groups. Bank accounts are the biggest source. Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, a bank account that goes idle for five years becomes unclaimed property. The bank must report it to the state. Insurance payouts, stock dividends, and credit balances follow the same rule. Uncashed paychecks from Putnam County employers get reported after just one year under Section 717.115.

Safe deposit box contents become unclaimed after three years per Section 717.116. Traveler's checks take 15 years. Money orders go dormant after seven. Locally, the Putnam County Clerk holds tax deed surplus, foreclosure surplus, cash bonds, and court registry deposits. These are tracked under Section 116.21 and held at the county level before going to the state.

Putnam County Unclaimed Money Laws

Florida law protects your right to claim lost funds forever. There is no deadline. The state never takes legal ownership of your property. Under the Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, Chapter 717, the state is just a custodian. You or your heirs can come forward at any time to claim unclaimed money from Putnam County. The original amount reported is always there.

Businesses in Putnam County must report unclaimed property to the state by May 1 each year under Section 717.117. They are supposed to try to find the owner first. When those efforts fail, the money goes to the Division of Unclaimed Property in Tallahassee. The state deposits it into the State School Fund for public schools, but the full amount stays available for the owner. Section 717.124 covers how the Department evaluates claims. Administrative rule 69G-20.0022 lays out what heirs need when claiming funds from a deceased person.

The Florida Treasure Hunt search tool is where Putnam County residents can look up unclaimed property held by the state.

From this page, you can start a name search, check a claim you already filed, or learn how the unclaimed property program works for Putnam County residents.

Putnam County Unclaimed Funds Resources

The state FAQ page answers common questions about claiming unclaimed property in Putnam County and across Florida. The state contact page has all the phone numbers and email addresses you might need. Call toll-free at 888-258-2253. Email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com for written questions about a Putnam County claim.

For court-related funds in Putnam County, the Clerk of Courts at 410 St. Johns Ave. in Palatka handles things directly. Call (386) 329-0361. The Putnam County Clerk website has information about local court services and filings.

The state claim search tool is shown below for Putnam County residents looking for their unclaimed funds.

Search by name to find unclaimed money tied to Putnam County or any other Florida county.

Note: Claiming unclaimed money in Putnam County is always free. Watch out for anyone who wants to charge a fee to search or file a claim on your behalf.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County. Unclaimed property is tied to the address on file when it was reported. If you have lived in any of these areas, check for funds there too. The state search covers all Florida counties at once.