Florida holds billions in money that belongs to people who lost track of it. Old bank accounts, final paychecks, utility deposits, insurance refunds, and more. In September 2026 the state gave the program a new public name: Claim Your Cash Florida, at ClaimYourCashFL.gov.
This guide explains how to search it well, what a claim usually needs, and the step that trips up a lot of people. It is based on the Florida Chief Financial Officer's September 15, 2026 announcement, the program's official FAQ, and Florida Statutes section 717.124.
Same program, new name
If you remember Florida Treasure Hunt, this is the same program. According to the CFO's announcement, Claim Your Cash Florida is a new public-facing name and an enhanced website for the state's long-standing abandoned property program. The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property, still runs it.
The announcement says individuals, businesses, organizations, eligible heirs, and estate representatives can all search the site.
Searching is free
The official FAQ is direct about cost. Searching the database and filing a claim with the Department of Financial Services are free. No search fees, registration fees, subscription fees, or claim filing fees apply. The FAQ also says private companies may offer recovery services for a fee, and using them is optional.
There is also no deadline. The FAQ explains that the state acts only as a custodian of property reported under chapter 717. It never becomes the owner, and the right to claim does not expire.
How to search well
A single search on your current name is not enough. The FAQ recommends searching every name that may be tied to the property, including:
- Your current name and any previous names
- Maiden and married names
- Business names you used or owned
- Common variations, like a middle initial, a nickname, or a hyphenated last name
You can also search for family members, a business, or a deceased relative. When you look at results, compare the details you can see, like the city, the address, and the company that reported the money, against what you know.
What a claim usually needs
If you find something that looks like yours, the system walks you through starting a claim. The FAQ says most claims require:
- A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID
- Proof of your current mailing address
- Documents that connect you to the property, such as a previous address, an employer, a bank, or an account number
The law itself requires identification. Section 717.124 says a legible copy of a valid driver license, or other accepted photo ID, must be provided when the original claim form is filed. In place of photo ID, the law allows a notarized sworn statement confirming the claimant's identity.
The FAQ also lists documents that are not acceptable as proof, including handwritten letters, letterhead and business cards, and printouts from the internet or phone directories. If there is more than one claimant, each one must submit ID and sign the claim form.
The step people miss
This is the part to read twice. When you start a claim online, you get a claim number. The FAQ says receiving a claim number does not mean you filed a claim.
A claim counts as filed only when the Division receives your signed claim form and all the required supporting documents. Until then, it will not show up in the online claim status tool. So print the form, sign it, gather what it asks for, and send the full package.
Save your claim number and use it every time you contact the Division. It is different from the property or account number on the search results.
Heirs and deceased owners
If the money belonged to someone who has passed away, you can still claim it if you are legally entitled. The FAQ says to start a claim and mark that the owner is deceased. The system then creates a form with instructions for heirs or the estate.
Expect to need more. The FAQ mentions certified death certificates, probate records, or other documents showing your legal right. Identification and signed claim forms may be needed for all heirs, or for the personal representative if the estate is still open.
How long it takes
Claims are processed in the order received, so the Division does not give an exact timeline. Under section 717.124, the Department generally decides a claim within 90 days after it receives the claim or any extra information it requested, whichever is later. That window can be extended by 60 days in certain situations, such as when the owner was in bankruptcy or an address is outside the United States.
The FAQ says the most common cause of delay is incomplete paperwork.
Questions to ask
- Have I searched every name I have used, plus any business names?
- Do the city, address, and reporting company match my history?
- Do I have a current photo ID and proof of my mailing address?
- What document connects me to this money?
- Is anyone else listed, and can each person sign and send ID?
- Did I mail the signed form and every document, not just start the claim online?
Doing it on your own
Many people can search and claim directly with the state, and the FAQ says it is free. Some claims are harder, like money owed to a deceased relative with several heirs, a closed business, or a claim that came back asking for more documents. Complicated claim? A Florida law firm can handle it for you.
Call (800) 583-0551 or start a free case review. No fee unless we recover money for you.
