Suwannee County Unclaimed Funds

Suwannee County residents may have unclaimed money sitting in a state database and not even realize it. The Florida Department of Financial Services holds lost funds from all over the state, including accounts tied to Suwannee County. Old bank deposits, insurance checks, payroll stubs, and refunds all end up there when the rightful owner cannot be found. The Suwannee County Clerk of Courts in Live Oak can also hold local court funds from tax deed sales, bond refunds, and uncashed county checks. Searching for unclaimed money in Suwannee County is free and takes just a few minutes.

Search Suwannee County Unclaimed Money

The official state database at fltreasurehunt.gov is where you should start. The Florida Department of Financial Services runs this search tool. It is free. It works 24 hours a day. Type your name and see what shows up. The state says one in five Floridians has some form of unclaimed property. Suwannee County may be a smaller county, but that does not mean there is less money waiting. Even rural areas have plenty of unclaimed funds in the system.

Search every name you have used over the years. Maiden names count. Old married names count. Even common misspellings can hide your money. The state search page checks personal and business accounts. If you have run a business in Live Oak or elsewhere in Suwannee County, search under the business name too. It takes seconds to run a check.

You can also try MissingMoney.com for a multi-state search. If you have lived or worked outside Florida, it checks other states at the same time.

Note: The state search is always free and you do not need to hire a third party to look up your name.

Suwannee County Clerk of Courts

The Suwannee County Clerk of Courts holds some unclaimed funds locally. The office is at 200 S. Ohio Ave., Live Oak, FL 32064. Call (386) 362-0500. The Clerk manages funds from court proceedings that no one has collected. Tax deed surplus is a key source. When property in Suwannee County sells at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the surplus belongs to the prior owner. If that person does not collect, the money sits with the Clerk.

Foreclosure surplus from Suwannee County home sales works the same way. Court registry deposits, cash bonds, and uncashed checks from jury payments or vendor services are also held here. Florida Statute Section 116.21 requires the Clerk to track all court-related unclaimed money. After a holding period, unclaimed funds get sent to the state database. So you should check both the Clerk office in Live Oak and the state site at fltreasurehunt.gov.

How to Claim Lost Funds in Suwannee County

If you find unclaimed money in your name, filing a claim is the next step. For state-held funds from Suwannee County, go to the state search page and click the account you want to claim. Follow the steps. You will get a claim form listing what documents you need. A government-issued photo ID showing your current address is required. If your ID has an old address, add a utility bill or bank statement.

The state needs proof that the account belongs to you. Having the same name is not proof. People share names, and the Department gets duplicate claims often. You may need old bank statements, insurance records, or pay stubs connecting you to the unclaimed funds in Suwannee County. For a deceased owner, heirs must provide a certified death certificate and papers showing their right to the money. The state allows up to 90 days to process a complete claim.

For county-held funds like tax deed surplus in Suwannee County, contact the Clerk at (386) 362-0500. You may need a court motion and a W-9 form before the Clerk can release funds.

Note: It costs nothing to file a claim for unclaimed money in Suwannee County through the state or the Clerk's office.

Types of Unclaimed Property in Suwannee County

Unclaimed money from Suwannee County falls into several categories. Dormant bank accounts are the largest source statewide. Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, a bank account idle for five years becomes unclaimed property. Insurance payouts, stocks, dividends, refunds, and credit balances all follow the same five-year rule. Wages that go uncollected for more than one year are reported per Section 717.115. Safe deposit box contents become unclaimed after three years under Section 717.116.

Traveler's checks have a 15-year dormancy period. Money orders go dormant at seven years. At the county level, Suwannee County generates tax deed surplus, foreclosure surplus, cash bonds, and court registry deposits. All of these are tracked under Section 116.21 and held by the Clerk before going to the state.

Unclaimed Money Laws for Suwannee County

Your unclaimed money in Suwannee County does not expire. Florida has no statute of limitations on claims. The state acts as a custodian under the Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act. It never takes legal ownership. You or your heirs can claim the money at any time. The original amount reported stays available no matter how many years pass.

Businesses and banks in Suwannee County must report unclaimed property to the state each year by May 1 per Section 717.117. They must first try to locate the owner. When that fails, the funds go to the Division of Unclaimed Property in Tallahassee. The state puts unclaimed money into the State School Fund for public schools, but the full amount is always claimable. Section 717.124 covers the claims review process. Heirs claiming on behalf of a deceased person should review administrative rule 69G-20.0022 for required documentation.

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage gives Suwannee County residents free access to the state search tool.

From this page you can start a name search, check a claim you already filed, or learn about how the unclaimed money program works in Suwannee County.

Suwannee County Unclaimed Funds Resources

The state FAQ page answers common questions about searching and claiming unclaimed money. The contact page has phone numbers and email addresses for each department. Call toll-free at 888-258-2253 for help with a Suwannee County claim. Email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com with written questions.

For court-related funds, the Suwannee County Clerk of Courts is at 200 S. Ohio Ave. in Live Oak. Call (386) 362-0500. The Clerk handles tax deed surplus claims, bond refunds, and court deposits locally.

Here is the state search tool for Suwannee County residents looking for unclaimed funds.

Search by name to find unclaimed money tied to Suwannee County or any other location in Florida.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Suwannee County. If you have lived in any of them, check for unclaimed funds there as well. The state database covers every Florida county in one search, but local court-held funds are handled by each Clerk office.