If cash bail funds haven’t been refunded or claimed after 3 years, or if the court has not issued a refund order within 3 years, they are reported as abandoned to the New York State Comptroller's Office of Unclaimed Funds.
The Department of Finance posts a list of abandoned bail regularly online at nyc.gov/finance.
Get the most recent list of abandoned bail.
Abandoned bail must be claimed before the end of March in the year it appears on the abandoned bail list, otherwise it is turned over to the State Comptroller.
Claiming Abandoned Bail
If your name was on the abandoned bail list, you must claim your refund before the end of March by mail or in person.
By Mail
Your request must include the following:
You must include a copy of a valid government-issued picture ID, such as:
If you do not have a valid government issued ID, send copies of two forms of ID that can verify your identity. At least one ID must have a photo and signature. Examples include:
Mail your request to:
NYC Department of Finance
Treasury/Court Assets Unit
66 John Street, 12 Floor
New York, NY 10038
In Person
You can claim your refund in person at the Manhattan Business Center.
You must bring a valid government-issued picture ID, such as:
If you do not have a valid government issued ID, bring two forms of ID that can verify your identity. At least one ID must have a photo and signature. Examples include:
The Treasury/Courts Assets Unit is located at the Manhattan Business Center at 66 John Street, 2nd Floor - Window 5. It is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. You can schedule an appointment to ensure social distancing at the center. Schedule an appointment.
If you would like receive your cash bail refund check in person, you must call the Court Assets Unit and arrange a pickup.
After arranging a pickup, you can get your check at the Manhattan Business Center. The center is located at 66 John Street, 2nd Floor. It is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
The person who paid the bail (the surety) can assign a cash bail refund to an attorney or another person (the assignee). When cash bail is assigned to another person, the original surety waives all rights to the cash bail refund. The assignee becomes the new surety of record and will receive the refund instead.
Once cash bail has been assigned to another person, it cannot be reversed.
To transfer the cash bail refund to another person, you must submit the following documents to the NYC Department of Finance Court Assets Unit:
Mail these documents to:
NYC Department of Finance
Treasury Division, Court Assets Unit
66 John Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Request the Cash Bail Assignment Application
You can request the Cash Bail Assignment Application online or by phone. You can also download the Application online.
Online
Get more information and download forms.
By Phone
All cash bail refunds are mailed to the surety’s address listed on the original cash bail receipt.
If you are the surety and your address has changed, you must submit the following documents to the NYC Department of Finance Court Assets Unit:
Mail these documents to:
NYC Department of Finance
Treasury Division, Court Assets Unit
66 John Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Request the Change of Address Notice
You can request the Change of Address Notice online or by phone. You can also download the Notice online.
Online
Get more information and download forms.
By Phone
A court may order Finance to keep cash bail for a particular case.
If you receive a letter notifying you that your cash bail has been forfeited by the court, then you must contact the court that ordered the forfeiture or the District Attorney’s Office within 45 days of the date of the letter to find out the reason for the forfeiture.
Only a judge can issue or reverse a forfeit order.
Get more information and download forms.
If you need further assistance or need copies of forms you can contact the Department of Finance:
Online
In Person
Treasury/Court Asset Unit
66 John Street, 2nd Floor
Hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM
By Phone
