Florida Statute 717.1400
“Registration”
ch. 2026-174 (effective June 26, 2026). Section 89 replaced three profession-by-profession registration lists with one application list, added no-violation and no-conviction statements and a notarized signature, and added subsection (7): active registration requires at least 10 paid claims a year.
What it means
Section 717.1400 sets who may file abandoned property claims for others in Florida. To file claims as a claimant representative, receive fees on approved claims, and obtain abandoned property dollar amounts and share counts from the department, an individual must be a Florida-licensed private investigator with a Class “C” license under chapter 493, a Florida-certified public accountant, or a Florida-licensed attorney, and must register with the department.
The application requires photo identification, license information, the firm's business details, any designated agents, a statement of no violation of the abandoned property act in the prior 5 years, a statement of no felony or dishonesty conviction, payment details, and a notarized signature. Changes, including a license surrender, suspension, or revocation, must be reported in writing within 30 days.
A firm name may not suggest affiliation with the United States or a state; names with words such as United States, Florida, state, bureau, division, department, or government are examples. To stay active, a representative must file and obtain payment on at least 10 claims per calendar year, with 30 days to cure before revocation.
- Only a Class “C” private investigator, a Florida-certified CPA, or a Florida-licensed attorney may register. (§ 717.1400(1)(a))
- The applicant must submit identification, license information, agents' names, no-violation and no-conviction statements, and a notarized signature. (§ 717.1400(2))
- A material change, including license surrender, suspension, or revocation, must be reported within 30 days. (§ 717.1400(4))
- A firm name suggesting affiliation with the United States or a state, such as using “state” or “department,” is grounds for denial or revocation. (§ 717.1400(5))
- Active registration requires filing and obtaining payment on at least 10 claims per calendar year. (§ 717.1400(7))
- A registration revoked for missing the 10-claim requirement bars reapplying for 1 year. (§ 717.1400(7)(c))
Text of the statute (2026)
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 717.1400.
History. s. 141, ch. 2004-390; s. 133, ch. 2005-2; s. 25, ch. 2005-163; s. 11, ch. 2016-90; s. 44, ch. 2016-165; s. 58, ch. 2024-140; s. 89, ch. 2026-174.
How it applies
Section 717.1400 is the registration rule behind the claimant representatives who contact people about abandoned property. Under s. 717.1400(6), the licensing and other requirements must be maintained as a condition of registration. Subsection (1) limits registration to Class “C” private investigators, Florida-certified public accountants, and Florida-licensed attorneys, and subsection (7) requires at least 10 paid claims per calendar year to keep registration active. Section 717.1322(1)(j) treats compensation without registration as a violation, with listed exceptions.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 717.1400 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Florida Statutes s. 717.1400 (2026), Florida Senate (“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.”)
- Florida Statutes s. 717.1322 (2026), Florida Senate (Compensation without registration as a claimant representative is a violation (s. 717.1322(1)(j)).)
- Chapter 2026-174, Laws of Florida (s. 89), enrolled act (Section 89 amends s. 717.1400, replacing separate registration lists with one application list and adding subsection (7); the act took effect on becoming law (section 98; approved June 26, 2026).)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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