Source: http://abandonedproperty.uslegal.com/unclaimed-property-law/florida-disposition-of-unclaimed-property-law/
Timestamp: 2015-08-02 18:20:52
Document Index: 370319527

Matched Legal Cases: ['§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717', '§717']

Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Law - Unclaimed Property Law - Abandoned Property
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Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Law
Short title. This chapter may be cited as the “Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.”
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.001
(1) “Aggregate” means the amounts reported for owners of unclaimed property of less than $50 or where there is no name for the individual or entity listed on the holder’s records, regardless of the amount to be reported.
(3) “Banking organization” means any state or national bank, international banking entity or similar entity, trust company, savings bank, industrial savings bank, land bank, safe-deposit company, private bank, or any organization otherwise defined by law as a bank or banking organization.
(4) “Business association” means any corporation (other than a public corporation), joint stock company, investment company, business trust, partnership, or association for business purposes of two or more individuals, whether or not for profit, including a banking organization, financial organization, insurance company, dissolved pension plan, or utility.
(5) “Credit balance” means an account balance in the customer’s favor.
(6) “Department” means the Department of Banking and Finance.
(7) “Domicile” means the state of incorporation, in the case of a corporation incorporated under the laws of a state, and the state of the principal place of business, in the case of a person not incorporated under the laws of a state.
(8) “Financial organization” means a state or federal savings association, savings and loan association, bank, trust company, international bank agency, cooperative bank, building and loan association, or credit union.
(9) “Holder” means a person, wherever organized or domiciled, who is:
(10) “Insurance company” means an association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual benefit organization, whether or not for profit, which is engaged in providing insurance coverage, including, by way of illustration and not limitation, accident, burial, casualty, credit life, contract performance, dental, fidelity, fire, health, hospitalization, illness, life (including endowments and annuities), malpractice, marine, mortgage, surety, and wage protection insurance.
(11) “Intangible property” includes, by way of illustration and not limitation:
(12) “Last known address” means a description of the location of the apparent owner sufficient for the purpose of the delivery of mail.
(13) “Lawful charges” means charges against dormant accounts that are authorized by statute for the purpose of offsetting the costs of maintaining the dormant account.
(14) “Owner” means a depositor in the case of a deposit, a beneficiary in case of a trust other than a deposit in trust, a creditor, a claimant, or a payee in the case of other intangible property, or a person having a legal or equitable interest in property subject to this chapter or his or her legal representative.
(15) “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.
(16) “Reportable period” means the calendar year ending December 31 of each year.
(17) “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.
(18) “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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.101
(1) 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 has remained unclaimed by the owner for more than 5 years after it becomes payable or distributable is presumed abandoned, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
(2) Property is payable or distributable for the purpose of this chapter notwithstanding the owner’s failure to make demand or to present any instrument or document required to receive payment.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.102
Unless otherwise provided in this chapter or by other statute of this state, intangible property is subject to the custody of the department as unclaimed property if the conditions leading to a presumption of abandonment as described in ss. 717.102 and 717.105-717.116 are satisfied and:
1. The last known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property is unknown; or
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.103
(1) All intangible property, including, but not limited to, any interest, dividend, or other earnings thereon, less any lawful charges, held by a business association, federal, state, or local government or governmental subdivision, agency, or entity, or any other person or entity, regardless of where the holder may be found, if the owner has not claimed or corresponded in writing concerning the property within 3 years after the date prescribed for payment or delivery, is presumed abandoned and subject to the custody of this state as unclaimed property if:
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to property which is or may be presumed abandoned and subject to the custody of this state pursuant to any other provision of law containing a dormancy period different than that prescribed in subsection (1).
(3) The provisions of subsection (1) shall apply to all property held at the time of enactment, or at any time thereafter, regardless of when such property became or becomes presumptively abandoned.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1035
(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 owner, within 15 years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.
(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 owner, within 7 years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.
(3) No holder may 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 issuer and the owner of the property pursuant to which the issuer may impose those charges and the issuer 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 unclaimed property unless:
(a) The records of the issuer show that the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased in this state;
(b) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; or
(c) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state; the records of the issuer show the state in which the traveler’s check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; and the laws of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property, or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property.
