FLORIDA DISPOSITION OF ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY ACT
717.001 Short title.
717.101 Definitions.
717.102 Property presumed abandoned; general rule.
717.103 General rules for taking custody of intangible abandoned property.
717.104 Traveler’s checks and money orders.
717.1045 Gift certificates and similar credit items.
717.105 Checks, drafts, and similar instruments issued or certified by banking and financial organizations.
717.106 Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.
717.1065 Virtual currency.
717.107 Funds owing under life insurance policies, annuity contracts, and retained asset accounts; fines, penalties, and interest; United States Social Security Administration Death Master File.
717.1071 Lost owners of abandoned demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization proceeds.
717.108 Deposits held by utilities.
717.109 Refunds held by business associations.
717.1101 Abandoned equity and debt of business associations.
717.111 Property of business associations held in course of dissolution.
717.112 Property held by agents and fiduciaries.
717.1125 Property held by fiduciaries under trust instruments.
717.113 Property held by courts and public agencies.
717.115 Wages.
717.116 Contents of safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository.
717.117 Holder due diligence and report of abandoned property.
717.118 Notification of apparent owners of abandoned property.
717.119 Payment or delivery of abandoned property.
717.1201 Custody by state; holder liability; reimbursement of holder paying claim; reclaiming for owner; payment of safe-deposit box or repository charges.
717.121 Crediting of dividends, interest, or increments to owner’s account.
717.122 Public sale of abandoned property.
717.123 Deposit of funds.
717.1235 Dormant campaign accounts.
717.124 Abandoned property claims.
717.12403 Abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution held in the name of more than one person.
717.12404 Claims on behalf of a business entity or trust.
717.12405 Claims by estates.
717.12406 Joint ownership of abandoned securities or dividends.
717.1241 Conflicting claims.
717.1242 Restatement of jurisdiction of the circuit court sitting in probate and the department.
717.1243 Small estate accounts.
717.1244 Determinations of abandoned property claims.
717.1245 Garnishment of abandoned property.
717.125 Claim of another state to recover property; procedure.
717.126 Administrative hearing; burden of proof; proof of entitlement; venue.
717.1261 Death certificates.
717.1262 Court documents.
717.127 Election to take payment or delivery.
717.128 Destruction or disposition of property having insubstantial commercial value; immunity from liability.
717.129 Periods of limitation.
717.1301 Investigations; examinations; subpoenas.
717.1311 Retention of records.
717.1315 Retention of records by claimant representatives and buyers of abandoned property.
717.132 Enforcement; cease and desist orders; fines.
717.1322 Administrative and civil enforcement.
717.1323 Prohibited practice.
717.133 Interstate agreements and cooperation; joint and reciprocal actions with other states.
717.1331 Actions against holders.
717.1333 Evidence; estimations; audit reports and worksheets, investigator reports and worksheets, other related documents.
717.134 Penalties and interest.
717.1341 Invalid claims, recovery of property, interest and penalties.
717.135 Recovery agreements and purchase agreements for claims filed by a claimant representative; fees and costs or total net gain.
717.1355 Theme park and entertainment complex tickets.
717.1356 Purchase of abandoned property.
717.136 Foreign transactions.
717.138 Rulemaking authority.
717.1382 United States savings bond; abandoned property; escheatment; procedure.
717.1383 United States savings bond; claim for bond.
717.139 Uniformity of application and construction.
717.1400 Registration.
717.1401 Repeal.
717.001 Short title.—This chapter may be cited as the “Florida Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property Act.”
717.101 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Abandoned property” means property held by a holder for which all of the following are true:
(a) The apparent owner has shown no activity or indication of interest for the duration of the applicable dormancy period established under this chapter.
(b) The holder has complied with the due diligence requirements set forth in this chapter, including the issuance of notice to the apparent owner, and has received no response or contact sufficient to demonstrate continued interest in the property.
For purposes of this chapter, property is presumed abandoned upon expiration of the applicable dormancy period established under this chapter. Once the dormancy period has expired, the holder must comply with the due diligence requirements set forth in s. 717.117. If the holder does not receive response or contact sufficient to demonstrate continued interest in the property after completion of its due diligence efforts, the property is deemed abandoned and subject to reporting and remittance to the department for custodial holding on behalf of the owner.
(2) “Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement” means the form adopted by the department pursuant to s. 717.135 which must be used, without modification or amendment, by a claimant representative to purchase abandoned property from an owner.
(3) “Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement” means the form adopted by the department pursuant to s. 717.135 which must be used, without modification or amendment, by a claimant representative to obtain consent and authority to recover abandoned property on behalf of a person.
(4) “Aggregate” means the amounts reported for owners of abandoned property of less than $10 or where there is no name for the individual or entity listed on the holder’s records, regardless of the amount to be reported.
(5) “Apparent owner” means the person whose name appears on the records of the holder as the owner of the abandoned property, but whose status as the true owner entitled to receive the property may be subject to change due to the passage of time or changes in circumstances.
(6) “Audit” means an action or proceeding to examine and verify a person’s records, books, accounts, and other documents to ascertain and determine compliance with this chapter.
(7) “Audit agent” means a person with whom the department enters into a contract to conduct an audit or examination. The term includes an independent contractor of the person and each individual participating in the audit on behalf of the person or contractor.
(8) “Authorized representative” means a person or an entity legally empowered to act on behalf of the apparent owner or his or her estate, including, but not limited to, an agent, a fiduciary, a personal representative, a trustee, a legal heir, a guardian, or any other individual or entity authorized by law or agreement.
(9) “Banking or financial organization” means any and all banks, trust companies, private bankers, savings banks, industrial banks, safe-deposit companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, savings associations, banking organizations, international bank agencies, cooperative banks, building and loan associations, and investment companies in this state, organized under or subject to the laws of this state or of the United States, including entities organized under 12 U.S.C. s. 611, but does not include federal reserve banks. The term also includes any corporation, business association, or other organization that:
(a) Is a wholly or partially owned subsidiary of any banking, banking corporation, or bank holding company that performs any or all of the functions of a banking organization; or
(b) Performs functions pursuant to the terms of a contract with any banking organization.
(10) “Business association” means any for-profit or nonprofit corporation other than a public corporation; joint stock company; investment company; unincorporated association or association of two or more individuals for business purposes, whether or not for profit; partnership; joint venture; limited liability company; sole proprietorship; business trust; trust company; land bank; safe-deposit company; safekeeping depository; banking or financial organization; insurance company; federally chartered entity; utility company; transfer agent; or other business entity, whether or not for profit.
(11) “Claimant” means the person on whose behalf a claim is filed.
(12) “Claimant representative” means an attorney who is a member in good standing with The Florida Bar, a certified public accountant licensed in this state, or a private investigator licensed in this state who is registered with the department and authorized to file claims on behalf of persons with the department. The term does not include a person acting in a representative or fiduciary capacity, such as a personal representative, guardian, trustee, or attorney, whose representation is not contingent upon the discovery or location of abandoned property, and it expressly excludes locators who engage in locating owners of abandoned property for a fee but are not registered with the department.
(13) “Department” means the Department of Financial Services.
(14) “Domicile” means the state of incorporation for a corporation; the state of filing for a business association, other than a corporation, whose formation or organization requires a filing with a state; the state of organization for a business association, other than a corporation, whose formation or organization does not require a filing with a state; or the state of home office for a federally charted entity.
(15) “Due diligence” means the use of reasonable and prudent methods under particular circumstances to locate apparent owners of presumed abandoned property using the taxpayer identification number or social security number, if known, which may include, but are not limited to, using a nationwide database, cross-indexing with other records of the holder, mailing to the last known address unless the last known address is known to be inaccurate, providing written notice as described in this chapter by e-mail if an apparent owner has elected such delivery, or engaging a licensed agency or company capable of conducting such search and providing updated addresses.
(16) “Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
(17) “Health care provider” means any state-licensed entity that provides and receives payment for health care services. These entities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, outpatient centers, physician practices, and skilled nursing facilities.
(18) “Holder” means a person who is in possession of property belonging to another or who owes a debt or an obligation to another person, including, but not limited to, financial institutions, insurance companies, corporations, partnerships, fiduciaries, and government agencies.
(19) “Insurance company” means an association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual benefit organization, whether for profit or not for profit, which is engaged in providing insurance coverage.
(20) “Intangible property” includes, by way of illustration and not limitation:
(b) Credit balances, customer overpayments, security deposits and other instruments as defined by chapter 679, refunds, unpaid wages, unused airline tickets, and unidentified remittances.
(c) Stocks, and other intangible ownership interests in business associations except for:
1. A non-freely transferable security; or
2. A security that is subject to a lien, legal hold, or restriction evidenced on the records of the holder or imposed by operation of law, if the lien, legal hold, or restriction restricts the holder’s or owner’s ability to receive, transfer, sell, or otherwise negotiate the security.
(d) Moneys deposited to redeem stocks, bonds, bearer bonds, original issue discount bonds, coupons, and other securities, or to make distributions.
(e) Amounts due and payable under the terms of insurance policies.
(f) Amounts distributable from a trust or custodial fund established under a plan to provide any health, welfare, pension, vacation, severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, profit sharing, employee savings, supplemental unemployment insurance, or similar benefit.
(21) “Last known address” means a description of the location of the apparent owner sufficient for the purpose of the delivery of mail. For the purposes of identifying, reporting, and remitting property to the department, the term includes any partial description of the location of the apparent owner sufficient to establish the apparent owner was a resident of this state at the time of last contact with the apparent owner or at the time the property became due and payable.
(22) “Lawful charges” means charges against the property or the account in which the property is held which are authorized by statute for the purpose of offsetting the costs of maintaining the property or the account in which the property is held.
(23) “Locator” means a private individual or business that locates owners of abandoned property in exchange for a fee, typically a percentage of the recovered property. Locators are not employees or agents of the state and are not registered with the department.
(24) “Managed care payor” means a health care plan that has a defined system of selecting and limiting health care providers as evidenced by a managed care contract with the health care providers. These plans include, but are not limited to, managed care health insurance companies and health maintenance organizations.
(25) “Non-freely transferable security” means a security that cannot be delivered to the administrator by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation or similar custodian of securities providing post-trade clearing and settlement services to financial markets or cannot be delivered because there is no agent to effect transfer. The term includes a worthless security.
(26) “Owner” means the person entitled to receive or having a legal or equitable interest in the abandoned property. An owner establishes his or her entitlement by filing a valid claim with the department pursuant to this chapter.
(27) “Person” means an individual; estate; business association; corporation; firm; association; joint adventure; partnership; government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality; or any other legal or commercial entity.
(28) “Public corporation” means a corporation created by the state, founded and owned in the public interest, supported by public funds, and governed by those deriving their power from the state.
(29) “Record” means information that is captured or maintained in any format, including written, printed, electronic, audio, visual, or other forms, and that can be made perceptible or understandable to a person, either directly or through technological means, including assistive technologies.
(30) “Reportable period” means the calendar year ending December 31 of each year.
(31) “State,” when applied to a part of the United States, includes any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession, and any other area subject to the legislative authority of the United States.
(32) “Trust instrument” means a trust instrument as defined in s. 736.0103.
(33) “United States” means any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession, and any other area subject to the legislative authority of the United States of America.
(34) “Utility” means a person who owns or operates, for public use, any plant, equipment, property, franchise, or license for the transmission of communications or the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity, water, steam, or gas.
(35)(a) “Virtual currency” means digital units of exchange that:
1. Have a centralized repository or administrator;
2. Are decentralized and have no centralized repository or administrator; or
3. May be created or obtained by computing or manufacturing effort.
(b) The term does not include any of the following:
1. Digital units that:
a. Are used solely within online gaming platforms;
b. Have no market or application outside of the online gaming platforms in sub-subparagraph a.;
c. Cannot be converted into, or redeemed for, fiat currency or virtual currency; and
d. Can or cannot be redeemed for real-world goods, services, discounts, or purchases.
2. Digital units that can be redeemed for:
a. Real-world goods, services, discounts, or purchases as part of a customer affinity or rewards program with the issuer or other designated merchants; or
b. Digital units in another customer affinity or rewards program, but cannot be converted into, or redeemed for, fiat currency or virtual currency.
717.102 Property presumed abandoned; general rule.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, all intangible property, including any income or increment thereon less any lawful charges, that is held, issued, or owing in the ordinary course of the holder’s business and for which the apparent owner or authorized representative fails to demonstrate continued interest for more than the applicable dormancy period prescribed by this chapter shall be presumed abandoned. Unless otherwise specified by law, the dormancy period is 5 years from the date the property becomes payable or distributable. For the purposes of this chapter, property is considered payable or distributable once the holder’s obligation to pay or deliver the property arises, regardless of whether the apparent owner or authorized representative has failed to demand or to present documents required to receive payment.
(2) A presumption that property is abandoned may be rebutted by the affirmative demonstration of continued interest by the apparent owner or authorized representative. Such demonstration of continued interest includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(a) A record communicated by the apparent owner or authorized representative to the holder or its agent concerning the property or the account in which the property is held.
(b) An oral communication by the apparent owner or authorized representative to the holder or its agent concerning the property or the account in which the property is held, if the holder or its agent contemporaneously records and preserves evidence of the communication.
(c) Presentment of a check or other instrument for payment of dividends, interest, or other distributions related to the property.
(d) Any account activity initiated by an apparent owner or authorized representative, including accessing the account or directing changes to information concerning the account or to the amount or type of property held, excluding routine automatic transactions previously authorized, to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the amount or type of property held in the account.
