Sarasota County Unclaimed Money Lookup

Sarasota County residents could have unclaimed money held by the state of Florida right now. With close to half a million people spread across Sarasota, North Port, and Venice, this Gulf Coast county sees a large amount of lost funds cycle through the system each year. Unclaimed money in Sarasota County comes from dormant bank accounts, old insurance proceeds, uncashed refunds, and court surplus. The state runs a free search tool that covers all of these. The Sarasota County Clerk of Courts also manages local funds from tax deed sales and court cases that you may be able to claim.

Search for Sarasota County Unclaimed Property

The state database at fltreasurehunt.gov is the best place to search for unclaimed money in Sarasota County. The Florida Department of Financial Services manages this tool. It is free to use and runs around the clock. Type in your name and the system checks all unclaimed accounts reported across Sarasota County and the rest of the state. The state estimates that one in five Floridians has some form of unclaimed property, so the odds of finding something in a county this size are real.

Try every name you have used. Maiden names, past married names, nicknames. Misspellings are common too. A typo from a decade ago could be the thing standing between you and your unclaimed money in Sarasota County. The state search page lets you check personal and business accounts. If you ran a business in Sarasota, North Port, or Venice, search under the business name too.

For a broader search, MissingMoney.com checks many states at once. Sarasota County draws a lot of people from the Midwest and Northeast. If you moved here from another state, you may have funds sitting elsewhere.

Sarasota County Clerk of Courts

The Sarasota County Clerk of Courts handles court-related unclaimed funds at the local level. The main office is at 2000 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34237. Call (941) 861-7400 to reach them. The Clerk manages several kinds of unclaimed money. Tax deed surplus is one of the largest sources. When property in Sarasota County sells at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the extra money belongs to the prior owner. If they do not come forward, the Clerk holds the funds.

Foreclosure surplus works in a similar way. When a Sarasota County home goes through foreclosure and the sale price exceeds the judgment, surplus cash sits in the court registry. Cash bonds from criminal cases, deposits from civil suits, and uncashed checks for jury service or vendor work are other sources. Florida Statute Section 116.21 requires the Clerk to track all court-related unclaimed money. The office reports these funds on a yearly basis.

After a holding period of about one year, the Sarasota County Clerk sends unclaimed funds to the state. Always check both places.

Note: Contact the Sarasota County Clerk directly at (941) 861-7400 for questions about local court-held funds.

How to Claim Unclaimed Property in Sarasota County

Found a match? Here is what to do next. For state-held unclaimed property from Sarasota County, click the account on the fltreasurehunt.gov search page. The site guides you through the process. A claim form will be generated that tells you exactly what to send. You will need a government-issued photo ID with your current address at a minimum. If your ID still shows an old address, include a utility bill or bank statement as proof of where you live now.

Ownership proof is the biggest hurdle. The same name is not enough. The state regularly gets claims from multiple people with the same name for the same Sarasota County account. Old bank records, insurance papers, pay stubs, or any other documentation tying you to the account helps your case. For a deceased owner, heirs must send a certified death certificate and proof of their legal right to the funds.

Claims can take up to 90 days to process once the state has a complete package. Many finish sooner. Missing documents slow things down. For county-held funds in Sarasota County, like tax deed surplus, you may need to file a court motion. The Clerk's office can explain the steps. A W-9 form is required for any local payout.

Types of Unclaimed Money in Sarasota County

Unclaimed money in Sarasota County comes from many places. Dormant bank accounts are the most common type. Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, bank accounts that sit idle for five years get reported to the state as unclaimed property. Insurance checks, stock dividends, refunds, and credit balances all follow the same rule. Uncashed paychecks from Sarasota County employers become unclaimed after one year per Section 717.115.

Safe deposit box contents go to the state after three years under Section 717.116. Money orders after seven. Traveler's checks take 15 years. At the local level, the Sarasota County Clerk holds tax deed surplus, foreclosure surplus, court registry deposits, and cash bonds. These are managed under Section 116.21 before eventually going to the state if unclaimed.

Sarasota County Unclaimed Property Laws

Florida law protects your right to claim lost money with no time limit. There is no deadline for Sarasota County residents or anyone in the state. The Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, Chapter 717, says the state is only a custodian. It never takes legal ownership. You or your heirs can claim the money at any point. The original amount is always available.

Businesses in Sarasota County must file reports of unclaimed property with the state by May 1 every year per Section 717.117. They are required to try finding the owner first. When those efforts fail, the money goes to the Division of Unclaimed Property. Unclaimed funds get deposited into the State School Fund, but the full amount stays claimable. Section 717.124 explains how the Department evaluates and decides on claims. For heirs, administrative rule 69G-20.0022 lists the documentation requirements.

Here is the Florida Treasure Hunt homepage where Sarasota County residents can search for their unclaimed money.

Use this page to start a search or check the status of an existing claim tied to Sarasota County.

Sarasota County Unclaimed Funds Resources

The state FAQ page covers common questions about the claim process for Sarasota County and all of Florida. The state contact page lists phone numbers and emails. Call toll-free at 888-258-2253 for direct help. Email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com for written questions about Sarasota County unclaimed funds.

For court-related funds in Sarasota County, visit the Clerk of Courts at 2000 Main St. in Sarasota or call (941) 861-7400. The Sarasota Clerk website has information about court services and claims procedures.

The state claim search page is shown here for Sarasota County residents.

Type your name to search for unclaimed money in Sarasota County and across the state of Florida.

Cities in Sarasota County

Sarasota County includes the city of Sarasota, North Port, and Venice, along with several smaller communities. All unclaimed money for these cities flows through the Sarasota County Clerk of Courts or the state database. No city in this county runs its own unclaimed property program. Sarasota is the county seat and the location of the main Clerk office.

North Port is the most populous city in Sarasota County. Venice, Englewood, and other communities also fall under the county Clerk for court-held funds. No matter which city you live in, search the state database and contact the Clerk in Sarasota for the best results.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Sarasota County. If you have lived in more than one area, check each for unclaimed money. The state search covers all counties at once, but court-held funds are managed by each Clerk separately.