Recovering lost funds in Florida
Florida holds more than $2 billion in abandoned funds, and it strictly limits who may file claims on an owner’s behalf. We help Floridians, heirs, and businesses recover what’s theirs, with every document the state requires.
- Status
- Registered to assist claimants in Florida
- Claims filed with
- Florida Department of Financial Services
Florida at a glance
Figures reported by the Florida Chief Financial Officer, 2025 and 2026.
Inside a Florida recovery
Strict rules on who can help
Only registered claimant’s representatives may file claims for others in Florida, and the state reviews their filings closely.
We work within Florida’s rules on every claim.Estates and heirs
Claims for a deceased owner require proof of the heirs’ right to the funds, and Florida’s probate rules decide who inherits.
We identify the heirs and prepare the estate documents.Business claims
Businesses must prove they are the owner named on the account, or its successor after a merger, acquisition, or name change.
We document the corporate history behind the claim.Securities and safe deposit boxes
Stock, dividends, and box contents need to be matched to the original owner and account records.
We track down the original records.How Florida safeguards forgotten funds
The Florida Department of Financial Services, under the Chief Financial Officer, safeguards accounts that businesses could not return to their owners.
Returns have been climbing, with record months in 2025 and a record $88 million returned in February 2026 alone. Many of the accounts still waiting involve estates, businesses, and older records that take far more than a quick search to claim.
- What Florida holds
- Dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, securities, and safe deposit box contents.
- Who may file for others
- Florida law only allows registered claimant’s representatives, who must be Florida-licensed attorneys, Florida-certified public accountants, or licensed private investigative agencies, to file claims on an owner’s behalf for a fee.
When a claim involves an estate
Many of the accounts we recover belong to someone who has passed away. That is when a claim becomes a legal matter: the Florida Department of Financial Services releases the funds only to the person with the legal right to them, and that right has to be shown with court or estate documents.
When probate usually comes into play
- The owner died without a will, or the will was never filed with a court.
- The amount is large enough that the state requires a court-appointed representative.
- Several heirs share the funds, or some of them live in other states.
- The owner died years ago and the money has passed through more than one generation.
How we get involved
- We map the familyWe identify every legal heir under Florida law and document how each one is related to the owner.
- We choose the right legal pathWe determine whether an affidavit is enough or the estate needs to be opened in probate court.
- We coordinate the court workProbate attorneys in our network handle the court filings, so the executor or administrator receives the letters the state requires.
- We file with the estate documentsCertified death certificates, court letters, and affidavits go to the Florida Department of Financial Services with the claim, complete and in order.
How we recover Florida funds
We take on the research, legal paperwork, and follow-up with the Florida Department of Financial Services, and keep you updated until the claim is paid.
We locate and verify the account
We search Florida’s records, match the account to the right person, and confirm its value.
We build the proof
We trace past addresses, name changes, and family relationships, and gather the documents that prove your right to the funds.
Notary and documents
A notary from our network meets you to sign and notarize the claim, so nothing is sent back for a missing signature or seal.
We file and answer every request
We submit a complete claim to the Florida Department of Financial Services and respond to each follow-up request until it’s approved.
Florida releases your funds
Once the claim is approved, the funds are released to you.
Florida questions
What documents will I need for a Florida claim?
It depends on the account and your relationship to the owner. Every claim needs supporting documents that show you are entitled to the funds, and claims for someone who has died usually need additional documents about the estate or family relationship. We tell you exactly what’s needed and help you gather it.
Why do claims get delayed or sent back?
The most common reasons are missing or mismatched documents, names and addresses that don’t match the state’s records, and incomplete proof of an heir’s right to the funds. Each one can add months. We review every claim before it’s filed and answer the state’s follow-up requests, which is how we keep a 95% success rate.
The Florida Department of Financial Services logo is shown to identify the state office where claims are filed. Lifetime Financial LLC is a private company registered or licensed to assist claimants in Florida. We are not a government agency and are not part of, or endorsed by, the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Other states where we work
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Have questions about a claim?
Talk to a real person on our team. We’ll explain what we found, what happens next, and answer anything you want to know before you decide.