Find and claim money in an unclaimed court money 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 courts in Northern Ireland.

What an unclaimed court money account is

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:

You cannot claim money from an account that has been unclaimed for 30 years or more.

Check if there’s money you could be entitled to

Search online for unclaimed court money accounts.

Each account has a ‘last claim date’. You must make a claim before the last claim date to get the money.

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 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 money 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:

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 12 months or less before the last claim date

You must tell the Court Funds Office as soon as you make your claim to the court.

You can see the last claim date for an account when you search online for unclaimed court money accounts.

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.

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