The Court Funds Office is also responsible for money held on behalf of clients who are deemed mentally incapacitated.
Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a Deputy (usually a relative) is appointed to look after their financial affairs and draw money from the CFO as and when necessary to ensure the continued care of the Protected Party.
Children who have been involved in an accident or obtained an award through civil litigation also have money held by the CFO.
The CFO hold on to the funds until the child reaches 18 years of age, when they can apply to have the money and investments paid to them.
Money can be left through a case collapsing, companies going into liquidation during trial; the result of house repossessions (the bank makes more than the debt from the sale but can't trace the original owner) and by the parties failing to progress or complete the action.