(e) Any deposit into or withdrawal from the property or the account in which the property is held, excluding automatic deposits, withdrawals, or reinvestments previously authorized by the apparent owner or authorized representative.
(f) Any other action by the apparent owner or authorized representative which reasonably demonstrates to the holder that the apparent owner or authorized representative is aware of and maintains an interest in the property.
(3) If a holder learns or receives confirmation of an apparent owner’s death, the property shall be presumed abandoned 2 years after the date of death, unless an authorized representative makes an affirmative demonstration of interest in the property before the expiration of the 2-year period. This subsection may not be construed to extend the otherwise applicable dormancy period prescribed by this chapter.
717.103 General rules for taking custody of intangible abandoned property.—Unless otherwise provided in this chapter or by other statute of this state, intangible property is subject to the custody of the department as abandoned property when the conditions leading to a presumption that the property is abandoned as described in ss. 717.102 and 717.105-717.116 are satisfied and the holder has fulfilled all required due diligence obligations without receiving any response or claim from the apparent owner, and one or more of the following criteria apply:
(1) The last known address, as shown on the records of the holder, of the apparent owner is in this state.
(2) The records of the holder do not identify the name of the apparent owner, but do reflect that the last known address of the apparent owner is in this state.
(3) The records of the holder do not reflect the last known address of the apparent owner, but it is established that either of the following conditions apply:
(a) The last known address of the apparent owner is in this state.
(b) The holder is domiciled in this state, or is a government entity or subdivision of this state, and has not previously paid the property to the state of the last known address of the apparent owner.
(4) The last known address, as shown on the records of the holder, of the apparent owner is in a jurisdiction that does not have applicable escheat, abandoned, or unclaimed property laws, and the holder is domiciled in this state or is a government entity or governmental subdivision or agency of this state.
(5) The last known address, as shown on the records of the holder, of the apparent owner is in a foreign nation and the holder is domiciled in this state or is a government entity or governmental subdivision of this state.
(6) The transaction out of which the property arose occurred in this state and both of the following are true:
(a) The last known address of the apparent owner is unknown.
(b) The holder is domiciled in a jurisdiction that does not have applicable escheat, abandoned, or unclaimed property laws.
(1) Subject to subsection (4), any sum payable on a traveler’s check that has been outstanding for more than 15 years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner or authorized representative, within 15 years, has demonstrated a continued interest in the property in accordance with s. 717.102.
(2) Subject to subsection (4), any sum payable on a money order or similar written instrument, other than a third party bank check, that has been outstanding for more than 7 years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner or authorized representative, within 7 years, has demonstrated a continued interest in the property in accordance with s. 717.102.
(3) A holder may not deduct from the amount of any traveler’s check or money order any charges imposed by reason of the failure to present those instruments for payment unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the holder and the apparent owner of the property pursuant to which the holder may impose those charges and the holder regularly imposes those charges and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel those charges with respect to the property.
(4) No sum payable on a traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument, other than a third party bank check, described in subsections (1) and (2) may be subjected to the custody of this state as abandoned property unless any of the following conditions are met:
(a) The records of the holder show that the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased in this state.
(b) The holder has its principal place of business in this state and its records do not show the state in which the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased.
(c) The holder has its principal place of business in this state; the holder’s records show the state in which the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; and the state of purchase does not provide applicable escheat, abandoned, or unclaimed property laws.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, subsection (4) applies to sums payable on traveler’s checks, money orders, and similar written instruments presumed abandoned on or after February 1, 1965, except to the extent that those sums have been paid over to a state prior to January 1, 1974.
717.1045 Gift certificates and similar credit items.—Notwithstanding s. 717.117, an unredeemed gift certificate or credit memo as defined in s. 501.95 is not required to be reported as abandoned property.
(1) The consideration paid for an unredeemed gift certificate or credit memo is the property of the issuer of the unredeemed gift certificate or credit memo.
(2) An unredeemed gift certificate or credit memo is subject only to any rights of a purchaser or owner thereof and is not subject to a claim made by any state acting on behalf of a purchaser or owner.
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section apply to the custodial holding of unredeemed gift certificates and credit memos.
(4) However, a gift certificate or credit memo described in s. 501.95(2)(b) shall be reported as abandoned property. The consideration paid for such a gift certificate or credit memo is the property of the owner of the gift certificate or credit memo.
717.105 Checks, drafts, and similar instruments issued or certified by banking and financial organizations.—
(1) Any sum payable on a check, draft, or similar instrument, except those subject to ss. 717.104 and 717.115, on which a banking or financial organization is directly liable, including, but not limited to, a cashier’s check or a certified check, which has been outstanding for more than 5 years after it was payable or after its issuance if payable on demand, is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner or authorized representative, within 5 years, has communicated in writing with the banking or financial organization concerning it or otherwise demonstrated a continued interest in the property in accordance with s. 717.102.
(2) A holder may not deduct from the amount of any instrument subject to this section any charges imposed by reason of the failure to present the instrument for encashment unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the holder and the apparent owner of the instrument pursuant to which the holder may impose those charges and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel those charges with respect to the instrument.
717.106 Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.—
(1) Any demand, savings, or matured time deposit with a banking or financial organization, including deposits that are automatically renewable, and any funds paid toward the purchase of shares, a mutual investment certificate, or any other interest in a banking or financial organization is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner or authorized representative has, within 5 years, engaged in any of the following activities:
(a) Increased or decreased the amount of the deposit or presented the passbook or other similar evidence of the deposit for the crediting of interest.
(b) Communicated in writing or by documented telephone contact with the banking or financial organization concerning the property.
(c) Otherwise demonstrated a continued interest in the property as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the banking or financial organization.
(d) Owned other property to which paragraph (a), paragraph (b), or paragraph (c) is applicable and if the banking or financial organization communicates in writing with the owner with regard to the property that would otherwise be presumed abandoned under this subsection at the address to which communications regarding the other property regularly are sent.
(e) Had another relationship with the banking or financial organization concerning which the apparent owner has:
1. Communicated in writing with the banking or financial organization; or
2. Otherwise demonstrated a continued interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the banking or financial organization and if the banking or financial organization communicates in writing with the apparent owner or authorized representative with regard to the property that would otherwise be presumed abandoned under this subsection at the address to which communications regarding the other relationship regularly are sent.
(2) For purpose of paragraph (1)(a), property includes any interest or dividends thereon.
(3) A holder may not impose with respect to property described in subsection (1) any charges due to dormancy or inactivity or cease payment of interest unless:
(a) There is an enforceable written contract between the holder and the apparent owner of the property pursuant to which the holder may impose those charges or cease payment of interest.
(b) For property in excess of $2, the holder, no more than 3 months prior to the initial imposition of those charges or cessation of interest, has given written notice to the apparent owner of the amount of those charges at the last known address of the apparent owner stating that those charges shall be imposed or that interest shall cease, but the notice provided in this section need not be given with respect to charges imposed or interest ceased before July 1, 1987.
(c) The holder regularly imposes those charges or ceases payment of interest and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel those charges or retroactively credit interest with respect to such property.
(4) Any property described in subsection (1) that is automatically renewable is matured for purposes of subsection (1) upon the expiration of its initial time period except that, in the case of any renewal to which the apparent owner consents at or about the time of renewal by communicating in writing with the banking or financial organization or otherwise indicating consent as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the organization, the property is matured upon the expiration of the last time period for which consent was given. If, at the time provided for delivery in s. 717.119, a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result from the delivery of the property, the time for delivery is extended until the time when no penalty or forfeiture would result.
(5) If the documents establishing a deposit described in subsection (1) state the address of a beneficiary of the deposit, and the account has a value of at least $50, notice shall be given to the beneficiary as provided for notice to the apparent owner under s. 717.117. This subsection shall apply to accounts opened on or after October 1, 1990.
(1) Any virtual currency held or owing by a banking organization, corporation, custodian, exchange, or other entity engaged in virtual currency business activity is presumed unclaimed unless the owner, within 7 years, has communicated in writing with the banking organization, corporation, custodian, exchange, or other entity engaged in virtual currency business activity concerning the virtual currency or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the banking organization, corporation, custodian, exchange, or other entity engaged in virtual currency business activity.
(2) A holder may not deduct from the amount of any virtual currency subject to this section any charges imposed by reason of the virtual currency unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the holder and the owner of the virtual currency pursuant to which the holder may impose those charges and the holder does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel those charges with respect to the virtual currency.
717.107 Funds owing under life insurance policies, annuity contracts, and retained asset accounts; fines, penalties, and interest; United States Social Security Administration Death Master File.—
(1) Funds held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract which has matured or terminated are presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than 5 years after the date of death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder, but property described in paragraph (3)(d) is presumed abandoned if such property is not claimed for more than 2 years. The amount presumed abandoned shall include any amount due and payable under s. 627.4615.
(2) If a person other than the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder is entitled to the funds and no address of the person is known to the company or it is not definite and certain from the records of the company who is entitled to the funds, it is presumed that the last known address of the person entitled to the funds is the same as the last known address of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder according to the records of the company.
(3) For purposes of this chapter, a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract not matured by actual proof of the death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder according to the records of the company is deemed matured and the proceeds due and payable if any of the following applies:
(a) The company knows that the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder has died.
(b) A presumption of death made in accordance with paragraph (8)(c) has not been rebutted.
(c) The policy or contract has reached its maturity date.
(d)1. The insured has attained, or would have attained if he or she were living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve is based;
2. The policy was in force at the time the insured attained, or would have attained, the limiting age specified in subparagraph 1.; and
3. Neither the insured nor any other person appearing to have an interest in the policy within the preceding 2 years, according to the records of the company, has assigned, readjusted, or paid premiums on the policy; subjected the policy to a loan; corresponded in writing with the company concerning the policy; or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the company.
(4) For purposes of this chapter, the application of an automatic premium loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision contained in an insurance policy does not prevent the policy from being matured or terminated under subsection (1) if the insured has died or the insured or the beneficiaries of the policy otherwise have become entitled to the proceeds thereof before the depletion of the cash surrender value of a policy by the application of those provisions.
(5) If the laws of this state or the terms of the life insurance policy require the company to give notice to the insured or owner that an automatic premium loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision has been exercised and the notice, given to an insured or owner whose last known address according to the records of the company is in this state, is undeliverable, the company shall make a reasonable search to ascertain the policyholder’s correct address to which the notice must be mailed.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the company learns of the death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder and the beneficiary has not communicated with the insurer within 4 months after the death, the company shall take reasonable steps to pay the proceeds to the beneficiary.
(7) Commencing 2 years after July 1, 1987, every change of beneficiary form issued by an insurance company under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract to an insured or owner who is a resident of this state must request the following information:
(a) The name of each beneficiary, or if a class of beneficiaries is named, the name of each current beneficiary in the class.
(b) The address of each beneficiary.
(c) The relationship of each beneficiary to the insured.
(8)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an insurer shall compare the records of its insureds’ life or endowment insurance policies, annuity contracts that provide a death benefit, and retained asset accounts that were in force at any time on or after January 1, 1992, against the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File once to determine whether the death of an insured, an annuitant, or a retained asset account holder is indicated and shall thereafter use the Death Master File update files for future comparisons. The comparisons must use the name and social security number or date of birth of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder. The comparisons must be made on at least an annual basis before August 31 of each year. If an insurer performs such comparisons regarding its annuities or other books of business more frequently than once a year, the insurer must also make comparisons regarding its life insurance policies, annuity contracts that provide a death benefit, and retained asset accounts at the same frequency as is made regarding its annuities or other books or lines of business. An insurer may perform the comparisons required by this paragraph using any database or service that the department determines is at least as comprehensive as the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File for the purpose of indicating that a person has died.
(b) However, an insurer that meets one of the following criteria as of June 30, 2016, shall conduct the comparison in paragraph (a) to all in-force policies:
1. The insurer has entered into a regulatory settlement agreement with the Office of Insurance Regulation; or
2. The insurer has received a targeted market conduct examination report issued by the Office of Insurance Regulation regarding claims-handling practices and the use of the Death Master File with no findings of violations of law.
(c) An insured, an annuitant, or a retained asset account holder is presumed deceased if the date of his or her death is indicated by the comparison required under paragraph (a) unless the insurer has in its records competent and substantial evidence that the person is living, including, but not limited to, a contact made by the insurer with such person or his or her legal representative. The insurer shall account for common variations in data and for any partial names, social security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder which would otherwise preclude an exact match.
(d) For purposes of this section, a policy, an annuity contract, or a retained asset account is deemed to be in force if it has not lapsed, has not been canceled, or has not been terminated at the time of death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder.
(e) This subsection does not apply to an insurer with respect to benefits payable under:
1. An annuity that is issued in connection with an employment-based plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or that is issued to fund an employment-based retirement plan, including any deferred compensation plan.
2. A policy of credit life or accidental death insurance.
3. A joint and survivor annuity contract if an annuitant is still living.
4. A policy issued to a group master policy owner for which the insurer does not perform record-keeping functions. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “record-keeping” means those circumstances under which the insurer has agreed through a group policyholder to be responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and administering, in its own or its agents’ systems, information about each individual insured under a group insurance policy or a line of coverage thereunder, including at least the following:
a. The social security number, or name and date of birth;
b. Beneficiary designation information;
c. Coverage eligibility;
d. The benefit amount; and
e. Premium payment status.
5. Any policy or certificate of life insurance that is assigned to a person licensed under s. 497.452 to fund a preneed funeral merchandise or service contract.
(9) No later than 120 days after learning of the death of an insured, an annuitant, or a retained asset account holder through a comparison under subsection (8), an insurer shall:
(a) Complete and document an effort to confirm the death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder against other available records and information.
