Union County Unclaimed Money

Union County residents may have unclaimed money held by the state of Florida without knowing it. Even in one of the state's smallest counties, lost funds build up over time. Unclaimed money in Union County includes dormant bank accounts, forgotten insurance payouts, uncashed payroll checks, and old refunds. The state database holds all of it. The Union County Clerk of Courts in Lake Butler may also have local court funds like tax deed surplus and bond refunds that have gone uncollected. You can search for unclaimed money from Union County at no cost through the state website.

Search Union County Unclaimed Property

The best place to look for unclaimed money in Union County is the state database at fltreasurehunt.gov. The Florida Department of Financial Services manages this tool. It is free. You can search any time. Just type your name. The state says one in five Floridians has some unclaimed property. That holds true even in Union County. Small counties still have residents with lost funds sitting in the state system for years.

Try all name forms. Maiden names and former married names matter. Common misspellings can hide your money. The state search page checks both personal and business names. If you have run a business in Lake Butler or the wider Union County area, search under that name. It takes only a few seconds.

For a wider search, try MissingMoney.com. It checks multiple states at once. If you have lived anywhere outside Florida, you may find unclaimed funds from other states through that site.

Union County Clerk of Courts

The Union County Clerk of Courts manages certain unclaimed funds locally. The office is at 55 W. Main St., Lake Butler, FL 32054. Phone is (386) 496-3711. The Clerk handles money from court cases that no one has collected. Tax deed surplus is one source. When a Union County property sells at a tax deed auction for more than the taxes owed, the excess belongs to the former owner. If they do not pick it up, the Clerk holds the money.

Foreclosure surplus, cash bonds from criminal cases, and court registry deposits also end up with the Union County Clerk. Uncashed checks for jury duty payments, vendor services, and county refunds are tracked here. Under Florida Statute Section 116.21, the Clerk must report court-related unclaimed money each year. After a holding period, these funds get sent to the state. So checking with the Clerk in Lake Butler and searching the state database both make sense.

Note: After about one year, unclaimed court funds in Union County are typically sent to the state at fltreasurehunt.gov.

How to Claim Lost Money in Union County

Found your name? Good. For state-held unclaimed property from Union County, go to the state search page, click the account, and start the claim process. The system generates a claim form listing what documents you need. At a minimum you need a government-issued photo ID showing your current address. If your ID shows an old address, include a recent utility bill or bank statement.

Proving you own the account is what matters most. Sharing a name is not enough. The state regularly receives claims from different people with the same name on the same account. You may need old bank records, insurance documents, or pay stubs connecting you to the Union County funds. For a deceased owner, heirs must send a certified death certificate and proof of their right to the money.

The state has up to 90 days to process a complete claim package. Many are handled faster. Missing paperwork slows things down. Send everything listed on the form the first time. For county-level funds like tax deed surplus, call the Union County Clerk at (386) 496-3711. You may need a court motion and W-9 form.

Unclaimed Money Types in Union County

Unclaimed money from Union County covers several categories. Dormant bank accounts are the biggest source statewide. Under Chapter 717, Florida Statutes, bank accounts that have been idle for five years become unclaimed property. Insurance checks, stock dividends, refunds, and credit balances all follow the same rule. Uncashed paychecks from Union 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 hit their dormancy at seven years. Traveler's checks take 15. At the county level, Union County sees tax deed surplus, foreclosure surplus, cash bonds, and court deposits. These local funds are held by the Clerk under Section 116.21 before they move to the state system if unclaimed.

Union County Unclaimed Property Laws

Florida law protects your right to claim lost money with no deadline. There is no statute of limitations. The state is only a custodian under the Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, Chapter 717. It never takes legal ownership of your funds. Union County residents or their heirs can come back at any time to collect. The original amount reported is always available to claim.

Banks and businesses in Union County must report unclaimed property to the state by May 1 every year under Section 717.117. They are required to try locating the owner first. When those efforts fail, the money goes to the Division of Unclaimed Property in Tallahassee. Unclaimed funds get placed in the State School Fund to support public schools. But the full amount remains claimable by the rightful owner. Section 717.124 explains the review process. Administrative rule 69G-20.0022 covers what heirs need to submit when claiming on behalf of a deceased person.

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage is where Union County residents start their search.

Use this page to search by name, check an existing claim, or find out more about how the state handles unclaimed property from Union County.

Resources for Union County Unclaimed Funds

The state FAQ page covers questions about the search and claims process. The contact page has email addresses and phone numbers. Call toll-free at 888-258-2253 for direct help with a Union County claim. Email FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com for written inquiries.

For court-related funds in Union County, the Clerk of Courts at 55 W. Main St. in Lake Butler handles claims. Call (386) 496-3711. The Clerk can tell you if any local funds are still being held or if they have already been sent to the state.

The state search tool is shown below for Union County residents.

Type your name to search for any unclaimed money tied to Union County or elsewhere in the state.

Note: Claiming unclaimed money in Union County is always free. Never pay someone to search or file a claim for you.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. Unclaimed funds are tied to the address the holder reported. If you have lived near the county line, check these areas for unclaimed money as well.