FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO ARE WE?
Asset Search Professionals is approved as a Claims Representative by the State of Florida. As a Claims Representative, we are authorized by the the state to contact individuals and companies to claim lost assets and collect their money in a legal and confidential way. We underwent an extensive background investigation and security clearance to be certified by the state.
ARE YOU A LEGITIMATE COMPANY?
Asset Search Professionals is a division of Florida Investigative Network, Inc., a private investigative agency licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services since 2004. Asset Search Professionals has PI agency license #A1300068. Both companies can be verified by going to www.sunbiz.org and licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us. Asset Search Professionals is organized as a DBA owned by Florida Investigative Network so people would not be confused when we contact them. We are also members of the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators.
The president of Asset Search Professionals is Mark McCarthy, a licensed private investigator in the State of Florida since 2004 and a licensed insurance adjuster for more than 20 years. In these roles, he has undergone security investigations by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, and numerous state bureaus of investigation. He has located thousands of individuals for insurance companies, law firms, and various businesses. Mark has been a member of the Broward County Consumer Protection Board since 2002. He is an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and has served on numerous other boards.
The director of Asset Search Professionals is Cara Pavalock, an attorney licensed in Florida and Connecticut. She reviews all forms, letters, and company policies for adherence with Florida law. She and Mark have been treasurers of several organizations as well.
This video of Mark McCarthy and Cara Pavalock explains more about their professional qualifications.
ARE THERE ANY UP-FRONT FEES?
There are absolutely no up-front fees! We work on a contingency fee basis, and are compensated directly by the State of Florida only AFTER we have successfully recovered your money. There are no out-of-pocket fees, and you will never be charged a processing fee or pay us anything directly!
WHERE IS THIS MONEY FROM?
Under Florida law, corporations must perform annual financial audits of their accounts. The corporation must legally return any and all monies owed to individuals and business customers. These unpaid monies are commonly unpaid wages, non-refunded deposits, unclaimed rebates, lost stocks, or forgotten bank accounts. Corporations are legally required to locate the owners at their last known addresses. If they cannot do so, Florida law requires them to deposit the funds into an escrow account. We are authorized by the state to contact you and process your claim -- you have a 97.5% chance of receiving money if we contacted you!
HOW DID YOU LOCATE ME?
We locate people for a living. Our staff has many years of experience in private investigations and insurance adjusting. In your case, we simply matched a last known address and a current address.
We have the required security clearances and access to databases not available to the general public. We follow a strict privacy policy to make sure that your personal information is confidential and secure.
HOW CAN I PROVE THIS MONEY BELONGS TO ME?
Florida law dictates the claims process and requires every claimant to prove his or her identity. On your claim form, you will see what exactly is required. Depending on circumstances, it may be a photocopy of driver's license, a certified death certificate, or a notarized affidavit.
We always get asked: If you do not have a driver's license or a state-issued I.D. (or prefer not to send a photocopy), a special affidavit form must be submitted and notarized. If it was not mailed to you, the form can be downloaded here. We have a Notary Public on staff if you live or work near our Pompano Beach office. Also, your bank or any local automobile insurance agent should have a Notary Public on staff.
You do not have to provide your Social Security number, although the state prefers that you do so because it is unique to each individual.
We know exactly what the State of Florida requires to process your claim. After we review your documentation, we ensure that the forms are complete and accurate. If additional information or documents are required, we'll contact you immediately.
Special circumstances such as death or a change of name are discussed below.
HOW CAN I GET STARTED?
If you are the person who lived at the address in bold type on the letter we sent you—congratulations! You have taken the first step towards being reunited with money that belongs to you.
Attached to the letter you received is a form that the State of Florida requires you to complete, which will only take a few minutes. Please do so and mail it to us as soon as practical.
The State of Florida will not accept a fax or a scan of these documents. An original signature of the owner is required, so they must be mailed to use before we can process your claim with the state.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY CHECK?
You should receive a check from the State of Florida in 30-90 days after we receive the completed form.
I NEED A FORM . . .
Mail us at:
Asset Search Professionals
43 Pompano Parkway, #215
Pompano Beach, Florida 33069
Or phone us at:
954.240.5599
866.930.8989
Or email us at:
[email protected]
We will mail or scan you the necessary form.
We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment.
WHAT IF MY NAME CHANGED (MARRIAGE, DIVORCE)?
If your name has been changed through marriage, divorce or for any other reason, you will need to include a copy of the legal documentation changing your name (such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE PROOF OF ADDRESS?
If we located you at your current address, we ran several databases to link it with your former address (on file with the state). We'll send the necessary paperwork to the state, so you will not need to locate a utility bill or other document from your old address.
WHAT IF THE OWNER OF THE FUNDS IS DECEASED?
If the owner is deceased, simply fill out an Estate Affidavit. This explains how you are related to the deceased and will allow the claim to be successfully processed.
WHAT IF MY COMPANY WAS DISSOLVED?
If the company is still active, just provide us with a signature of an officer.
If the company is inactive or dissolved, provide us with a signature and ID of one of the officers of the former business (most likely you). In such instances, the check will be issued to the individual providing the signature and ID, not to the name of the inactive company.
Watch the video on the "About Us" page for more information, or call us at 866.930.8989 and we'll be glad to answer all your questions!
