How to Find Unclaimed Property in Your Name
Billions of dollars in unclaimed property sit in state treasuries across the United States, waiting for their rightful owners to claim them. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, security deposits, and more. The good news is that searching for unclaimed property is free, straightforward, and could put money back in your pocket.
What Is Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property refers to financial assets that have been inactive or dormant for a period defined by state law, typically three to five years. When the holding institution — a bank, employer, insurance company, or utility — cannot reach the owner, the asset is turned over to the state through a process called escheatment.
Common Types of Unclaimed Property
- Bank accounts: savings and checking accounts with no activity for an extended period
- Uncashed checks: payroll checks, tax refund checks, dividend checks, and vendor payments
- Insurance proceeds: unclaimed life insurance benefits, annuity payments, or refunded premiums
- Security deposits: utility deposits, rental deposits, and other refundable payments
- Stocks and dividends: shares of stock and accumulated dividends in forgotten brokerage accounts
- Safe deposit box contents: items held in boxes that were abandoned or went unpaid
- Gift cards and store credits: in some states, unused gift card balances revert to the state after a period
How Property Becomes Unclaimed
Property typically becomes unclaimed because the owner moved without updating their address, forgot about an account, or passed away without heirs knowing about the asset. Institutions are required to make reasonable efforts to contact the owner before turning assets over to the state.
How to Search for Unclaimed Property
Searching is free through official state websites. Never pay a third-party service to search on your behalf — they are searching the same free databases.
National Search Tools
- MissingMoney.com is a multi-state search engine endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). It searches participating states simultaneously
- Unclaimed.org provides direct links to every state's unclaimed property program
State-by-State Searches
Because not all states participate fully in MissingMoney.com, you should also search directly on the individual state websites for every state where you have lived, worked, or done business.
- Search using your current legal name and any previous names (maiden name, former married name, etc.)
- Include previous addresses in your search when the state's tool allows it
- Search for deceased relatives whose assets may be claimable by heirs or estate representatives
Federal Unclaimed Property
Some unclaimed assets are held at the federal level rather than by states.
- U.S. Treasury: search for unclaimed savings bonds at treasurydirect.gov
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: search for unclaimed pension benefits at pbgc.gov
- IRS: unclaimed tax refunds can sometimes be recovered by filing an amended return
- FDIC: search for unclaimed deposits from failed banks at fdic.gov
How to File a Claim
When you find unclaimed property in your name, the claiming process varies by state but follows a general pattern.
Typical Steps
- Identify the property on the state's unclaimed property website and note the claim details
- Complete the claim form provided by the state, either online or by mail
- Provide proof of identity — typically a copy of your driver's license, Social Security card, or passport
- Prove your connection to the property — this may require documentation showing you lived at a previous address, had an account with the holding institution, or are the legal heir
Documentation You May Need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Social Security number verification
- Proof of previous address (old utility bills, tax returns, or bank statements)
- Death certificate and proof of heirship if claiming on behalf of a deceased person
- Court documents such as letters testamentary or estate administration documents
Processing Time
Most claims take several weeks to several months to process, depending on the state and the complexity of the claim. Some states pay simple claims within 30 days, while contested or estate-related claims can take significantly longer.
Tips for Maximizing Your Search
A thorough approach increases your chances of finding property you did not know existed.
- Search every state where you have lived or worked, even if it was decades ago
- Search under all variations of your name, including misspellings, nicknames, and hyphenated versions
- Search for deceased parents, grandparents, and other relatives — you may be entitled to claim their property as an heir
- Set a calendar reminder to search annually, since new property is escheated to states every year
- Check for unclaimed property as part of estate settlement when a family member passes away
Avoiding Unclaimed Property Scams
Scammers sometimes contact people claiming they have found unclaimed property on their behalf and asking for a fee or personal information.
- Legitimate state agencies never charge a fee to return unclaimed property
- Be wary of unsolicited letters or emails from "asset recovery" companies — they may charge 10-35% of your claim as a finder's fee for information you can find yourself for free
- Never provide your Social Security number or bank account information to an unsolicited caller
- Always file claims directly through the state's official website
Unclaimed property searches take just a few minutes and can yield surprising results. Whether you find a forgotten bank account from your college years or an insurance payout you never knew about, the effort is well worth it.