(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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.104
Checks, drafts, and similar instruments issued or certified by banking and
(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, by way of illustration and not limitation, a cashier’s check and 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 owner, within 5 years, has communicated in writing with the banking or financial organization concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the banking or financial organization.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.105
(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 owner has, within 5 years:
(a) In the case of a deposit, increased or decreased the amount of the deposit or presented the passbook or other similar evidence of the deposit for the crediting of interest;
(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; or
(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(5). This subsection shall apply to accounts opened on or after October 1, 1990.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.106
(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 funds became due and payable as established from the records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds, but property described in paragraph (3)(b) is presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than 2 years.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.107
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 owner for more than 1 year after termination of the services for which the deposit or advance payment was made is presumed abandoned.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.108
Except to the extent otherwise ordered by the court or administrative agency, any sum that a business association has been ordered to refund by a court or administrative agency which has remained unclaimed by the 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.109
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (5), any stock or other intangible ownership interest in a business association, the existence of which is evidenced by record available to the association, is presumed abandoned and, with respect to the interest, the association is the holder, if a dividend, distribution, or other sum payable as a result of the interest has for 5 years remained unclaimed by the owner and the owner has not within 5 years:
(a) Communicated in writing with the association or its agent regarding the interest or a dividend, distribution, or other sum payable as a result of the interest; or
(b) Otherwise communicated with the association regarding the interest or a dividend, distribution, or other sum payable as a result of the interest, as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the association or its agent prepared by an employee of the association or its agent.
(2) At the expiration of a 5-year period following the failure of the owner to claim a dividend, distribution, or other sum payable to the owner as a result of the interest, the interest shall not be presumed abandoned unless there have been at least five dividends, distributions, or other sums paid during the period, none of which has been claimed. If five dividends, distributions, or other sums are paid during the 5-year period, the period leading to a presumption of abandonment commences on the date payment of the first such unclaimed dividend, distribution, or other sum became due and payable. If five dividends, distributions, or other sums are not paid during the presumptive period, the period continues to run until there have been five dividends, distributions, or other sums that have not been claimed by the owner.
(3) The running of the 5-year period of abandonment ceases immediately upon the occurrence of one or more of the conditions referred to in subsection (1). If any future dividend, distribution, or other sum payable to the owner as a result of the interest is subsequently not claimed by the owner, a new period of abandonment commences and relates back only to the time a subsequent dividend, distribution, or other sum became due and payable.
(4) 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, and not previously presumed abandoned, is presumed abandoned.
(5) This chapter shall not apply to any stock or other intangible ownership interest enrolled in a plan that provides for the automatic reinvestment of dividends, distributions, or other sums payable as a result of the interest unless the records available to the administrator of the plan show:
(a) With respect to any intangible ownership interest not enrolled in the reinvestment plan, that the owner has not within 5 years satisfied any of the conditions referred to in subsection (1); or
(b) The holder has reason to believe the owner has not received statements or other mailings for a 5-year period.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1101
All intangible property distributable in the course of a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of a business association which remains unclaimed by the owner for more than 6 months after the date specified for final distribution is presumed abandoned.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.111
(1) All intangible property and any income or increment thereon held in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another person is presumed abandoned unless the owner has within 5 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 prepared by the fiduciary or an employee of 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.112
All intangible property held for the owner by any court, government or governmental subdivision or agency, public corporation, or public authority that has remained unclaimed by the owner for more than 1 year after it became payable or distributable is presumed abandoned. 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 remained unclaimed by the owner for more than 5 years from the date of first production from the well.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.113
Unpaid wages, including wages represented by unpresented payroll checks, owing in the ordinary course of the holder’s business that have remained unclaimed by the owner for more than 1 year after becoming payable are presumed abandoned.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.115
All tangible and intangible property held 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 remain unclaimed by the owner for more than 3 years after the lease or rental period on the box or other repository has expired are presumed abandoned.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.116
(1) Every person holding funds or other property, tangible or intangible, presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall report to the department on such forms as the department may prescribe by rule with respect to the property as provided in this section.
In lieu of forms, the holder may submit the required information via electronic medium as the department may prescribe by rule.
(2) The report shall be verified. Verification of a private corporation or unincorporated association shall be made by an officer; of a partnership, by a partner; and of a public corporation, by its chief fiscal officer. The report must include:
(a) Except with respect to traveler’s checks and money orders, the name and social security number or federal employer identification number, if known, and last known address, if any, of each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the owner of any property of a value of $50 or more presumed abandoned under this chapter.
(b) In the case of unclaimed funds of $50 or more held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, the full name, social security number, or federal employer identification number, if known, and last known address of the insured or annuitant and of the beneficiary according to records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds.
(c) In the case of the contents of a safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository or in the case of other tangible property, a description of the property and the place where it 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 of a private nature and which have little or no apparent value shall not be presumed abandoned.