(b) Review its records to determine whether the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder purchased other products from the insurer.
(c) Determine whether benefits may be due under a policy, an annuity, or a retained asset account.
(d) Complete and document an effort to locate and contact the beneficiary or authorized representative under a policy, an annuity, or a retained asset account if such person has not communicated with the insurer before the expiration of the 120-day period. The effort must include:
1. Sending to the beneficiary or authorized representative information concerning the claim process of the insurer.
2. Notice of any requirement to provide a certified original or copy of the death certificate if applicable under the policy, annuity, or retained asset account.
(10) An insurer may, to the extent permitted by law, disclose the minimum necessary personal information about an insured, an annuitant, a retained asset account owner, or a beneficiary to an individual or entity reasonably believed by the insurer to possess the ability to assist the insurer in locating the beneficiary or any other individual or entity that is entitled to payment of the claim proceeds.
(11) An insurer, or any agent or third party that it engages or that works on its behalf, may not charge insureds, annuitants, retained asset account holders, beneficiaries, or the estates of insureds, annuitants, retained asset account holders, or the beneficiaries of an estate any fees or costs associated with any search, verification, claim, or delivery of funds conducted pursuant to this section.
717.1071 Lost owners of abandoned demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization proceeds.—
(1) Property distributable in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company is deemed abandoned 2 years after the date the property is first distributable if, at the time of the first distribution, the last known address of the apparent owner on the books and records of the holder is known to be incorrect or the distribution or statements are returned by the post office as undeliverable; and the apparent owner or authorized representative has not communicated in writing with the holder or its agent regarding the interest or otherwise communicated with the holder regarding the interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the holder or its agent.
(2) Property distributable in the course of demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of a mutual insurance company that is not subject to subsection (1) shall be reportable as otherwise provided by this chapter.
(3) Property subject to this section shall be reported and delivered no later than May 1 as of the preceding December 31; however, the initial report under this section shall be filed no later than November 1, 2003, as of December 31, 2002.
717.108 Deposits held by utilities.—Any deposit, including any interest thereon, made by a subscriber with a utility to secure payment or any sum paid in advance for utility services to be furnished, less any lawful charges, that remains unclaimed by the apparent owner for more than 1 year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
717.109 Refunds held by business associations.—Except as otherwise provided by law, any sum that a business association has been ordered to refund by a court or administrative agency which has been unclaimed by the apparent owner for more than 1 year after it became payable in accordance with the final determination or order providing for the refund, regardless of whether the final determination or order requires any person entitled to a refund to make a claim for it, is presumed abandoned.
717.1101 Abandoned equity and debt of business associations.—
(1)(a) Stock, other equity interests, or debt of a business association is presumed abandoned on the date of the earliest of any of the following:
1. Three years after the date a communication, other than communications required by s. 717.117, sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service. If such returned communication is resent within 1 month to the apparent owner, the 3-year dormancy period does not begin until the day the resent item is returned as undelivered.
2. Five years after the most recent of any account activity or communication initiated by the apparent owner or authorized representative which demonstrates continued interest in the account, as recorded and maintained by the holder. Routine automatic reinvestments or other routine transactions previously authorized by the apparent owner or authorized representative do not prevent, interrupt, or reset the dormancy period and do not constitute an affirmative demonstration of continued interest.
3. Two years after the date of the death of the apparent owner, as evidenced by:
a. Notice to the holder of the apparent owner’s death by an authorized representative;
b. Receipt by the holder of a copy of the death certificate of the apparent owner;
c. Confirmation by the holder of the apparent owner’s death through other means; or
d. Other evidence from which the holder may reasonably conclude that the apparent owner is deceased.
(b) If the holder does not send communication to the apparent owner of a security by first-class United States mail on an annual basis, the holder must attempt to confirm the apparent owner’s interest in the equity interest by sending the apparent owner an e-mail communication not later than 3 years after the apparent owner’s or authorized representative’s last demonstration of continued interest in the equity interest. However, the holder must promptly attempt to contact the apparent owner by first-class United States mail if:
1. The holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner an e-mail communication or the holder believes that the apparent owner’s e-mail address in the holder’s records is not valid;
2. The holder received notification that the e-mail communication was not received; or
3. The apparent owner does not respond to the e-mail communication within 30 days after the communication was sent.
(c) If first-class United States mail sent under paragraph (b) is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the equity interest is presumed abandoned in accordance with paragraph (a).
(d) Unmatured or unredeemed debt, other than a bearer bond or an original issue discount bond, is presumed abandoned 5 years after the date of the most recent interest payment unclaimed by the owner.
(e) Matured or redeemed debt is presumed abandoned 5 years after the date of maturity or redemption.
(f) At the time property is presumed abandoned under paragraph (a) or 1paragraph (b), any other property right accrued or accruing to the owner as a result of the property interest and not previously presumed abandoned is also presumed abandoned.
(2) The running of the applicable dormancy period under this section ceases if the apparent owner or authorized representative demonstrates continued interest under s. 717.102, including by any of the following actions:
(a) Communicating in writing or by other means with the association or its agent regarding the interest, dividend, distribution, or other sum payable as a result of the interest, as recorded by the association or its agent.
(b) Presenting an instrument issued to pay interest, a dividend, or other distribution. If any future dividend, distribution, or other sum payable as a result of the interest is subsequently unclaimed, a new period in which the property is presumed abandoned commences and relates back only to the time a subsequent dividend, distribution, or other sum became due and payable.
(3) At the same time any interest is presumed abandoned under this section, any dividend, distribution, or other sum then held for or owing to the owner as a result of the interest, is presumed abandoned.
(4) Any dividend, profit, distribution, interest redemption, payment on principal, or other sum held or owing by a business association for or to a shareholder, certificateholder, member, bondholder, or other security holder, who has not claimed such amount or corresponded in writing with the business association concerning such amount, within 5 years after the date prescribed for payment or delivery, is presumed abandoned.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, equity interests in business associations and securities accounts are not presumed abandoned solely due to inactivity if the holder knows the location of the apparent owner.
(a) For purposes of this subsection, a holder must perform data matching of owner records maintained in its database against commercially available third-party data comparison sources to identify updated owner address information and indicators of deceased status. Utilizing any updated information, together with existing information of record, the holder is deemed to know the location of the apparent owner if:
1. The holder communicates with the apparent owner at least annually by first-class United States mail or electronic means, including, but not limited to, e-mail, text message, mobile application, or similar mechanism;
2. Such communication is successfully delivered, meaning not returned as undeliverable; and
3. One or more additional account-level indicators demonstrating an owner indication of interest occur at least once every 10 years, including:
a. Owner-initiated activity, such as authenticated access to a website, mobile engagement via mobile messaging, or other authenticated third-party account servicing software;
b. Updated contact information received through an authorized financial adviser;
c. Responses to account notifications or alerts;
d. Negotiation of distributions, including dividends; or
e. Any other action by the apparent owner or authorized representative which reasonably demonstrates to the holder that the apparent owner or authorized representative is aware of and maintains an interest in the property.
(b) Automatic deposits, reinvestments, or other recurring transactions initiated by the holder may not independently constitute an indication of apparent owner interest for purposes of this section.
(c) If the conditions in paragraph (a) are not satisfied and the owner’s location is deemed unknown, the equity interest or securities account may be presumed abandoned:
1. Ten years after the owner’s most recent indication of interest in the property; or
2. Ten years after the date a communication is returned as undeliverable, unless the owner responds to a due diligence notice before the reporting deadline.
(d) Property described in paragraph (c) is presumed abandoned only after reasonable efforts to locate the owner have been unsuccessful and the holder has complied with the due diligence requirement of this chapter.
(e) This subsection applies to equity interests and securities accounts held directly by the owner or indirectly through a brokerage account or similar account.
1Note.—Redesignated as paragraph (d) by s. 48, ch. 2026-174.
717.111 Property of business associations held in course of dissolution.—All intangible property distributable in the course of a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of a business association which is not claimed by the apparent owner for more than 6 months after the date specified for final distribution is presumed abandoned.
(1) All intangible property and any income or increment thereon held in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another person, including property held by an attorney in fact or an agent, except as provided in ss. 717.1125 and 733.816, is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner has within 5 years after it has become payable or distributable increased or decreased the principal, accepted payment of principal or income, communicated in writing concerning the property, or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the fiduciary.
(2) Funds in an individual retirement account or a retirement plan for self-employed individuals or similar account or plan established pursuant to the Internal Revenue laws of the United States are not payable or distributable within the meaning of subsection (1) unless, under the terms of the account or plan, distribution of all or part of the funds would then be mandatory.
(3) For the purpose of this section, a person who holds property as an agent for a business association is deemed to hold the property in a fiduciary capacity for that business association alone, unless the agreement between said person and the business association provides otherwise.
(4) For the purposes of this chapter, a person who is deemed to hold property in a fiduciary capacity for a business association alone is the holder of the property only insofar as the interest of the business association in the property is concerned, and the business association is the holder of the property insofar as the interest of any other person in the property is concerned.
(5) All intangible property, and any income or increment thereon, issued by a government or governmental subdivision or agency, public corporation, or public authority and held in an agency capacity for the governmental subdivision, agency, public corporation, or public authority for the benefit of the owner of record is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner has, within 1 year after such property has become payable or distributable, increased or decreased the principal, accepted payment of the principal or income, communicated concerning the property, or otherwise indicated an interest in the property as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the fiduciary.
(6) This section does not relieve a fiduciary of his or her duties under applicable general law.
717.1125 Property held by fiduciaries under trust instruments.—All intangible property and any income or increment thereon held in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another person under a trust instrument is presumed abandoned unless the apparent owner has, within 2 years after it has become payable or distributable, increased or decreased the principal, accepted payment of principal or income, communicated concerning the property, or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the fiduciary. This section does not relieve a fiduciary of his or her duties under the Florida Trust Code.
717.113 Property held by courts and public agencies.—All intangible property held for the apparent owner by any court, government or governmental subdivision or agency, public corporation, or public authority that has not been claimed by the apparent owner for more than 1 year after it became payable or distributable is presumed abandoned. Except as provided in s. 45.032(3)(c), money held in the court registry and for which no court order has been issued to determine an owner does not become payable or distributable and is not subject to reporting under this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, funds deposited in the Minerals Trust Fund pursuant to s. 377.247 are presumed abandoned only if the funds have not been claimed by the apparent owner for more than 5 years after the date of first production from the well.
717.115 Wages.—Unpaid wages, including wages represented by unpresented payroll checks, owing in the ordinary course of the holder’s business that have not been claimed by the apparent owner for more than 1 year after becoming payable are presumed abandoned.
717.116 Contents of safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository.—All tangible and intangible property held by a banking or financial organization in a safe-deposit box or any other safekeeping repository in this state in the ordinary course of the holder’s business, and proceeds resulting from the sale of the property permitted by law, that has not been claimed by the apparent owner or authorized representative for more than 3 years after the lease or rental period on the box or other repository has expired are presumed abandoned.
717.117 Holder due diligence and report of abandoned property.—
(1) Property is presumed abandoned upon expiration of the applicable dormancy period under this chapter. However, such property is not deemed abandoned for purposes of reporting or remittance to the department until the holder has conducted reasonable due diligence as required by this section, resulting in no indication of interest from the apparent owner or authorized representative.
(2) Holders of property presumed abandoned which has a value of $50 or more shall use due diligence to locate and notify the apparent owner that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter. At least 90 days, but not more than 180 days, before filing the report required by this section, a holder in possession of presumed abandoned property shall send written notice by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner’s last known address as shown in the holder’s records or from other available sources, or by e-mail if the apparent owner has elected for e-mail delivery, informing the apparent owner that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter, provided that the holder’s records contain a mailing or e-mail address for the apparent owner which is not known by the holder to be inaccurate. The holder may provide notice by mail, by e-mail, or by both methods. If the holder’s records indicate that the mailing address is inaccurate, notice may be provided by e-mail if the apparent owner has elected e-mail delivery.
(3) If the value of the property is greater than $1,000, the holder must send a second written notice by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, to the apparent owner’s last known address at least 60 days before filing the report required by this section, if the holder’s records contain a mailing address for the apparent owner which is not known by the holder to be inaccurate. Reasonable costs paid to the United States Postal Service for certified mail, return receipt requested, may be deducted from the property as a service charge. A signed return receipt received in response to the certified mail notice constitutes an affirmative demonstration of continued interest as described in s. 717.102.
(4) The written notice required under this section must include:
(a) A heading that reads substantially as follows: “Notice: The State of Florida requires us to notify you that your property may be transferred to the custody of the Florida Department of Financial Services if you do not contact us before (insert date that is at least 30 days after the date of notice) .”
(b) A description of the type, nature, and, unless the property does not have a fixed value, value of the property that is the subject of the notice.
(c) A statement that the property will be turned over to the custody of the department as abandoned property if no response is received.
(d) A statement that noncash property will be sold or liquidated by the department.
(e) A statement that, after the property is remitted to the department, a claim must be filed with the department to recover the property.
(f) A statement that the property is currently in the custody of the holder and that the apparent owner may prevent transfer of the property by contacting the holder before the deadline stated in the notice.
(g) If the property is virtual currency, a statement that the virtual currency will be liquidated by the holder before it is remitted to the department and that only the proceeds of the liquidation will be transferred.
(5) Every holder of abandoned property, tangible or intangible, subject to custody under this chapter shall submit a report to the department via electronic medium as the department may prescribe by rule. The report must include:
(a) Except for traveler’s checks and money orders, the name, social security number or taxpayer identification number, date of birth, if known, and last known address, if any, of each apparent owner of any property which is abandoned and which has a value of $10 or more.
