Find and claim money in an unclaimed court account
You can find and claim money you’re entitled to from a civil court in England and Wales if it has not been claimed. This is also known as ‘Unclaimed Court Money’.
This could be money paid to or awarded by a court (for example to settle a court case) to you or to someone whose estate you’re entitled to claim.
The rules are different for unclaimed money held by courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What’s an unclaimed court account
Money paid to a civil court in England and Wales is held in a Court Funds Office account. An account is classed as unclaimed if either:
- there’s been no activity on the account for over 10 years and it’s not been possible to contact anyone entitled to the money
- money was deposited in the account because it was not possible to contact anyone entitled to it
Money will also be held in an unclaimed account if all the following apply:
- it was awarded by a court for you to claim when you turned 18
- the Court Funds Office contacted you about it
- you did not claim it before your 19th birthday
When to claim
From 1 June 2024, you will not be able to claim money from any Court Funds Office account that has been unclaimed for 30 years or more. You must claim money from an account before its ‘last claim date’.
If you want to claim money from an account with a last claim date before or on 1 June 2024, you need to make your claim by 31 May 2024.
Check if there’s money you could be entitled to
Search online for unclaimed court accounts.
To find money from company shares which were unclaimed after a company takeover (also known as a ‘dissenting shareholder entitlement’), search under the names of either the:
- shareholder
- companies involved
If you need help or cannot find the account you’re looking for, contact the Court Funds Office by email or phone.
Court Funds Office
enquiries@cfo.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 0200 199
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
If you get a call from a someone offering to claim money on your behalf for a fee, it will not be from the Court Funds Office because they do not charge a fee.
Get information to prepare your claim
Write to the Court Funds Office to find out:
- the amount of money in the account
- the court that the money was originally paid to
To help them identify the account, include the information you already know, for example:
- a print-out of results from your online search of unclaimed court accounts
- the account name or number
- the name of the court case the money was from
- the court that dealt with the case
- who the money was paid to court for
- who paid the money to court
- any relevant dates - such as when the court case was held
Evidence
When you ask for the information, you’ll need to include both of the following:
- evidence that the money could belong to you or someone you’re responsible for or representing, such as copies of a will or grant of administration, birth, death or marriage certificates, census records or a court order (ask the court that issued it for a copy)
- evidence of your identity, for example copy of your driving licence or passport
Send your query and evidence to the Court Funds Office.
Court Funds Office
enquiries@cfo.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 0200 199
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Court Funds Office
Sunderland
SR43 3AB
Find out how your personal information will be stored and used.
Make a claim
Use the information to make your claim to the court that the money was originally paid to. Contact the court to find out how.
Each court has its own processes, but typically you’ll need to:
- provide evidence that you’re entitled to the money - or you’re representing the person who is
- pay a fee
If the court does not have the original paperwork
The court may not be prepared to consider your claim if it no longer has the paperwork from the case.
Make your claim to the Senior Master (a judge from the King’s Bench Division of the High Court) instead. You’ll need to:
- fill in a witness statement to support your claim
- contact the King’s Bench Division
King’s Bench Division
Telephone: 020 3936 8957
Find out about call charges
King's Bench Division
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
If you’re claiming within 12 months of the last claim date
You can check the last date to submit a claim when you search online for unclaimed court accounts.
If you’re claiming up to 12 months before this date, you must also tell the Court Funds Office as soon as you make your claim to the court.
Contact the Court Funds Office with the:
- title of the account
- court case number
- account number
- date you submitted your claim to the court
Court Funds Office
ucm-claiminprogress@cfo.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 0200 199
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
After you claim
The court will decide if you’re entitled to the money and order the Court Funds Office to make a payment to you if your claim is successful.