Unclaimed Funds

​​​​​Are we holding your unclaimed money? Did you lose or forget to cash a check from us? Did you forget to tell us you changed your address?

Lost, destroyed, or stale-dated checks.

Outstanding checks that have not cleared the bank because they have been lost or destroyed may be reissued. Prior to reissuing a check, the Clerk’s office will verify that the funds have not been paid. There is a 30-day waiting period after a check has been issued to request a reissue. If the funds were paid, the check will not be reissued. Checks are only reissued to the original payee.

Stale-dated checks are checks dated more than six months old and are no longer payable. They may be reissued to the original payee.

Publication of unclaimed funds.

In July of each year, the Clerk's office publishes a list of people or businesses that have unclaimed money held by our office either for court-related activities or for county-related and other non-court activities.​The deadline to collect these funds is September 1 of the year of publication.


Submission of abandoned property to state.

Some unclaimed monies that have not been claimed for over a year must be submitted to the state in accordance with chapter 717, Florida Statutes, Disposition of Abandoned Property. To request the funds from the State of Florida Department of Revenue’s Abandoned Property division, visit www.fltreasurehunt.gov​

For additional information, please review sections 717.113, 717.117 and 116.21, regarding abandoned or unclaimed property, in the Florida Statutes Online

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HOW TO CLAIM FUNDS

If you believe that you have unclaimed funds held by the Clerk’s office:
Please print out and complete the appropriate Affidavit or Claim Form.

  • UNCLAIMED CHECKS -- checks that are at l​east six months old and have not been cashed.
    Mail completed Affidavits for Stale-Dated Checks, a copy of a valid photo ID, proof of address and notarized signature to the Alachua County Clerk’s Office, Attn: Finance and Accounting Department, 12 SE 1st Street Fourth Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.

    Unclaimed Funds Affidavit for Stale-Dated Checks - Indemnity Agreement


 
  • TAX DEED SURPLUS
    Mail completed Claim for Tax Deed Surplus, a copy of a valid photo ID, proof of address and notarized signature to the Alachua County Clerk’s Office, Attn: Tax Deeds, 201 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601.
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    Claim for Tax Deed Surplus



  • REALAUCTION DEPOSITS FOR FORECLOSURE OR TAX DEED SALES
    RealAuction accounts for the Alachua County Clerk that have had no financial activity for over a year are forfeited pursuant to Florida Statute 116.21. Refunds must be made before September 1 of the following year. If your account has been inactive for more than a year, please review the following information: RealAuction Deposits for Foreclosure or Tax Deed Sales

  • COURT-RELATED CLAIMS
    Before the Clerk can release funds on court-related claims, the Clerk will need a court order authorizing the disbursement. A blank motion form, found in the Forms section of the Clerk’s website (Motion For/To (General) Form), can be used to request the disbursement. Once an order is issued, you can send a copy of the order to Alachua County Clerk’s Office, Attn: Finance and Accounting Department, 12 SE 1st Street Fourth Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.

  • FORECLOSURE SURPLUS
    Before the Clerk can release funds on a foreclosure surplus, the Clerk will need a court order authorizing the disbursement. See the Foreclosure page​ for information about claiming surplus funds on a foreclosure.


Please allow the Clerk’s office sufficient time to process your request.

 
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