(b) For abandoned funds that have a value of $10 or more held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, the identifying information provided in paragraph (a) for both the insured or annuitant and the beneficiary according to records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds.
(c) For all tangible property held in a safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository, a description of the property and the place where the property is held and may be inspected by the department, and any amounts owing to the holder. Contents of a safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository which consist of documents or writings which have little or no commercial value may not be reported as abandoned property.
(d) The nature or type of property, any accounting or identifying number associated with the property, a description of the property, and the amount appearing from the records to be due. Items of value of less than $10 each may be reported in the aggregate.
(e) The date the property became payable, demandable, or returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the apparent owner with respect to the property.
(f) Any other information the department may prescribe by rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter.
(6) If the total value of all abandoned property, whether tangible or intangible, held by a person is less than $10, a zero balance report may be filed for that reporting period.
(7) Credit balances, customer overpayments, security deposits, and refunds having a value of less than $10 may not be reported as abandoned property.
(8) A security identified by the holder as non-freely transferable or worthless may not be included in a report filed under this section. If the holder determines that a security is no longer non-freely transferable or worthless, the holder must report and deliver the security on the next regular report date prescribed for delivery of securities by the holder under this chapter.
(9) If the holder of abandoned property subject to custody under this chapter is a successor holder or if the holder has changed the holder’s name while in possession of the property, the holder must file with the holder’s report all known names and addresses of each prior holder of the property. Compliance with this subsection means the holder exercises reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the names of all prior holders.
(10) The report must be signed by or on behalf of the holder and verified as to its completeness and accuracy, and the holder must state that it has complied with the due diligence requirements of this section.
(11) The report must be filed before May 1 of each year. The report applies to the preceding calendar year. Upon written request by any person required to file a report, and upon a showing of good cause, the department may extend the reporting date. The department may impose and collect a penalty of $10 per day up to a maximum of $500 for the failure to timely report, if an extension was not provided or if the holder of the property failed to include in a report information required by this chapter which was in the holder’s possession at the time of reporting. The penalty shall be remitted to the department within 30 days after the date of the notification to the holder that the penalty is due and owing. As necessary for proper administration of this chapter, the department may waive any penalty due with appropriate justification. The department must provide information contained in a report filed with the department to any person requesting a copy of the report or information contained in a report, to the extent the information requested is not confidential, within 45 days after the department determines that the report is accurate and acceptable and that the reported property is the same as the remitted property.
(12) Any holder of intangible property may file with the department a petition for determination that the property is abandoned and requesting the department to accept custody of the property. The petition shall state any special circumstances that exist, contain the information required by subsection (9), and show that a diligent search has been made to locate the apparent owner. If the department finds that the proof of diligent search is satisfactory, it shall give notice as provided in s. 717.118 and accept custody of the property.
(13) Upon written request by any entity or person required to file a report, stating such entity’s or person’s justification for such action, the department may place that entity or person in an inactive status as an abandoned property “holder.”
(14)(a) This section does not apply to the abandoned patronage refunds as provided for by contract or through bylaw provisions of entities organized under chapter 425 or that are exempt from ad valorem taxation pursuant to s. 196.2002.
(b) This section does not apply to intangible property held, issued, or owing by a business association subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Surface Transportation Board or its successor federal agency if the apparent owner of such intangible property is a business association. The holder of such property does not have any obligation to report, to pay, or to deliver such property to the department.
(c) This section does not apply to credit balances, overpayments, refunds, or outstanding checks owed by a health care provider to a managed care payor with whom the health care provider has a managed care contract, provided that the credit balances, overpayments, refunds, or outstanding checks become due and owing pursuant to the managed care contract.
(15)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “property identifier” means the descriptor used by the holder to identify the abandoned property.
(b) Social security numbers and property identifiers contained in reports required under this section, held by the department, are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
(c) This exemption applies to social security numbers and property identifiers held by the department before, on, or after the effective date of this exemption.
717.118 Notification of apparent owners of abandoned property.—
(1) It is specifically recognized that the state has an obligation to make an effort to notify apparent owners in a cost-effective manner that their abandoned property has been reported and remitted to the department. In order to provide all the citizens of this state an effective and efficient program for the recovery of abandoned personal property, the department shall use cost-effective means to make at least one active attempt to notify apparent owners of abandoned property valued at $50 or more, abandoned tangible property, and abandoned shares of stock for which a reported address or taxpayer identification number is available. Such active attempt to notify apparent owners shall include any attempt by the department to directly contact the apparent owner. Other means of notification, such as publication of the names of apparent owners in the newspaper, on television, on the Internet, or through other promotional efforts and items in which the department does not directly attempt to contact the apparent owner are expressly declared to be passive attempts. This subsection does not preclude other agencies or entities of state government from notifying owners of the existence of abandoned property or attempting to notify apparent owners of abandoned property.
(2) Notification provided directly to individual apparent owners shall contain a description of the abandoned property and information regarding recovery of the property from the department. The form and content of the department’s notice must be tailored to the type of property reported and must include any information necessary to reasonably inform the apparent owner of the consequences of failure to claim the property, including potential sale or disposition under s. 717.122.
(3) The department shall maintain a publicly accessible, electronically searchable website that includes the names of apparent owners of abandoned property reported to the department and instructions for filing a claim. The website must list property valued at $10 or more and provide instructions for filing a claim. Abandoned property valued at less than $10 remains recoverable from the department in accordance with this chapter.
(4) This section is not applicable to abandoned sums payable on traveler’s checks, money orders, and other written instruments under s. 717.104, or any other abandoned property reported without the necessary identifying information to establish ownership.
717.119 Payment or delivery of abandoned property.—
(1) Every person who is required to file a report under s. 717.117 shall simultaneously pay or deliver to the department all abandoned property required to be reported. Such payment or delivery shall accompany the report as required in this chapter for the preceding calendar year.
(2) Payment of abandoned funds may be made to the department by electronic funds transfer.
(3) If the apparent owner establishes the right to receive the abandoned property to the satisfaction of the holder before the property has been delivered to the department or it appears that for some other reason that the property was erroneously classified as abandoned, the holder need not pay or deliver the property to the department. In lieu of delivery, the holder shall file a verified written explanation of the proof of claim or of the error in classification of the property as abandoned.
(4) All virtual currency reported under this chapter on the annual report filing required in s. 717.117 shall be remitted to the department with the report. The holder shall liquidate the virtual currency and remit the proceeds to the department. The liquidation must occur within 30 days before the filing of the report. Upon delivery of the virtual currency proceeds to the department, the holder is relieved of all liability of every kind in accordance with the provisions of s. 717.1201 to every person for any losses or damages resulting to the person by the delivery to the department of the virtual currency proceeds.
(5) All stock or other intangible ownership interest reported under this chapter on the annual report filing required in s. 717.117 shall be remitted to the department with the report. Upon delivery of the stock or other intangible ownership interest to the department, the holder and any transfer agent, registrar, or other person acting for or on behalf of a holder is relieved of all liability of every kind in accordance with the provisions of s. 717.1201 to every person for any losses or damages resulting to the person by the delivery to the department of the stock or other intangible ownership interest.
(6) All intangible and tangible property held in a safe-deposit box or any other safekeeping repository reported under s. 717.117 shall not be delivered to the department until 120 days after the report due date. The delivery of the property, through the United States mail or any other carrier, shall be insured by the holder at an amount equal to the estimated value of the property. Each package shall be clearly marked on the outside “Deliver Unopened.” A holder’s safe-deposit box contents shall be delivered to the department in a single shipment. In lieu of a single shipment, holders may provide the department with a single detailed shipping schedule that includes package tracking information for all packages being sent pursuant to this section.
(a) Holders may remit the value of cash and coins found in abandoned safe-deposit boxes to the department by cashier’s check or by electronic funds transfer, unless the cash or coins have a value above face value. The department shall identify by rule those cash and coin items having a numismatic value. Cash and coin items identified as having a numismatic value shall be remitted to the department in their original form.
(b) Any firearm or ammunition found in an abandoned safe-deposit box or any other safekeeping repository shall be delivered by the holder to a law enforcement agency for property handling or disposal pursuant to s. 705.103(2)(b). If the firearm is sold by the law enforcement agency, the balance of the proceeds must be deposited into the State School Fund. The department is authorized to make a reasonable attempt to ascertain the historical value to collectors of any firearm that has been delivered to the department. Any firearm appearing to have historical value to collectors may be sold by the department pursuant to s. 717.122 to a person having a federal firearms license. Any firearm which is not sold pursuant to s. 717.122 shall be delivered by the department to a law enforcement agency in this state for proper handling or disposal. In accordance with s. 705.103(2)(b), if the firearm is sold by the law enforcement agency, the balance of the proceeds must be deposited into the State School Fund. The department is not administratively, civilly, or criminally liable for any firearm delivered by the department to a law enforcement agency in this state for disposal.
(c) If such property is not paid or delivered to the department on or before the applicable payment or delivery date, the holder shall pay to the department a penalty for each safe-deposit box shipment received late. The penalty shall be $100 for a safe-deposit box shipment container that is late 30 days or less. Thereafter, the penalty shall be $500 for a safe-deposit box shipment container that is late for each additional successive 30-day period. The penalty assessed against a holder for a late safe-deposit box shipment container may not exceed $4,000 annually. The penalty shall be remitted to the department within 30 days after the date of the notification to the holder that the penalty is due and owing.
(d) The department may waive any penalty due with appropriate justification, as provided by rule.
(e) If a will or trust instrument is included among the contents of an abandoned safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository delivered to the department, the department must provide a copy of the will, trust, and any codicils or amendments to such will or trust instrument, upon request, to anyone who provides the department with a certified copy of the death certificate or another government-certified record evidencing the death of the testator or settlor.
(7) Any holder may request an extension in writing of up to 60 days for the delivery of property if extenuating circumstances exist for the late delivery of the property. Any such extension the department may grant shall be in writing.
(8) A holder may not assign or otherwise transfer its obligation to report, pay, or deliver property or to comply with the provisions of this chapter, other than to a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the holder.
(a) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to a transaction, the holder’s successor by merger or consolidation, or any person or entity that acquires all or substantially all of the holder’s capital stock or assets, is responsible for fulfilling the holder’s obligation to report, pay, or deliver property or to comply with the duties of this chapter regarding the transfer of property owed to the holder’s successor and being held for an owner resulting from the merger, consolidation, or acquisition.
(b) This subsection does not prohibit a holder from contracting with a third party for the reporting of abandoned property, but the holder remains responsible to the department for the complete, accurate, and timely reporting of the property.
717.1201 Custody by state; holder liability; reimbursement of holder paying claim; reclaiming for owner; payment of safe-deposit box or repository charges.—
(1) Upon the good faith payment or delivery of abandoned property to the department, the state assumes custody and responsibility for the safekeeping of the property. Any person who pays or delivers abandoned property to the department in good faith is relieved of all liability to the extent of the value of the property paid or delivered for any claim then existing or which thereafter may arise or be made with respect to the property.
(a) A holder’s substantial compliance with the due diligence provisions in s. 717.117 and good faith payment or delivery of abandoned property to the department releases the holder from liability that may arise from such payment or delivery, and such delivery and payment may be pleaded as a defense in any suit or action brought by reason of such delivery or payment. This section does not relieve a fiduciary of his or her duties under the Florida Trust Code or Florida Probate Code.
(b) If the holder pays or delivers property to the department in good faith and thereafter any other person claims the property from the holder paying or delivering, or another state claims the money or property under that state’s laws relating to escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property, the department, upon written notice of the claim, shall defend the holder against the claim and indemnify the holder against any liability on the claim, except that a holder may not be indemnified against penalties imposed by another state.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a payment or delivery of abandoned property is made in good faith if:
(a) The payment or delivery was made in conjunction with an accurate and acceptable report.
(b) The payment or delivery was made in a reasonable attempt to comply with this chapter and other applicable general law.
(c) The holder had a reasonable basis for believing, based on the facts then known, that the property was abandoned and subject to this chapter.
(d) There is no showing that the records pursuant to which the delivery was made did not meet reasonable commercial standards of practice in the industry.
(3) Any holder who has paid money to the department pursuant to this chapter may make payment to any person appearing to be entitled to payment and, upon filing proof that the payee is entitled thereto, the department shall forthwith repay the holder without deduction of any fee or other charges. If repayment is sought for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler’s check or money order, the holder must be repaid under this subsection upon filing proof that the instrument was duly presented and that the payee is entitled to payment. The holder shall be repaid for payment made under this subsection even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was barred under s. 717.129(1).
(4) Any holder who has delivered property, including a certificate of any interest in a business association, other than money to the department pursuant to this chapter may reclaim the property if still in the possession of the department, without payment of any fee or other charges, upon filing proof that the person entitled to the property has claimed it from the holder.
(5) The department may accept an affidavit of the holder stating the facts that entitle the holder to recover money and property under this section as sufficient proof.
(6) Property removed from a safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository is received by the department subject to the holder’s right under this subsection to be reimbursed for the actual cost of the opening and to any valid lien or contract providing for the holder to be reimbursed for unpaid rent or storage charges. The department shall make the reimbursement to the holder out of the proceeds remaining after the deduction of the department’s selling cost.
(7) If it appears to the satisfaction of the department that, because of some mistake of fact, error in calculation, or erroneous interpretation of a statute, a person has paid or delivered to the department pursuant to any provision of this chapter any money or other property not required by this chapter to be so paid or delivered, the department may, within 5 years after such erroneous payment or delivery, refund or redeliver such money or other property to the person, provided that such money or property has not been paid or delivered to a claimant or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this chapter.
