Workshops to inform businesses about unclaimed property

The Department of Financial Services bureau of unclaimed property said it plans a series of workshops this summer to educate businesses and government offices about Florida's unclaimed property laws.

Last year, the bureau said it returned a record $99 million in unclaimed cash and property to 176,000 owners or heirs. But Florida's Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said he wants to do more.

"Yes, people move and forget about a safe deposit box or their utility deposit," he said. "But people also lose track of their property through company mergers and buyouts and I want to make sure that no Floridian loses their property due to company practices."

The workshops are planned for:

• June 14 in Orlando
• June 23 in Tampa
• June 29 in Fort Lauderdale
• July 12 in Jacksonville

For more information about the workshops, log onto www.fltreasurehunt.org and click on events.

The money or property reported to the state comes mostly from bank accounts, insurance policies, uncashed checks, business accounts or safe deposit boxes. The department advertises a 24-hour Web site where people can search for unclaimed property for themselves or family and friends.

Unclaimed cash goes to the state's education trust fund and every year the department holds a public auction to sell property unclaimed for at least three years.

This year's auction is scheduled for July 30 at the Wyndham Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Auction proceeds also go into the education trust fund.

The department said it is currently holding unclaimed property accounts valued at more than $1 billion.

• Print
• Email

Reader Comments

• More News Headlines
• Popular News Stories