Asset Search Professionals is approved as a Claims Representative by the State of Florida. As a Claims Representative, we are authorized by the the state to contact individuals and companies to claim lost assets and collect their money in a legal and confidential way. We underwent an extensive background investigation and security clearance to be certified by the state.
ARE YOU A LEGITIMATE COMPANY?
Asset Search Professionals is a division of Florida Investigative Network, Inc., a private investigative agency licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services since 2004. Asset Search Professionals has PI agency license #A1300068. Both companies can be verified by going to www.sunbiz.org and licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us. Asset Search Professionals is organized as a DBA owned by Florida Investigative Network so people would not be confused when we contact them. We are also members of the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators.
The president of Asset Search Professionals is Mark McCarthy, a licensed private investigator in the State of Florida since 2004 and a licensed insurance adjuster for more than 20 years. In these roles, he has undergone security investigations by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, and numerous state bureaus of investigation. He has located thousands of individuals for insurance companies, law firms, and various businesses. Mark has been a member of the Broward County Consumer Protection Board since 2002. He is an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and has served on numerous other boards.
The director of Asset Search Professionals is Cara Pavalock, an attorney licensed in Florida and Connecticut. She reviews all forms, letters, and company policies for adherence with Florida law. She and Mark have been treasurers of several organizations as well.
This video of Mark McCarthy and Cara Pavalock explains more about their professional qualifications.
ARE THERE ANY UP-FRONT FEES?
There are absolutely no up-front fees! We work on a contingency fee basis, and are compensated directly by the State of Florida only AFTER we have successfully recovered your money. There are no out-of-pocket fees, and you will never be charged a processing fee or pay us anything directly!
WHERE IS THIS MONEY FROM?
Under Florida law, corporations must perform annual financial audits of their accounts. The corporation must legally return any and all monies owed to individuals and business customers. These unpaid monies are commonly unpaid wages, non-refunded deposits, unclaimed rebates, lost stocks, or forgotten bank accounts. Corporations are legally required to locate the owners at their last known addresses. If they cannot do so, Florida law requires them to deposit the funds into an escrow account. We are authorized by the state to contact you and process your claim -- you have a 97.5% chance of receiving money if we contacted you!
HOW DID YOU LOCATE ME?
We locate people for a living. Our staff has many years of experience in private investigations and insurance adjusting. In your case, we simply matched a last known address and a current address.
We have the required security clearances and access to databases not available to the general public. We follow a strict privacy policy to make sure that your personal information is confidential and secure.
HOW CAN I PROVE THIS MONEY BELONGS TO ME?
Florida law dictates the claims process and requires every claimant to prove his or her identity. On your claim form, you will see what exactly is required. Depending on circumstances, it may be a photocopy of driver's license, a certified death certificate, or a notarized affidavit.
We always get asked: If you do not have a driver's license or a state-issued I.D. (or prefer not to send a photocopy), a special affidavit form must be submitted and notarized. If it was not mailed to you, the form can be downloaded here. We have a Notary Public on staff if you live or work near our Pompano Beach office. Also, your bank or any local automobile insurance agent should have a Notary Public on staff.
You do not have to provide your Social Security number, although the state prefers that you do so because it is unique to each individual.
We know exactly what the State of Florida requires to process your claim. After we review your documentation, we ensure that the forms are complete and accurate. If additional information or documents are required, we'll contact you immediately.
Special circumstances such as death or a change of name are discussed below.
HOW CAN I GET STARTED?
If you are the person who lived at the address in bold type on the letter we sent you—congratulations! You have taken the first step towards being reunited with money that belongs to you.
Attached to the letter you received is a form that the State of Florida requires you to complete, which will only take a few minutes. Please do so and mail it to us as soon as practical.
The State of Florida will not accept a fax or a scan of these documents. An original signature of the owner is required, so they must be mailed to use before we can process your claim with the state.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY CHECK?
You should receive a check from the State of Florida in 30-90 days after we receive the completed form.
I NEED A FORM . . .
Mail us at:
Asset Search Professionals
43 Pompano Parkway, #215
Pompano Beach, Florida 33069
Or phone us at:
954.240.5599
866.930.8989
Or email us at:
[email protected]
We will mail or scan you the necessary form.
We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment.
WHAT IF MY NAME CHANGED (MARRIAGE, DIVORCE)?
If your name has been changed through marriage, divorce or for any other reason, you will need to include a copy of the legal documentation changing your name (such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE PROOF OF ADDRESS?
If we located you at your current address, we ran several databases to link it with your former address (on file with the state). We'll send the necessary paperwork to the state, so you will not need to locate a utility bill or other document from your old address.
WHAT IF THE OWNER OF THE FUNDS IS DECEASED?
If the owner is deceased, simply fill out an Estate Affidavit. This explains how you are related to the deceased and will allow the claim to be successfully processed.
WHAT IF MY COMPANY WAS DISSOLVED?
If the company is still active, just provide us with a signature of an officer.
If the company is inactive or dissolved, provide us with a signature and ID of one of the officers of the former business (most likely you). In such instances, the check will be issued to the individual providing the signature and ID, not to the name of the inactive company.
Watch the video on the "About Us" page for more information, or call us at 866.930.8989 and we'll be glad to answer all your questions!