717.121 Crediting of dividends, interest, or increments to owner’s account.—Whenever property other than money is paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, the owner is entitled to receive from the department any dividends, interest, or other increments realized or accruing on the property at or before liquidation or conversion thereof into money.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2)(a), the department after the receipt of abandoned property shall sell it to the highest bidder at public sale on the Internet or at a specified physical location wherever in the judgment of the department the most favorable market for the property involved exists. The department may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if in the judgment of the department the bid is insufficient. The department shall have the discretion to withhold from sale any abandoned property that the department deems to be of benefit to the people of the state. If in the judgment of the department the probable cost of sale exceeds the value of the property, it need not be offered for sale and may be disposed of as the department determines appropriate. Any sale at a specified physical location held under this section must be preceded by a single publication of notice, at least 3 weeks in advance of sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is to be sold. The department shall proportionately deduct auction fees, preparation costs, and expenses from the amount posted to an account for an abandoned safe-deposit box when the contents are sold. No action or proceeding may be maintained against the department for or on account of any decision to decline the highest bid or withhold any abandoned property from sale.
(2)(a) Securities listed on an established stock exchange must be sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale on the exchange. Other securities may be sold over the counter at prices prevailing at the time of sale or by any other method the department deems advisable. The department may authorize the agent or broker acting on behalf of the department to deduct fees from the proceeds of these sales at a rate agreed upon in advance by the agent or broker and the department. The department shall reimburse owners’ accounts for these brokerage fees from the State School Fund unless the securities are sold at the owner’s request.
(b) Unless the department deems it to be in the public interest to do otherwise, all abandoned securities delivered to the department may be sold upon receipt. Any person making a claim pursuant to this chapter is entitled to receive either the securities delivered to the department by the holder, if they still remain in the hands of the department, or the proceeds received from sale, but no person has any claim under this chapter against the state, the holder, any transfer agent, any registrar, or any other person acting for or on behalf of a holder for any appreciation in the value of the property occurring after delivery by the holder to the state.
(c) Certificates for abandoned stock or other equity interest of business associations that cannot be canceled and registered in the department’s name or that cannot be readily liquidated and converted into the currency of the United States may be sold for the value of the certificate, if any, in accordance with subsection (1) or may be destroyed in accordance with s. 717.128.
(3) The purchaser of property at any sale conducted by the department pursuant to this chapter is entitled to ownership of the property purchased free from all claims of the owner or previous holder thereof and of all persons claiming through or under them. The department shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership.
(4) The sale of abandoned tangible personal property is not subject to tax under chapter 212 when such property is sold by or on behalf of the department pursuant to this section.
(1) All funds received under this chapter, including the proceeds from the sale of abandoned property under s. 717.122, shall immediately be deposited by the department in the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund. The department shall retain, from funds received under this chapter, an amount not exceeding $15 million from which the department shall make prompt payment of claims allowed by the department and shall pay the costs incurred by the department in administering and enforcing this chapter. All remaining funds received by the department under this chapter shall be deposited by the department into the State School Fund.
(2) The department shall record the name and last known address of each person appearing from the holder’s reports to be entitled to the abandoned property in the total amounts of $5 or greater; the name and the last known address of each insured person or annuitant; and with respect to each policy or contract listed in the report of an insurance corporation, its number, the name of the corporation, and the amount due.
1(3) The department shall segregate in a separate account an amount that does not exceed the estimated atypical receipts for fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 as a result of implementation of chapter 2024-140, Laws of Florida, and as identified by the Revenue Estimating Conference in its most recently adopted official forecast. This amount must be held in a separate account for the payment of claims associated with such receipts as allowed by the department. In addition to the $15 million the department is authorized to retain pursuant to subsection (1) and notwithstanding subsection (1), for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years only, the department shall retain any remaining funds held in the separate account. This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
1Note.—Section 101, ch. 2026-233, added subsection (3) “[i]n order to implement Specific Appropriations 2505 through 2512 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act.”
717.1235 Dormant campaign accounts.—Abandoned funds reported in the name of a campaign for public office, for any campaign that must dispose of surplus funds in its campaign account pursuant to s. 106.141, after being reported to the department, shall be deposited with the Chief Financial Officer to the credit of the State School Fund.
(1) Any person, excluding another state, claiming an interest in any property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter may file with the department a claim on a form prescribed by the department and verified by the claimant or the claimant representative. The claimant representative must be registered with the department under this chapter. The claimant, or the claimant representative, shall provide the department with a legible copy of a valid driver license of the claimant at the time the original claim form is filed. If the claimant has not been issued a valid driver license at the time the original claim form is filed, the department must be provided with a legible copy of a photographic identification of the claimant issued by the United States, a state or territory of the United States, a foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof or other evidence deemed acceptable by the department by rule. In lieu of photographic identification, a notarized sworn statement by the claimant may be provided which affirms the claimant’s identity and states the claimant’s full name and address. The claimant must produce to the notary photographic identification of the claimant issued by the United States, a state or territory of the United States, a foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof or other evidence deemed acceptable by the department by rule. The notary shall indicate the notary’s full address on the notarized sworn statement. Any claim filed without the required identification or the sworn statement with the original claim form and the original Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement, if applicable, is void.
(a) Within 90 days after receipt of a claim, the department may return any claim that provides for the receipt of fees and costs greater than that permitted under this chapter or that contains any apparent errors or omissions. The department may also request that the claimant or the claimant representative provide additional information. The department shall retain a copy or electronic image of the claim.
(b) A claim is withdrawn if any of the following applies:
1. The department receives a written acknowledgment from the claimant confirming withdrawal of the claim.
2. The department receives a written notice to withdraw the claim from a claimant representative which is accompanied by written authorization from the claimant expressly approving withdrawal of the claim.
a. The authorization must state the reason for the withdrawal, contain an acknowledgment that the claimant understands that withdrawal will affect the processing of that claim and may affect the processing of other pending claims, and must be signed by the claimant.
b. The claimant’s authorization must be submitted concurrently with, or as part of, the withdrawal notice.
3. The claimant or the 1claimant representative fails to respond to the department’s written request for additional information within 60 days after the department provides notice of any apparent errors or omissions.
(c) Within 90 days after receipt of the claim, or the response of the claimant or the claimant representative to the department’s request for additional information, whichever is later, the department shall determine each claim. Such determination shall contain a notice of rights provided by ss. 120.569 and 120.57. The 90-day period shall be extended by 60 days if the department has good cause to need additional time or if the abandoned property:
1. Is owned by a person who has been a debtor in bankruptcy;
2. Was reported with an address outside of the United States;
3. Is being claimed by a person outside of the United States; or
4. Contains documents filed in support of the claim that are not in the English language and have not been accompanied by an English language translation.
(2) A claim for a cashier’s check or a stock certificate without the original instrument may require an indemnity bond equal to the value of the claim to be provided prior to issue of the stock or payment of the claim by the department.
(3) The department may require an affidavit swearing to the authenticity of the claim, lack of documentation, and an agreement to allow the department to provide the name and address of the claimant to subsequent claimants coming forward with substantiated proof to claim the account. This shall apply to claims equal to or less than $250. The exclusive remedy of a subsequent claimant to the property shall be against the person who received the property from the department.
(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, if a claim is determined in favor of the claimant, the department shall deliver or pay over to the claimant the property or the amount the department actually received or the proceeds if it has been sold by the department, together with any additional amount required by s. 717.121.
(b) If a claimant authorizes a claimant representative registered with the department under this chapter to claim the abandoned property on the claimant’s behalf, the department is authorized to make distribution of the property or money in accordance with the Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement under s. 717.135. The original Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement must be executed by the claimant or seller and must be filed with the department.
(c)1. Payments of approved claims for unclaimed cash accounts must be made to the owner after deducting any fees and costs authorized by the claimant under an Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement. The contents of a safe-deposit box or shares of securities must be delivered directly to the claimant.
2. Payments of fees and costs authorized under an Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement for approved claims must be made or issued to the law firm of the designated attorney licensed to practice law in this state, the public accountancy firm of the licensed Florida-certified public accountant, or the designated employing private investigative agency licensed by this state. Such payments shall be made by electronic funds transfer and may be made on such periodic schedule as the department may define by rule, provided the payment intervals do not exceed 31 days. Payment made to an attorney licensed in this state, a Florida-certified public accountant, or a private investigator licensed under chapter 493, operating individually or as a sole practitioner, must be to the attorney, certified public accountant, or private investigator.
(5) The department is not 2administratively, civilly, or criminally liable for any property or funds distributed pursuant to this section, provided such distribution is made in good faith.
(6) This section does not supersede the licensing requirements of chapter 493.
(7) The department may allow an apparent owner to electronically submit a claim for abandoned property to the department. If a claim is submitted electronically for $2,000 or less, the department may use a method of identity verification other than a copy of a valid driver license, other government-issued photographic identification, or a sworn notarized statement. The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may develop and implement an identification verification and disbursement process by which an account valued at $2,000 or less, after being received by the department and added to the abandoned property database, may be disbursed to an apparent owner after the department has verified that the apparent owner is living and that the apparent owner’s current address is correct. The department shall include with the payment a notification and explanation of the dollar amount, the source, and the property type of each account included in the disbursement. The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(9)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may develop and implement a verification and disbursement process by which an account, after being received by the department and added to the abandoned property database, for which the apparent owner entity is:
1. A state agency in this state or a subdivision or successor agency thereof;
2. A county government in this state or a subdivision thereof;
3. A public school district in this state or a subdivision thereof;
4. A municipality in this state or a subdivision thereof; or
5. A special taxing district or authority in this state,
may be disbursed to the apparent owner entity or successor entity. The department shall include with the payment a notification and explanation of the dollar amount, the source, and the property type of each account included in the disbursement.
(b) The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may develop a process by which a claimant representative may electronically submit to the department an electronic image of a completed claim and claims-related documents under this chapter, including an Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement that has been signed and dated by a claimant or seller under s. 717.135, after the claimant representative receives the original documents provided by the claimant or the seller for any claim. Each claim filed by a claimant representative must include a statement by the claimant representative attesting that all documents are true copies of the original documents and that all original documents are physically in the possession of the claimant representative. All original documents must be kept in the original form, by claim number, under the secure control of the claimant representative and must be available for inspection by the department in accordance with s. 717.1315. The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(11) This section applies to all abandoned property reported and remitted to the Chief Financial Officer, including, but not limited to, property reported pursuant to ss. 45.032, 732.107, 733.816, and 744.534.
1Note.—The word “claimant” was substituted for the word “claimant’s” by the editors to conform to context.
2Note.—The word “be” preceding the word “administratively” was deleted by the editors to improve clarity.
717.12403 Abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution held in the name of more than one person.—
(1)(a) If an abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution is reported as an “and” account in the name of two or more persons who are not beneficiaries, it is presumed that each person must claim the account in order for the claim to be approved by the department. This presumption may be rebutted by showing that entitlement to the account has been transferred to another person or by clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that the account should have been reported by the financial institution as an “or” account.
(b) If an abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution is reported as an “and” account and one of the persons on the account is deceased, it is presumed that the account is a survivorship account. This presumption may be rebutted by showing that entitlement to the account has been transferred to another person or by clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that the account is not a survivorship account.
(2) If an abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution is reported as an “or” account in the name of two or more persons who are not beneficiaries, it is presumed that either person listed on the account may claim the entire amount held in the account. This presumption may be rebutted by showing that entitlement to the account has been transferred to another person or by clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that the account should have been reported by the financial institution as an “and” account.
(3) If an abandoned demand, savings, or checking account in a financial institution is reported in the name of two or more persons who are not beneficiaries without identifying whether the account is an “and” account or an “or” account, it is presumed that the account is an “or” account. This presumption may be rebutted by showing that entitlement to the account has been transferred to another person or by clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that the account should have been reported by the financial institution as an “and” account.
(4) The department shall be deemed to have made a distribution in good faith if the department remits funds consistent with this section.
717.12404 Claims on behalf of a business entity or trust.—
(1)(a) Claims on behalf of an active or dissolved corporation, for which the last annual report is not available from the Department of State through the Internet, must be accompanied by a microfiche copy of the records on file with the Department of State or, if the corporation has not made a corporate filing with the Department of State, the claim must be accompanied by a uniform resource locator for the address of a free Internet site operated by the state of incorporation of the corporation that provides access to the last corporate filing identifying the officers and directors of the corporation. If available, the claim must be accompanied by a printout of the officers and directors from the Department of State Internet site or the free Internet site operated by the state of incorporation of the corporation. If the free Internet site is not available, the claim must be accompanied by an authenticated copy of the last corporate filing identifying the officers and directors from the appropriate authorized official of the state of incorporation.
(b) A claim on behalf of a corporation must be made by an officer or director identified on the last corporate filing.
(2) Claims on behalf of an active or dissolved corporation, a business entity, or a trust must include a legible copy of a valid driver license of the person acting on behalf of the corporation, business entity, or trust. If the person has not been issued a valid driver license, the department shall be provided with a legible copy of a photographic identification of the person issued by the United States, a foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof. In lieu of photographic identification, a notarized sworn statement by the person may be provided which affirms the person’s identity and states the person’s full name and address. The person must produce his or her photographic identification issued by the United States, a state or territory of the United States, a foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof or other evidence deemed acceptable by the department by rule. The notary shall indicate the notary’s full address on the notarized sworn statement. Any claim filed without the required identification or the sworn statement with the original claim form and the original Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement, if applicable, is void.