(d) The nature and identifying number, if any, or description of the property and the amount appearing from the records to be due, but items of value under $50 each may be reported in the aggregate.
(f) Any person or business entity holding funds presumed abandoned of a total of $10 or less may file a negative or nothing-owed report for that reporting period. The balance brought forward to the new reporting period is zero.
(g) Other information which the department prescribes by rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter.
(h) Credit balances, customer overpayments, security deposits, and refunds having a value of less than $10 shall not be presumed abandoned.
(3) If the person holding property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property is a successor to other persons who previously held the property for the apparent owner or the holder has changed his or her name while holding the property, he or she shall file with his or her report all known names and addresses of each previous holder of the property.
(4) The report must be filed before May 1 of each year. Such report shall apply to the preceding calendar year. If such report is not filed on or before the applicable filing date, the holder shall pay to the department a penalty of $10 per day for each day the report is delinquent, but such penalty shall not exceed $500. As necessary for proper administration of this chapter, the department may waive any penalty due with appropriate justification. On written request by any person required to file a report, the department may postpone the reporting date.
(5) Not more than 120 days prior to filing the report required by this section, the holder in possession of property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall send written notice to the apparent owner at his or her last known address informing him or her that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter if:
(6) Any holder of intangible property may file with the department a petition for determination that the property is abandoned requesting the department to accept custody of the property. The petition shall state any special circumstances that exist, contain the information required by subsection (2), and show that a diligent search has been made to locate the 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.
(7) On written request by any entity required to file a report, stating their justification for such action, the department may place that entity in an inactive status as an abandoned property “holder.”
(8) This section shall not apply to the unclaimed patronage refunds as provided for by contract or through bylaw provisions of entities organized under chapter 425.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.117
(1) It is specifically recognized that the state has an obligation to make an effort to notify owners of abandoned property in a cost-effective manner. In order to provide all the citizens of this state an effective and efficient program for the recovery of abandoned property, the department shall use cost-effective means to make a single attempt to notify owners of the existence of abandoned property held by the department. The means of notification may include post, print, visual, telecommunications, or electronic media. Publication of the names of owners on the Internet is not an attempt to notify owners under this subsection. The department shall implement such notification within 13 months following the receipt of the report required by s. 717.117.
(a) Notifications that are published or televised shall consist of the names of apparent owners of abandoned property, listed in alphabetical order, and information regarding recovery of abandoned property from the department. Such notification shall be televised or published in the county in which the last known address of the apparent owner is located or, if the address is unknown, in the county in which the holder has its principal place of business. Published notifications must be in accordance with s. 50.011.
(b) Notification provided directly to individual apparent owners shall consist of a description of the property and information regarding recovery of abandoned property from the department.
(3) The department shall publish in the notice any items of more than $100.
(4) This section is not applicable to sums payable on traveler’s checks, money orders, and other written instruments presumed abandoned under s. 717.104.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.118
(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) If the owner establishes the right to receive the abandoned property to the satisfaction of the holder before the property has been delivered or it appears that for some other reason the presumption of abandonment is erroneous, the holder need not pay or deliver the property to the department, which will no longer be presumed abandoned, but in lieu thereof shall file a verified written explanation of the proof of claim or of the error in the presumption of abandonment.
(3) All stock or other intangible ownership interest reported under this chapter on the annual report filing required in s. 717.117 shall be sold and the proceeds remitted to the department with the report. Reasonable fees within the industry’s standards may be deducted from the proceeds for the costs of selling the stock or other intangible ownership interest. Upon delivery of the net proceeds 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 sale and delivery to the department of the net proceeds.
(4) 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. If such property is not filed on or before the applicable filing date, the holder shall pay to the department a penalty of $10 for each safe-deposit box received late, but such penalty shall not exceed $1,000. As necessary for proper administration of this chapter, the department may waive any penalty due with appropriate justification. On written request by any person required to deliver safe-deposit box contents, the department may postpone the delivery.
(5) 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, and the department may grant such an extension in writing.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.119
(1) Upon the payment or delivery of property to the department, the state assumes custody and responsibility for the safekeeping of property. Any person who pays or delivers 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 in respect to the property.
(2) Any holder who has paid money to the department pursuant to this chapter may make payment to any person appearing to the holder to be entitled to payment and, upon filing proof of payment and proof that the payee was entitled thereto, the department shall forthwith reimburse the holder for the payment without deduction of any fee or other charges. If reimbursement is sought for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler’s check or money order, the holder must be reimbursed
under this subsection upon filing proof that the instrument was duly presented and that payment was made to a person who appeared to the holder to be entitled to payment. The holder shall be reimbursed for payment made under this subsection even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was barred under s. 717.129(1).
