How to claim your unclaimed court funds in British Columbia

If you’ve received a letter from BC Unclaimed about possible money from a court case, or if you found your name in our database, this blog is for you.

Court funds are the largest source of unclaimed money in BC. In fact, over 38 million has been transferred to us from the courts in the last three years. That includes our largest single payout to date: 1.98 million from a court case.

Whether your amount is large or small, here’s what you need to know.

What are unclaimed court funds

When money is paid into court as part of a legal proceeding, it can sit untouched for years. If no one takes steps to have it paid out, and five years go by, the funds are transferred to BC Unclaimed.

This is called unclaimed court money.

There are a few common reasons this can happen:

• A foreclosure or debt case is resolved, but someone never claimed their share

• A court holds restitution funds for a victim, but contact is lost

• Someone simply didn’t know the money was available

Once those five years pass, the court transfers the money to us. We then add the names of the people or organizations involved to our database and begin outreach.

Why you might have received a letter

When court funds are transferred, we list everyone named in the file in our database. That way, all parties have a chance to find the money, even if they didn’t know it was there.

We also try to reach people directly by sending letters. These letters go to anyone whose name matches someone in the case.

So if you received a letter but don’t recognize the court case, it could be:

• You were involved but don’t remember or didn’t know

• Someone with the same name as you was involved

The only way to know for sure is to review the case details and follow the claim process.

How to claim court funds

BC Unclaimed does not decide who is entitled to the money. Under the Unclaimed Property Act, only the court can make that decision.

Here’s how the process usually works:

• If the court file already includes a clear order stating who the funds belong to, and that amount matches what was transferred to BC Unclaimed, you can send that order to us to start your claim

• If the file does not include a clear order, you’ll need to apply to the court to request one

• Restitution funds are simpler. If there’s an order naming you as the victim, you can claim it without applying to court. We’ll still ask you to verify your identity and provide some background information

If you're not sure what applies to your case, we recommend reviewing the Claiming court funds section on our website.

Where to get help

BC Unclaimed staff are available to assist with general questions, but we cannot offer legal advice or help fill out court forms.

For guidance on navigating the court process, we suggest:

• Visiting the People’s Law School for a step-by-step guide

• Reviewing the Claiming court funds section on our website, especially the Resources section

• Speaking with a legal advocate or lawyer if you are unsure how to apply to the court

If you still have questions, you can reach out to us:

• Email: info@bcunclaimed.ca

• Phone: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Take the next step

Court funds can be substantial, but even if the amount is small, it belongs to you. We encourage you to review the information carefully and explore your options for making a claim.

You can start by visiting: https://www.bcunclaimed.ca/claim

If the money is yours, we’ll help you take the next step.