717.12405 Claims by estates.—An estate or any person representing an estate or acting on behalf of an estate may claim abandoned property only after the heir or legatee of the decedent entitled to the property has been located. Any estate, or any person representing an estate or acting on behalf of an estate, that receives abandoned property before the heir or legatee of the decedent entitled to the property has been located, is personally liable for the abandoned property and must immediately return the full amount of the abandoned property or the value thereof to the department in accordance with s. 717.1341.
717.12406 Joint ownership of abandoned securities or dividends.—For the purpose of determining joint ownership of abandoned securities or dividends, the term:
(1) “TEN COM” means tenants in common.
(2) “TEN ENT” means tenants by the entireties.
(3) “JT TEN” or “JT” means joint tenants with the right of survivorship and not as tenants in common.
(4) “And” means tenants in common with each person entitled to an equal pro rata share.
(5) “Or” means that each person listed on the account is entitled to all of the funds.
(1) For purposes of this section, the term “conflicting claim” means two or more claims received by the department for the same abandoned property account or accounts in which two or more claimants appear to be equally entitled to the property. The term also includes circumstances in which the same claimant has more than one claim pending for the same property, including when the claimant is represented by more than one claimant representative or submits both a personal claim and a claim through a representative.
(2) When conflicting claims have been received by the department for the same abandoned property account or accounts, the property shall be remitted in accordance with the claim filed by the person as follows, notwithstanding the withdrawal of a claim:
(a) To the person submitting the first claim received by the department that is complete or made complete.
(b) If a claimant’s claim and a claimant representative’s claim for the recovery of property are received by the department on the same day and both claims are complete, to the claimant.
(c) If a buyer’s claim or a purchasing claimant representative’s claim and a claimant’s claim or a claimant representative’s claim for the recovery of property are received by the department on the same day and the claims are complete, to the buyer.
(d) As between two or more claimant representatives’ claims received by the department that are complete or made complete on the same day, to the claimant representative who has agreed to receive the lowest fee. If the two or more claimant representatives whose claims received by the department were complete or made complete on the same day are charging the same fee, the fee shall be divided equally between the claimant representatives.
(e) If more than one buyer’s claim received by the department is complete or made complete on the same day, the department shall remit the abandoned property to the buyer who paid the highest amount to the seller. If the buyers paid the same amount to the seller, the department shall remit the abandoned property to the buyers divided in equal amounts.
(3) The purpose of this section is solely to provide guidance to the department regarding to whom it should remit the abandoned property and is not intended to extinguish or affect any private cause of action that any person may have against another person for breach of contract or other statutory or common-law remedy. A buyer’s sole remedy, if any, shall be against the claimant representative or the seller, or both. A claimant representative’s sole remedy, if any, shall be against the buyer or the seller, or both. A claimant’s or seller’s sole remedy, if any, shall be against the buyer or the claimant representative, or both. Nothing in this section forecloses the right of a person to challenge the department’s determination of completeness in a proceeding under ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
(4) A claim is complete when entitlement to the abandoned property has been established.
717.1242 Restatement of jurisdiction of the circuit court sitting in probate and the department.—
(1) It is and has been the intent of the Legislature that, pursuant to s. 26.012(2)(b), circuit courts have jurisdiction of proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of decedents and other jurisdiction usually pertaining to courts of probate. It is and has been the intent of the Legislature that, pursuant to this chapter, the department determines the merits of claims and entitlement to abandoned property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter. Consistent with this legislative intent, any beneficiary, devisee, heir, personal representative, or other interested person, as those terms are defined in the Florida Probate Code and the Florida Trust Code, of an estate seeking to obtain property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter must file a claim with the department as provided in s. 717.124.
(2) If any estate or heir of an estate seeks or obtains an order from a circuit court sitting in probate directing the department to pay or deliver to any person property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, the estate or heir shall be ordered to pay the department reasonable costs and attorney’s fees in any proceeding brought by the department to oppose, appeal, or collaterally attack the order if the department is the prevailing party in any such proceeding.
(1) A claim for abandoned property made by a beneficiary, as defined in s. 731.201, of a deceased owner need not be accompanied by an order of a probate court if the claimant files with the department an affidavit, signed by all beneficiaries, stating that all the beneficiaries have amicably agreed among themselves upon a division of the estate and that all funeral expenses, expenses of the last illness, and any other lawful claims have been paid, and any additional information reasonably necessary to make a determination of entitlement. If the owner died testate, the claim shall be accompanied by a copy of the will.
(2) Each person receiving property under this section shall be personally liable for all lawful claims against the estate of the owner, but only to the extent of the value of the property received by such person under this section, exclusive of the property exempt from claims of creditors under the constitution and laws of this state.
(3) Any heir or devisee of the owner, who was lawfully entitled to share in the property but did not receive his or her share of the property, may enforce his or her rights in appropriate proceedings against those who received the property and shall be awarded taxable costs as in chancery actions, including attorney’s fees.
(4) This section applies only if all of the abandoned property held by the department on behalf of the owner has an aggregate value of $20,000 or less and no probate proceeding is pending.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as precluding the use of live testimony in order to establish entitlement.
717.1244 Determinations of abandoned property claims.—In rendering a determination regarding the merits of an abandoned property claim, the department shall rely on the applicable statutory, regulatory, common, and case law. Agency statements applying the statutory, regulatory, common, and case law to abandoned property claims are not agency statements subject to s. 120.56(4).
717.1245 Garnishment of abandoned property.—If any person files a petition for writ of garnishment seeking to obtain property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, the petitioner shall be ordered to pay the department reasonable costs and attorney fees in any proceeding brought by the department to oppose, appeal, or collaterally attack the petition or writ if the department is the prevailing party in any such proceeding.
717.125 Claim of another state to recover property; procedure.—
(1) At any time after property has been paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, another state may recover the property if:
(a) The property was subjected to custody by this state because the records of the holder did not reflect the last known address of the apparent owner when the property was presumed abandoned under this chapter, and the other state establishes that the last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property was in that state and under the laws of that state the property escheated to or was subject to a claim of abandonment or being unclaimed by that state;
(b) The last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property, as reflected by the records of the holder, is in the other state and under the laws of that state the property has escheated to or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state;
(c) The records of the holder were erroneous in that they did not accurately reflect the actual owner of the property and the last known address of the actual owner is in the other state and under laws of that state the property escheated to or was subject to a claim of abandonment by that state;
(d) The property was subject to custody by this state under s. 717.103(6) and under the laws of the state of domicile of the holder the property has escheated to or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state; or
(e) The property is the sum payable on a traveler’s check, money order, or other similar instrument that was subjected to custody by this state under s. 717.104, and the instrument was purchased in the other state, and under the laws of that state the property escheated to or became subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
(2) The claim of another state to recover escheated or unclaimed property under this section must be presented in a form prescribed by the department, and the department shall determine the claim within 90 days after it is presented. Such determination shall contain a notice of rights provided by ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
(3) The department shall require a state, prior to recovery of property under this section, to indemnify this state and its officers and employees against any liability on a claim for the property.
717.126 Administrative hearing; burden of proof; proof of entitlement; venue.—
(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department may petition for a hearing as provided in ss. 120.569 and 120.57. In any proceeding for determination of a claim to property paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, the burden shall be upon the claimant to establish entitlement to the property by a preponderance of evidence. Having the same name as that reported to the department is not sufficient, in the absence of other evidence, to prove entitlement to abandoned property.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, venue shall be in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. However, upon the request of a party, the presiding officer may, in the presiding officer’s discretion, conduct the hearing at an alternative remote video location.
717.1261 Death certificates.—Any person who claims entitlement to abandoned property by means of the death of one or more persons shall file a copy of the death certificate of the decedent or decedents that has been certified as being authentic by the issuing governmental agency.
717.1262 Court documents.—Any person who claims entitlement to abandoned property by reason of a court document shall file a certified copy of the court document with the department. A certified copy of each pleading filed with the court to obtain a court document establishing entitlement, filed within 180 days before the date the claim form was signed by the claimant or claimant representative, must also be filed with the department.
717.127 Election to take payment or delivery.—The department may decline to receive any property reported under this chapter that the department considers to have a value less than the expense of giving notice and of sale. If the department elects not to receive custody of the property, the holder shall be notified within 120 days after filing the report required under s. 717.117 or remitting the property required under s. 717.119.
717.128 Destruction or disposition of property having insubstantial commercial value; immunity from liability.—If the department after investigation finds that any property delivered under this chapter has insubstantial commercial value, the department may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property. No action or proceeding may be maintained against the state or any officer or against the holder for or on account of any action taken by the department pursuant to this section with respect to the property.
(1) The expiration before or after July 1, 1987, of any period of time specified by contract, statute, or court order, during which a claim for money or property may be made or during which an action or proceeding may be commenced or enforced to obtain payment of a claim for money or to recover property, does not prevent the money or property from being presumed abandoned or affect any duty to file a report or to pay or deliver abandoned property to the department as required by this chapter.
(2) The department may not commence an action or proceeding to enforce this chapter with respect to the reporting, payment, or delivery of property or any other duty of a holder under this chapter more than 10 years after the duty arose. The period of limitation established under this subsection is tolled by the earlier of the department’s or audit agent’s delivery of a notice that a holder is subject to an audit or examination under s. 717.1301 or the holder’s written election to enter into an abandoned property voluntary disclosure agreement.
(1) To carry out the chapter’s purpose of protecting the interest of missing owners through the safeguarding of their property and to administer and enforce this chapter, the department may:
(a) Investigate, examine, inspect, request, or otherwise gather information or evidence on, claim documents from a claimant or a claimant’s representative during its review of a claim.
(b) Audit the records of a person or the records in the possession of an agent, representative, subsidiary, or affiliate of the person subject to this chapter to determine whether the person complied with this chapter. Such records may include information to verify the completeness or accuracy of the records provided, even if such records may not identify property reportable to the department.
(c) Take testimony of a person, including the person’s employee, agent, representative, subsidiary, or affiliate, to determine whether the person complied with this chapter.
(d) Issue an administrative subpoena to require that the records specified in paragraph (b) be made available for examination or audit and that the testimony specified in paragraph (c) be provided.
(e) Bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking enforcement of an administrative subpoena issued under this section, which the court shall consider under procedures that will lead to an expeditious resolution of the action.
(f) Bring an administrative action or an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this chapter.
(2) If a person is subject to reporting property under this chapter, the department may require the person to file a verified report in a form prescribed by the department. The verified report must:
(a) State whether the person is holding property reportable under this chapter;
(b) Describe the property not previously reported, the property about which the department has inquired, or the property that is in dispute as to whether it is reportable under this chapter; and
(c) State the amount or value of the property.
(3) The department may authorize a compliance review of a report for a specified reporting year. The review must be limited to the contents of the report filed, as required by s. 717.117 and subsection (2), and all supporting documents related to the reports. If the review results in a finding of a deficiency in abandoned property due and payable to the department, the department shall notify the holder in writing of the amount of deficiency within 1 year after the authorization of the compliance review. If the holder fails to pay the deficiency within 90 days, the department may seek to enforce the assessment under subsection (1). The department is not required to conduct a review under this section before initiating an audit.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a contract providing for the location or collection of abandoned property, the department may authorize the contractor to deduct its fees and expenses for services provided under the contract from the abandoned property that the contractor has recovered or collected under the contract. The department shall annually report to the Chief Financial Officer the total amount collected or recovered by each contractor during the previous fiscal year and the total fees and expenses deducted by each contractor.
(5) The material compiled by the department in an investigation or examination under this chapter is confidential until the investigation or examination is complete. If any such material contains a holder’s financial or proprietary information, it may not be disclosed or made public by the department after the investigation or audit is completed, except as required by a court of competent jurisdiction in the course of a judicial proceeding in which the state is a party, or pursuant to an agreement with another state allowing joint audits. Such material may be considered a trade secret and exempt from s. 119.07(1) as provided for in s. 119.0715. The records, data, and information gathered by the department in an investigation or audit under this chapter remain confidential if the department has submitted the material or any part of it to any law enforcement agency or other administrative agency for further investigation or for the filing of a criminal or civil prosecution and such investigation has not been completed or become inactive.
(6) If an investigation or an audit of the records of any person results in the disclosure of property reportable and deliverable under this chapter, the department may assess the cost of the investigation or audit against the holder. The fee for the costs of the investigation or audit shall be remitted to the department within 30 days after the date of the notification that the fee is due and owing. Any person who fails to pay the fee within 30 days after the date of the notification that the fee is due and owing shall pay to the department interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum on such fee from the date of the notification.
(1) Every holder required to file a report under s. 717.117 shall maintain a record of the specific type of property, amount, name, and last known address of the owner for 10 years after the property becomes reportable, except to the extent that a shorter time is provided in subsection (2) or by rule of the department.
(2) Any business association that sells in this state its traveler’s checks, money orders, or other similar written instruments, other than third-party bank checks on which the business association is directly responsible, or that provides such instruments to others for sale in this state, shall maintain a record of those instruments while they remain outstanding, indicating the state and date of issue for 3 years after the date the property is reportable.
717.1315 Retention of records by claimant representatives and buyers of abandoned property.—
(1) Every claimant representative and buyer of abandoned property shall keep and use in his or her business such books, accounts, and records of the business conducted under this chapter to enable the department to determine whether such person is complying with this chapter and the rules adopted by the department under this chapter. Every claimant representative and buyer of abandoned property shall preserve such books, accounts, and records, including every Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement between the owner and such claimant representative or buyer, for at least 3 years after the date of the initial agreement.
