Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink calls it “The Great Florida Treasure Hunt.”

The Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Unclaimed Property, holds unclaimed accounts valued at more than $1 billion, mostly from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings, according to the CFO. Unclaimed property also includes tangible property such as jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from safe deposit boxes.

When Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey discovered that the state agency does not contact property owners directly, he sent out more than 1,000 letters to county property owners alerting them that their names appeared on the unclaimed property list.

The letters helped some residents claim their property. According to Nina Banister, spokesperson for CFO Sink, Wakulla County residents made 173 claims for a total property value of $14,185.40. The largest single claim was $939.96.

A number of the letters were undeliverable and were return to the sheriff’s office. If you believe the state has your property CFO Sink has a method to claim the property.
“If you have ever lived in Florida, there's a chance we are holding unclaimed property for you,” said CFO Sink. “Please use the search form to begin your search.” The form is located at: http://www.fltreasurehunt.org/ControlServlet?ActionForm=GotoNewPublicSearch

“If you find a match and believe it is yours, you can print and complete a claim form and mail it to the department, or you can request a claim form be mailed to you. The claim form will list the documentation required to prove your claim,” she said.
There is no statute of limitations on making a claim. You have the right to claim your property any time at no cost.