(3) 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 owner has claimed the property from the holder.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(b) The person delivering the property was not a fiduciary then in breach of trust in respect to the property and had a reasonable basis for believing, based on the facts then known to that person, that the property was abandoned for the purposes of this chapter.
(7) 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1201
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.121
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the department after the receipt of abandoned property shall sell it to the highest bidder at public sale in whatever city in the state affords in the judgment of the department the most favorable market for the property involved. 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. Any sale 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.
(2) 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.
(3) Unless the department deems it to be in the public interest to do otherwise, all securities presumed abandoned and 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, less any amounts deducted pursuant to s. 717.123, 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.122
(1) All funds received under this chapter, including the proceeds from the sale of abandoned property under s. 717.122, shall forthwith be deposited by the department in the State School Fund, except that the department shall retain in a separate account an amount not exceeding $3 million from which it shall make prompt payment of claims allowed by it. Costs incurred by the department for administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be reimbursed from 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.123
(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.
(a) If a claimant assigns his or her rights to receive payment to an attorney or private investigative agency which is duly licensed to do business in this state pursuant to a written agreement with such claimant, the department is authorized to make distribution of property or money in accordance with such assignment.
(b) Payments made to an attorney or private investigative agency shall be promptly deposited into a trust or escrow account which is regularly maintained by the attorney or the private investigative agency in a financial institution authorized to accept such deposits and located in this state.
(c) Distribution by the attorney or private investigative agency to the claimant shall be made within 10 days following final credit of the deposit into the trust or escrow account at the financial institution, unless a party to the agreement protests in writing such distribution before it is made.
(d) The department shall not be civilly or criminally liable for any property or funds distributed pursuant to this subsection, provided such distribution is made in good faith.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.124
(1) When ownership has been established but conflicting claims have been filed, the department shall remit the property as follows:
(a) If both the owner and the owner’s representative file claims for the same property:
1. To the owner, if the owner has appointed the owner’s representative as the owner’s attorney in fact but has not irrevocably assigned the unclaimed property in whole or in part to the owner’s representative; or
2. To the owner’s representative pursuant to s. 717.124 if the owner has irrevocably assigned the unclaimed property in whole or in part to the owner’s representative.
(b) To the owner’s representative who first executed a contract with the owner more than 12 months after the property has been reported to the department, unless paragraph (a) applies;
(c) To the owner’s representative who first executed a contract with the owner within 12 months after the property has been reported to the department, unless paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) applies.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1241
Restatement of jurisdiction of the circuit court sitting in probate and the
(2) Should any estate or heir of an estate seek to obtain or obtain 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 may 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1242
Transfer of unclaimed property by operation of law.
When a claim for unclaimed property is made by an heir of an owner who died intestate, it shall not be necessary to accompany the claim with an order of a probate court if the claimant files with the department an affidavit stating that the heirs have amicably agreed among themselves upon a division of the estate, that the assets of the estate of the owner, excluding the unclaimed property, are sufficient to pay all just claims, and that no probate proceedings have been instituted upon the estate. If the owner dies testate but the will is not probated, the claim shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the will and an affidavit stating that the assets of the estate of the owner, excluding the unclaimed property, are sufficient to pay all just claims and that no probate proceedings have been instituted upon the estate. This section only applies if all of the unclaimed property held by the department on behalf of the owner has an aggregate value of $1,000 or less.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.1243
(1) At any time after property has been paid or delivered to the department under this chapter, another state may recover the property if:
(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 abandoned 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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.125
Administrative hearing; burden of proof.
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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.126
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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.127
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.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.128
(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) No action or proceeding may be commenced by the department with respect to any duty of a holder under this chapter more than 10 years after the duty arose.
Title XL, Chap. 717, §717.129
(3) If any person shall refuse to testify, produce books, records, and documents, or otherwise refuse to obey a subpoena issued under this section, the department may present its petition to a court of competent jurisdiction in or for the county in which such person resides or has its principal place of business, whereupon the court shall issue its rule nisi requiring such person to obey forthwith the subpoena issued by the department or show cause for failing to obey said subpoena. Unless said person shows sufficient cause for failing to obey the subpoena, the court shall forthwith direct such person to obey the same subject to such punishment as the court may direct including, but not limited to, the restraint, by injunction or by appointment of a receiver, of any transfer, pledge, assignment, or other disposition of such person’s assets or any concealment, alteration, destruction, or other disposition of subpoena.