(2) A claimant representative or buyer of abandoned property, operating at two or more places of business in this state, may maintain the books, accounts, and records of all such offices at any one of such offices, or at any other office maintained by such claimant representative or buyer of abandoned property, upon the filing of a written notice with the department designating in the written notice the office at which such records are maintained.
(3) A claimant representative or buyer of abandoned property shall make all books, accounts, and records available at a convenient location in this state upon request of the department.
717.132 Enforcement; cease and desist orders; fines.—
(1) The department may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce or administer any provision of this chapter, any rule or order promulgated under this chapter, or any written agreement entered into with the department.
(2) In addition to any other powers conferred upon it to enforce and administer the provisions of this chapter, the department may issue and serve upon a person an order to cease and desist and to take corrective action whenever the department finds that such person is violating, has violated, or is about to violate any provision of this chapter, any rule or order promulgated under this chapter, or any written agreement entered into with the department. For purposes of this subsection, the term “corrective action” includes refunding excessive charges, requiring a person to return abandoned property, requiring a holder to remit abandoned property, and requiring a holder to correct a report that contains errors or omissions. Any such order shall contain a notice of rights provided by ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
(3) In addition to any other powers conferred upon it to enforce and administer the provisions of this chapter, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction may impose fines against any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter, any rule or order promulgated under this chapter, or any written agreement entered into with the department in an amount not to exceed $2,000 for each violation. All fines collected under this subsection shall be deposited as received in the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund.
(1) The following acts are violations of this chapter and constitute grounds for an administrative enforcement action by the department in accordance with the requirements of chapter 120 and for civil enforcement by the department in a court of competent jurisdiction:
(a) Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter, any rule or order adopted under this chapter, or any written agreement entered into with the department.
(b) Fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or gross negligence in any matter within the scope of this chapter.
(c) Misrepresentation, circumvention, or concealment of any matter required to be stated or furnished to the department or to an owner or apparent owner under this chapter.
(d) Imposition of illegal or excessive charges in any abandoned property transaction.
(e) False, deceptive, or misleading solicitation or advertising within the scope of this chapter.
(f) Failure to maintain, preserve, and keep available for examination all books, accounts, or other documents required by this chapter, by any rule or order adopted under this chapter, or by any agreement entered into with the department under this chapter.
(g) Refusal to permit inspection of books and records in an investigation or examination by the department or refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the department under this chapter.
(h) Criminal conduct in the course of a person’s business.
(i) Failure to timely pay any fine imposed or assessed under this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter.
(j) Requesting or receiving compensation for notifying a person of his or her abandoned property or assisting another person in filing a claim for abandoned property, or entering into, or making a solicitation to enter into, an agreement to file a claim for abandoned property owned by another, unless such person is a registered claimant representative under this chapter. This paragraph does not apply to a person who has been granted a durable power of attorney to convey and receive all of the real and personal property of the owner, is the court-appointed guardian of the owner, has been employed as an attorney or qualified representative to contest the department’s denial of a claim, or has been employed as an attorney to probate the estate of the owner or an heir or legatee of the owner.
(k) Failure to authorize the release of records in the possession of a third party after being requested to do so by the department regarding a pending examination or investigation.
(l) Receipt or solicitation of consideration to be paid in advance of the approval of a claim under this chapter.
(2) Upon a finding by the department that any person has committed any of the acts set forth in subsection (1), the department may enter an order doing any of the following:
(a) Revoking for a minimum of 5 years or suspending for a maximum of 5 years a registration previously granted under this chapter during which time the registrant may not reapply for a registration under this chapter.
(b) Placing a claimant representative or an applicant for a registration on probation for a period of time and subject to such conditions as the department may specify.
(c) Placing permanent restrictions or conditions upon issuance or maintenance of a registration under this chapter.
(d) Issuing a reprimand.
(e) Imposing an administrative fine not to exceed $2,000 for each such act.
(f) Prohibiting any person from being a director, officer, agent, employee, or ultimate equitable owner of a 10 percent or greater interest in an employer of a claimant representative.
(3) A claimant representative is subject to civil enforcement and the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) for violations of subsection (1) by an agent or employee of the claimant representative’s employer if the claimant representative knew or should have known that such agent or employee was violating any provision of this chapter.
(4)(a) The department shall adopt, by rule, and periodically review the disciplinary guidelines applicable to each ground for disciplinary action which may be imposed by the department under this chapter.
(b) The disciplinary guidelines shall specify a meaningful range of designated penalties based upon the severity or repetition of specific offenses, or both. It is the legislative intent that minor violations be distinguished from more serious violations; that such guidelines consider the amount of the claim involved, the complexity of locating the owner, the steps taken to ensure the accuracy of the claim by the person filing the claim, the acts of commission and omission of the claimant in establishing themselves as rightful owners of the funds, the acts of commission or omission of the agent or employee of a claimant representative or its employer in the filing of the claim, the actual knowledge of the agent, employee, employer, or owner in the filing of the claim, the departure, if any, by the agent or employee from the internal controls and procedures established by the claimant representative or its employer with regard to the filing of a claim, the number of defective claims previously filed by the agent, employee, employer, or owner; that such guidelines provide reasonable and meaningful notice of likely penalties that may be imposed for proscribed conduct; and that such penalties be consistently applied by the department.
(c) A specific finding of mitigating or aggravating circumstances shall allow the department to impose a penalty other than that provided for in such guidelines. The department shall adopt by rule disciplinary guidelines to designate possible mitigating and aggravating circumstances and the variation and range of penalties permitted for such circumstances. Such mitigating and aggravating circumstances shall also provide for consideration of, and be consistent with, the legislative intent expressed in paragraph (b).
(d) In any proceeding brought under this chapter, the administrative law judge, in recommending penalties in any recommended order, shall follow the penalty guidelines established by the department and shall state in writing any mitigating or aggravating circumstances upon which the recommended penalty is based.
(5) The department may seek any appropriate civil legal remedy available to it by filing a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any person who has, directly or through a claimant representative, wrongfully submitted a claim as the owner of property and improperly received funds from the department in violation of this chapter.
717.133 Interstate agreements and cooperation; joint and reciprocal actions with other states.—
(1) The department may enter into agreements with other states to exchange information needed to enable this or another state to audit or otherwise determine abandoned property that it or another state may be entitled to subject to a claim of custody. The department may require the reporting of information needed to enable compliance with agreements made pursuant to this section and prescribe the form.
(2) The department may join with other states to seek enforcement of this chapter against any person.
(3) At the request of another state, the department may bring an action in the name of the other state in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the abandoned property laws of the other state against a holder in this state of property subject to escheat or a claim of abandonment by the other state, if the other state has agreed to pay expenses incurred in bringing the action.
(4) The department may request that the attorney general of another state or any other person bring an action in the name of the department in the other state. The department may pay all expenses including attorneys’ fees in any action under this subsection.
(5) As necessary for proper administration of this chapter, the department may enter into contracts for the location or collection of property subject to payment or delivery to the department under this chapter.
717.1331 Actions against holders.—The department may initiate, or cause to be initiated, an action against a holder to enforce a subpoena or recover unclaimed property. If the department prevails in a civil or administrative action to enforce a subpoena or recover unclaimed property initiated by or on behalf of the department, the holder shall be ordered to pay the department reasonable costs and attorney’s fees.
717.1333 Evidence; estimations; audit reports and worksheets, investigator reports and worksheets, other related documents.—
(1) In any proceeding involving a holder under ss. 120.569 and 120.57 in which an audit agent or investigator acting under authority of this chapter is available for cross-examination, any official written report, worksheet, or other related paper, or copy thereof, compiled, prepared, drafted, or otherwise made or received by the audit agent or investigator, after being duly authenticated by the audit agent or investigator, may be admitted as competent evidence upon the oath of the audit agent or investigator that the report, worksheet, or related paper was prepared or received as a result of an audit, examination, or investigation of the books and records of the person audited, examined, or investigated, or the agent thereof.
(2) If the records of the holder that are available for the periods subject to this chapter are insufficient to permit the preparation of a report of the abandoned property due and owing by a holder, or if the holder fails to provide records after being requested to do so, the amount due to the department may be reasonably estimated.
(1) For any person who willfully fails to render any report required under this chapter, the department may impose and collect a penalty of $500 per day up to a maximum of $5,000 and 25 percent of the value of property not reported until an appropriate report is provided. Upon a holder’s showing of good cause, the department may waive said penalty or any portion thereof. If the holder acted in good faith and without negligence, the department shall waive the penalty provided herein.
(2) For any person who willfully refuses to pay or deliver unclaimed property to the department as required under this chapter, the department may impose and collect a penalty of $500 per day up to a maximum of $5,000 and 25 percent of the value of property not paid or delivered until the property is paid or delivered.
(3) Any person who willfully or fraudulently conceals, destroys, damages, or makes unlawful disposition of any property or of the books, records, or accounts pertaining to property which is subject to the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(4) In addition to any damages, penalties, or fines for which a person may be liable under any other provision of law, any person who fails to report or pay or deliver unclaimed property within the time prescribed by this chapter shall pay to the department interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum on such property, or value thereof, from the date such property shall have been paid or delivered. The department may waive any penalty due under this subsection with appropriate justification.
(5) The department may impose and collect a penalty of $500 per day up to a maximum of $5,000 and 25 percent of the value of property willfully not reported with all of the information required by this chapter. Upon a holder’s showing of good cause, the department may waive the penalty or any portion thereof. If the holder acted in good faith and without negligence, the department shall waive the penalty provided herein.
717.1341 Invalid claims, recovery of property, interest and penalties.—
(1)(a) A person may not receive abandoned property that the person is not entitled to receive. Any person who receives, or assists another person to receive, abandoned property that the person is not entitled to receive is strictly, jointly, personally, and severally liable for the abandoned property and shall immediately return the property, or the reasonable value of the property if the property has been damaged or disposed of, to the department plus interest at the rate set in accordance with s. 55.03(1). Assisting another person to receive abandoned property includes executing a claim form on the person’s behalf.
(b)1. In the case of stocks or bonds which have been sold, the proceeds from the sale shall be returned to the department plus any dividends or interest received thereon plus an amount equal to the brokerage fee plus interest at a rate set in accordance with s. 55.03(1) on the proceeds from the sale of the stocks or bonds, the dividends or interest received, and the brokerage fee.
2. In the case of stocks or bonds which have not been sold, the stocks or bonds and any dividends or interest received thereon shall be returned to the department, together with interest on the dividends or interest received, at a rate set in accordance with s. 55.03(1) of the value of the property.
(2) The department may maintain a civil or administrative action:
(a) To recover abandoned property that was paid or remitted to a person who was not entitled to the abandoned property or to offset amounts owed to the department against amounts owed to an owner representative;
(b) Against a person who assists another person in receiving, or attempting to receive, abandoned property that the person is not entitled to receive; or
(c) Against a person who attempts to receive abandoned property that the person is not entitled to receive.
(3) If the department prevails in any proceeding under subsection (2), a fine not to exceed three times the value of the property received or sought to be received may be imposed on any person who knowingly, or with reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance of the truth, violated this section. If the department prevails in a civil or administrative proceeding under subsection (2), the person who violated subsection (1) shall be ordered to pay the department reasonable costs and attorney’s fees.
(4) A person may not knowingly file, knowingly conspire to file, or knowingly assist in filing a claim for abandoned property the person is not entitled to receive. Any person who violates this subsection regarding abandoned property of an aggregate value:
(a) Greater than $50,000, commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084;
(b) Greater than $10,000 up to $50,000, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084;
(c) Greater than $250 up to $10,000, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084;
(d) Greater than $50 up to $250, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; or
(e) Up to $50, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
717.135 Recovery agreements and purchase agreements for claims filed by a claimant representative; fees and costs or total net gain.—
(1) In order to protect the interests of owners of abandoned property, the department shall adopt by rule a form entitled “Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement” and a form entitled “Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement.”
(2) The Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement and the Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement must include and disclose all of the following:
(a) The total dollar amount of abandoned property accounts claimed or sold.
(b) The total percentage of all authorized fees and costs to be paid to the claimant representative or the percentage of the value of the property to be paid as net gain to the purchasing claimant representative.
(c) The total dollar amount to be deducted and received from the claimant as fees and costs by the claimant representative or the total net dollar amount to be received by the purchasing claimant representative.
(d) The net dollar amount to be received by the claimant or the seller.
(e) For each account claimed, the abandoned property account number.
(f) For the Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement, a statement that the amount of the purchase price will be remitted to the seller by the purchaser within 30 days after the execution of the agreement by the seller.
(g) The name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and license number of the claimant representative.
(h)1. The manual signature of the claimant or seller and the date signed, affixed on the agreement by the claimant or seller.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the department may allow the claimant or seller to sign the agreement electronically. All electronic signatures on the Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement and the Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement must be affixed on the agreement by the claimant or seller using the specific, exclusive eSignature product and protocol authorized by the department.
(i) The social security number or taxpayer identification number of the claimant or seller, if a number has been issued to the claimant or seller.
(j) The total fees and costs, or the total discount in the case of a purchase agreement, which may not exceed 30 percent of the claimed amount. In the case of a recovery agreement, if the total fees and costs exceed 30 percent, the fees and costs shall be reduced to 30 percent and the net balance shall be remitted directly by the department to the claimant. In the case of a purchase agreement, if the total net gain of the claimant representative exceeds 30 percent, the claim will be denied.
(3) For an Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement form, proof that the purchaser has made payment must be filed with the department along with the claim. If proof of payment is not provided, the claim is void.
(4) A claimant representative must use the Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement or the Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement as the exclusive means of entering into an agreement or a contract with a claimant or seller to file a claim with the department.
