Find Walton County Unclaimed Money

Walton County unclaimed money may be sitting in a state database right now with your name on it. Florida holds billions in lost funds from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and forgotten deposits. Searching for unclaimed money in Walton County is free and only takes a few minutes online. The Walton County Clerk of Courts in DeFuniak Springs may also hold court registry funds, bond refunds, and tax deed surplus that has gone unclaimed. Whether you live along the coast in South Walton or inland near DeFuniak Springs, a quick search could turn up money that belongs to you.

Search Walton County Unclaimed Funds

Start your search at fltreasurehunt.gov. The Florida Department of Financial Services maintains this free database. It covers all unclaimed property held by the state, including anything reported from Walton County. The search tool is available around the clock. One in five Floridians has unclaimed funds in this system, and Walton County is no exception.

Try all versions of your name. Maiden names, married names, and nicknames can all pull up different results. If you ran a business in DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach, or Freeport, search the business name too. Walton County has seen a lot of growth in the last decade, especially along the 30A corridor. People who moved to the area or left it may have unclaimed money tied to old addresses.

Walton County Unclaimed Money Types

Chapter 717, Florida Statutes defines what qualifies as unclaimed property in Walton County and across the state. The most common types of unclaimed money are dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed payroll checks, insurance benefits, stock dividends, and contents from safe deposit boxes. A bank account untouched for five years becomes unclaimed under Section 717.106. Unpaid wages become unclaimed after one year per Section 717.115.

Walton County's tourism-heavy economy means seasonal workers, rental management companies, and small businesses along the beach communities sometimes leave behind final paychecks, security deposits, or vendor refunds. These funds sit uncashed and eventually get turned over to the state. Utility deposits from power and water providers in Walton County also end up in the system when customers move away and forget to ask for their deposit back.

Note: Money orders have a seven-year dormancy period under Section 717.104 before the state takes custody.

Walton County Clerk and Unclaimed Funds

The Walton County Clerk of Courts in DeFuniak Springs manages money that flows through the local court system. This covers cash bonds, court registry deposits from civil cases, and surplus from foreclosure and tax deed sales. Florida Statute 116.21 requires the Clerk to report court-related unclaimed money after a holding period. Funds that go unclaimed for about a year get sent to the state.

If you had a court case in Walton County and think there might be money owed to you, contact the Clerk's office. They can tell you if funds are still held locally or have already been sent to the state database.

How to Claim Walton County Lost Money

When you find unclaimed money that could be yours, file a claim at fltreasurehunt.gov. Click the account in the search results and follow the steps. The site sends a claim form to your address with details on what documents you need to provide.

A government-issued photo ID is required. A driver's license works. If the address on your ID is different from where you live now, include a utility bill or bank statement showing your current address. The most important thing is proving you own the account. Having the same name is not enough by itself. Old bank statements, insurance letters, employer pay stubs, or similar documents that connect you to the unclaimed money help prove your case. Walton County residents claiming money for a deceased family member need a certified death certificate and proof of being the heir or estate representative.

The state has up to 90 days to process a complete claim. Many finish faster than that. If paperwork is missing, the timeline resets when you send what was needed.

Unclaimed Property Law in Walton County

There is no time limit to claim unclaimed money in Walton County. Florida law says so clearly. Section 717.129 of the Florida Statutes states that no contract, court order, or statute of limitations can stop you from getting your funds. You can claim money 5, 10, or 30 years after it was reported. The state never takes ownership. It holds the money as a custodian under Section 717.102.

Banks, businesses, and government offices in Walton County must report unclaimed property to the state by May 1 each year under Section 717.117. Before reporting, holders are supposed to try to reach the owner. When they fail, the money goes to the Florida Department of Financial Services. Unclaimed funds get deposited into the State School Fund to help pay for public education. But the full amount is always available to the owner or their heirs.

Walton County State Search Tool

The Florida Treasure Hunt homepage is where Walton County residents should begin their search for unclaimed money.

This free tool covers all unclaimed property in the state. It is run by the Florida Department of Financial Services. Walton County residents can search by personal name or business name at any time of day.

Florida Unclaimed Money Claim Search

Use the claim search page to look up specific names and find unclaimed funds.

Search results show the type of property, the reported amount, and the holder who sent the funds to the state. If you find a match tied to Walton County, you can start the claim process right on this page. You can also call 888-258-2253 to check claim status.

Watch for Walton County Scams

The Florida Department of Financial Services warns about unclaimed property scams. The state will never send you a text message about unclaimed money. Anyone who asks for your bank account number or Social Security number to release funds is not legitimate. The real process runs through the official website and is free from start to finish.

Third-party finders sometimes contact Walton County residents offering to file claims for a fee or a cut of the money. You can do it yourself at no cost. Go to fltreasurehunt.gov and keep every dollar. If you have lived in other states, try MissingMoney.com to search multiple states at once. It is backed by the National Association of State Treasurers and free to use.

Cities in Walton County

Walton County includes DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Paxton, and the beach communities along 30A and Miramar Beach. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All unclaimed money for Walton County residents goes through the same state and county systems. DeFuniak Springs serves as the county seat and is the center of county government.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Walton County. If you lived near the county line, your unclaimed money may be listed under a different county address.