(5) Fees and costs may be owed or paid to, or received by, a claimant representative only after a filed claim has been approved and if the 1claimant representative used an agreement authorized by this section.
(6) A claimant representative may not use or distribute any other agreement of any type, conveyed by any method, with respect to the claimant or seller which relates, directly or indirectly, to abandoned property accounts held by the department or the Chief Financial Officer other than the agreements authorized by this section. Any engagement, authorization, recovery, or fee agreement that is not authorized by this section is void. A claimant representative is subject to administrative and civil enforcement under s. 717.1322 if he or she uses an agreement that is not authorized by this section and if the agreement is used to apply, directly or indirectly, to abandoned property held by this state. This subsection does not prohibit lawful nonagreement, noncontractual, or advertising communications between or among the parties.
(7) The Abandoned Property Recovery Agreement may not contain language that makes the agreement irrevocable or that creates an assignment of any portion of abandoned property held by the department.
(8) When a claim is approved, the department may pay any additional account that is owned by the claimant but has not been claimed at the time of approval, provided that a subsequent claim has not been filed or is not pending for the claimant at the time of approval.
1Note.—The word “claimant” was substituted for the word “claimant’s” by the editors to conform to context.
717.1355 Theme park and entertainment complex tickets.—This chapter does not apply to any tickets for admission to a theme park or entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9), or to any tickets to a permanent exhibition or recreational activity within such theme park or entertainment complex.
(1) Agreements for the purchase of abandoned property reported to the department shall be valid only if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The agreement is entitled “Florida Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement” and is in writing, in minimum 12-point type.
(b) The agreement includes the social security number or taxpayer identification number of the seller, if a number has been issued to the seller; a valid e-mail address, mailing address, and telephone number for the seller; and is manually signed and dated by the seller with the signature notarized.
(c) The agreement discloses with specificity the nature and value of the abandoned property, including the name of the apparent owner as shown by the records of the department, the name of the holder who remitted the property, the date of last contact, and the property category. With respect to the value of the abandoned property, the agreement must contain the following:
1. The total dollar amount of all abandoned property to be sold.
2. The total percentage of the value of the abandoned property to be paid as net gain to the purchaser.
3. The total net dollar amount to be received by the purchaser.
4. The net dollar amount to be received by the seller.
(d) The agreement states the abandoned property account number for each abandoned property account sold.
(e) The purchase price does not discount the total value of all abandoned property subject to the sale by more than 30 percent.
(f) The agreement states that the amount of the purchase price will be remitted to the seller by the purchaser within 30 days after the execution of the agreement by the seller.
(g) The agreement includes the name, address, e-mail address, and phone number of the purchaser.
(h) The agreement states that the abandoned property is currently in the department’s custody and that the seller can claim the property directly from the department on its electronically searchable website without being charged a fee. The agreement must provide the department’s website address.
(2) A seller may cancel a purchase agreement without penalty or obligation within 15 business days after the date on which the agreement was executed. The agreement must contain the following language in minimum 12-point type: “You may cancel this agreement for any reason without penalty or obligation to you within 15 days after the date of this agreement by providing notice to (name of purchaser) , submitted in writing and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof thereof, at the address or e-mail address specified in the agreement.”
(3) A copy of an executed Florida Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement must be filed with the purchaser’s claim, along with proof that the purchaser has made payment in full, and all other required documentation. If proof of payment is not provided, the department may not approve the claim.
(4) A purchase agreement under this section which discounts the value of abandoned property by more than the amount authorized in paragraph (1)(e) is enforceable only by the seller.
(5)(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term:
1. “Asset purchaser” means a business association that has purchased property from a large business association.
2. “Large business association” means a business association or group of business associations which:
a. Generates $100 million or more in annual gross receipts or sales;
b. Employs 100 or more full-time employees in the United States; or
c. Has equity securities publicly traded on an exchange regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(b) Claims filed by an asset purchaser under this section must include:
1. A complete copy of the asset purchase agreement or similar contract between the asset purchaser and the seller; and
2. An attestation by the seller, either in the asset purchase agreement or in a separate written affirmation from the owner, that the owner:
a. Is a large business association as defined in paragraph (a); and
b. Is aware that it is selling unclaimed property that may be recovered from the administrator without paying a fee.
(c) If the seller is a publicly traded entity, the asset purchaser may provide a copy, or a link to an online copy, of the most recent Form 10K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in lieu of the attestation required by subparagraph (b)2.
(d) This subsection does not apply to asset purchase agreements involving the assets of a business association arising out of a bankruptcy proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code or corporate dissolution or a similar proceeding under applicable state law, such as receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors.
(e) This subsection does not apply to asset purchase agreements between an asset purchaser and sellers that comprise a large business association.
(f) The requirements of this subsection apply only to claims filed based on asset purchase agreements executed on or after June 26, 2026.
(g) This subsection does not limit the ability of the department to request or receive additional evidence sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the department that the claimant is the owner of the property pursuant to this chapter.
(h) The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection. The department may change by administrative rule the annual gross receipts or sales threshold to an amount less than $100 million as specified in sub-subparagraph (a)2.a.
717.136 Foreign transactions.—This chapter does not apply to any property held, due, and owing in a foreign country and arising out of foreign transaction.
717.138 Rulemaking authority.—The department shall administer and provide for the enforcement of this chapter. The department has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter. The department may adopt rules to allow for electronic filing of fees, forms, and reports required by this chapter. The authority to adopt rules pursuant to this chapter applies to all abandoned property reported and remitted to the Chief Financial Officer, including, but not limited to, property reported and remitted pursuant to ss. 45.032, 732.107, 733.816, and 744.534.
717.1382 United States savings bond; abandoned property; escheatment; procedure.—
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a United States savings bond in possession of the department or registered to a person with a last known address in the state, including a bond that is lost, stolen, or destroyed, is presumed abandoned 5 years after the bond reaches maturity and no longer earns interest and shall be reported and remitted to the department by the financial institution or other holder in accordance with ss. 717.117(5) and (11) and 717.119, if the department is not in possession of the bond.
(2)(a) After a United States savings bond is abandoned in accordance with subsection (1), the department may commence a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction in Leon County for a determination that the bond shall escheat to the state. Upon determination of escheatment, all property rights to the bond or proceeds from the bond, including all rights, powers, and privileges of survivorship of an owner, co-owner, or beneficiary, shall vest solely in the state.
(b) Service of process by publication may be made on a party in a civil action pursuant to this section. A notice of action shall state the name of any known owner of the bond, the nature of the action or proceeding in short and simple terms, the name of the court in which the action or proceeding is instituted, and an abbreviated title of the case.
(c) The notice of action shall require a person claiming an interest in the bond to file a written defense with the clerk of the court and serve a copy of the defense by the date fixed in the notice. The date must not be less than 28 or more than 60 days after the first publication of the notice.
(d) The notice of action shall be published once a week for 4 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in Leon County. Proof of publication shall be placed in the court file.
(e)1. If no person files a claim with the court for the bond and if the department has substantially complied with the provisions of this section, the court shall enter a default judgment that the bond, or proceeds from such bond, has escheated to the state.
2. If a person files a claim for one or more bonds and, after notice and hearing, the court determines that the claimant is not entitled to the bonds claimed by such claimant, the court shall enter a judgment that such bonds, or proceeds from such bonds, have escheated to the state.
3. If a person files a claim for one or more bonds and, after notice and hearing, the court determines that the claimant is entitled to the bonds claimed by such claimant, the court shall enter a judgment in favor of the claimant.
(3) The department may redeem a United States savings bond escheated to the state pursuant to this section or, in the event that the department is not in possession of the bond, seek to obtain the proceeds from such bond. Proceeds received by the department shall be deposited in accordance with s. 717.123.
717.1383 United States savings bond; claim for bond.—A person claiming a United States savings bond escheated to the state under s. 717.1382, or for the proceeds from such bond, may file a claim with the department. The department may approve the claim if the person is able to provide sufficient proof of the validity of the person’s claim. Once a bond, or the proceeds from such bond, are remitted to a claimant, no action thereafter may be maintained by any other person against the department, the state, or any officer thereof, for or on account of such funds. The person’s sole remedy, if any, shall be against the claimant who received the bond or the proceeds from such bond.
717.139 Uniformity of application and construction.—
(1) The Legislature finds that laws governing abandoned property serve a vital public purpose by protecting the property rights of owners, facilitating the return 1of abandoned property to its owners, preventing private escheatment, and ensuring that abandoned assets are preserved and safeguarded from waste or misuse. It is the public policy of the state to protect the interests of owners of abandoned property.
(2) This chapter shall be applied and construed as to effectuate its general purpose of protecting the interest of missing owners of abandoned property, while providing that the benefit of all abandoned property shall go to all the people of the state, and to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it. It is the intent of the Legislature that property reported under this chapter remains the property of the owner and that the State of Florida acts solely as a custodian, not as the owner, of such property. Title to abandoned property may not transfer to the state except as expressly provided by law and only after all reasonable efforts to identify and return the property to its rightful owner have been exhausted.
1Note.—The word “of” was inserted by the editors to improve clarity.
717.1400 Registration.—
(1) In order to file claims as a claimant representative, receive a distribution of fees and costs for approved claims from the department, and obtain information regarding abandoned property dollar amounts and numbers of reported shares of stock held by the department, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Be one of the following:
1. A Florida-licensed private investigator holding a Class “C” individual license under chapter 493;
2. A Florida-certified public accountant; or
3. A Florida-licensed attorney.
(b) Have obtained a certificate of registration from the department.
(2) An application for registration as a claimant representative must be submitted in writing on a form prescribed by the department and must be accompanied by all of the following:
(a) A legible color copy of the applicant’s current driver license showing the full name and current address of such person. If a current driver license is not available, another form of photo identification must be provided which shows the full name and current address of such person.
(b) If the applicant is a private investigator:
1. A legible copy of the applicant’s Class “A” business license under chapter 493 or that of the applicant’s firm or employer which holds a Class “A” business license under chapter 493; and
2. A legible copy of the applicant’s Class “C” individual license issued under chapter 493.
(c) If the applicant is a certified public accountant, the applicant’s Florida Board of Accountancy number.
(d) If the applicant is a licensed attorney, the applicant’s Florida Bar number.
(e) The business address, telephone number, tax identification number, and state of domicile or incorporation of the applicant’s firm or employer.
(f) The names of agents, employees, or independent contractors, if any, who are designated or authorized to act on behalf of the applicant, together with a legible color copy of their photo identification issued by an agency of the United States, or a state, or a political subdivision thereof.
(g) A statement that the applicant has not, during the 5-year period immediately preceding the submission of the application, violated any part of the Florida Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property Act.
(h) A statement that the applicant has not been convicted of, or 1pleaded guilty to, a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude; dishonesty; deceit; or breach of fiduciary duty, including theft, attempted theft, falsification, tampering with records, securing writings by deception, fraud, forgery, or perjury.
(i) Sufficient information to enable the department to disburse funds by electronic funds transfer.
(j) The applicant’s notarized signature immediately following an acknowledgment that any false or perjured statement subjects the applicant to criminal liability under the laws of this state.
(3) Information and documents already on file with the department before the effective date of this provision need not be resubmitted in order to complete the registration.
(4) If a material change in the status of a registration occurs, the claimant representative must, within 30 days, provide the department with the updated documentation and information in writing. Material changes include, but are not limited to, the following: a designated agent or employee ceasing to act on behalf of the designating person; a surrender, suspension, or revocation of a license; or a license renewal.
(a) If a designated agent or employee ceases to act on behalf of the person who has designated the agent or employee to act on such person’s behalf, the designating person must, within 30 days, inform the department in writing of the termination of agency or employment.
(b) If a registrant surrenders the registrant’s license or the license is suspended or revoked, the registrant must, within 30 days, inform the division in writing of the surrender, suspension, or revocation.
(c) If a private investigator’s Class “C” individual license under chapter 493 or a private investigator’s employer’s Class “A” business license under chapter 493 is renewed, the private investigator must provide a copy of the renewed license to the department within 30 days after the receipt of the renewed license by the private investigator or the private investigator’s employer.
(5) An applicant’s claimant representative’s firm or employer may not have a name that might lead another person to conclude that the claimant representative’s firm or employer is affiliated or associated with the United States, or an agency thereof, or a state or an agency or political subdivision of a state. The department shall deny an application for registration or revoke a registration if the applicant’s or claimant representative’s firm or employer has a name that might lead another person to conclude that the firm or employer is affiliated or associated with the United States, or an agency thereof, or a state or an agency or political subdivision of a state. Names that might lead another person to conclude that the firm or employer is affiliated or associated with the United States, or an agency thereof, or a state or an agency or political subdivision of a state, include, but are not limited to, the words United States, Florida, state, bureau, division, department, or government.
(6) The licensing and other requirements of this section must be maintained as a condition of registration with the department.
(7) To maintain active registration under this section, a claimant representative must file and obtain payment on at least 10 claims per calendar year following the date of initial registration.
(a) If a claimant representative fails to meet this requirement, the department must notify the claimant representative in writing and provide 30 days to demonstrate compliance or good cause for noncompliance.
(b) If the claimant representative does not cure the deficiency or demonstrate good cause within the time provided, the department must revoke the registration.
(c) A claimant representative whose registration is revoked under this subsection may not reapply for registration under this section for a period of 1 year following the effective date of the revocation.
1Note.—The word “pleaded” was substituted for the word “plead” by the editors to improve clarity.
717.1401 Repeal.—This chapter shall not repeal, but shall be additional and supplemental to the existing provisions of ss. 43.18 and 402.17 and chapter 716.
