How to Claim Unclaimed Property: A Complete Guide to Finding Your Missing Money

There's a good chance you have money sitting in a government vault right now — and you don't even know it exists.

State treasuries across the country are holding billions of dollars in unclaimed property. We're talking about forgotten bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, abandoned safe deposit boxes, old insurance policies, and dormant investment accounts. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators estimates that one in ten Americans has unclaimed funds waiting for them.

The good news? Searching for this money costs nothing, and the process of getting it back is more straightforward than most people realize. This guide walks you through exactly how to find unclaimed money for free and claim what's rightfully yours.

What Counts as Unclaimed Property?

Before diving into the search process, it helps to understand what actually ends up in state unclaimed property databases. When businesses or financial institutions lose contact with account holders for an extended period (typically three to five years depending on the state), they're legally required to turn those assets over to the state through a process called escheatment.

Common types of unclaimed property include:

• Dormant checking and savings accounts
• Uncashed dividend checks or payroll checks
• Forgotten utility deposits
• Matured certificates of deposit
• Life insurance proceeds
• Stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares
• Contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes
• Court settlements and class action payments
• Unredeemed gift cards (in some states)
• Mineral royalty payments

The amounts can range from a few dollars to tens of thousands. Every state has different rules about dormancy periods and what types of property get reported, but the underlying principle remains consistent: if a company can't reach you, your assets eventually transfer to state custody.

How to Search for Unclaimed Money for Free

You have two main options for conducting a free unclaimed property search: individual state databases and the national MissingMoney.com portal.

Option 1: Use MissingMoney.com for Multi-State Searches

MissingMoney.com is the official database operated by NAUPA (National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators). Most states participate in this system, which means you can search multiple state databases simultaneously from a single interface.

This approach works well if you've lived in several states or want to cast a wide net quickly. Simply enter your name and run the search — the system will pull results from all participating states at once.

However, there's a catch. Not every state feeds complete data into MissingMoney.com, and some states don't participate at all. For the most thorough search, you'll want to check individual state databases directly, especially for states where you've lived, worked, or done business.

Option 2: Search Individual State Treasury Databases

Each state maintains its own unclaimed property division, usually housed within the State Treasury or State Controller's office. These databases often contain records that haven't been uploaded to the national portal yet, or provide more detailed information about specific claims.

If you're searching for unclaimed money in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, West Virginia, or any other state, going directly to that state's treasury website ensures you're seeing the most current and complete data available.

For example, someone running an Arizona State Treasury unclaimed money search through the official state portal might find records that don't appear on MissingMoney.com due to timing differences in data uploads.

The same applies to anyone looking for unclaimed funds in Kentucky or trying to run a free search in Colorado — the state-specific databases are always your most reliable source.

Step-by-Step: How to Claim Unclaimed Property

Once you've located property in your name, the claim process follows a fairly consistent pattern across states. Here's what to expect:

Step 1: Generate Your Claim Form

After finding matching records in the database, you'll typically have the option to initiate a claim directly through the website. Select all items that belong to you and generate a claim form. Some states allow electronic submission for smaller claims, while others require paper forms for all claims or for amounts above a certain threshold.

Step 2: Gather Your Documentation

This is where most claims get delayed. States require proof that you're actually entitled to the property, which typically means providing:

• Proof of identity — A copy of your driver's license, state ID, or passport. Some states require two forms of ID.
• Proof of address — Utility bills, bank statements, or official correspondence showing your current address. Many states also want proof that you lived at the address associated with the unclaimed property at the relevant time.
• Proof of ownership — This is the tricky part. Depending on the property type, you might need old account statements, correspondence from the company, or documentation showing your relationship to the original account. For inherited property, you'll need death certificates and proof of your status as heir or executor.

The more documentation you can provide upfront, the faster your claim will process. Missing paperwork is the number one reason claims get held up.

Step 3: Notarization Requirements

Here's something that catches many people off guard: most states require notarized claim forms, especially for claims above a certain dollar amount (often $100 or $1,000, depending on the state).

Getting documents notarized isn't difficult, but it does require planning. Many banks offer free notary services for customers. UPS stores, shipping centers, and some pharmacies also provide notary services for a small fee. Some states now accept electronic notarization, which can be done remotely through approved platforms.

Step 4: Submit and Wait

After gathering everything, submit your completed claim package according to the state's instructions. Processing times vary significantly — some states turn claims around in a few weeks, while others can take several months, particularly for complex claims or high-value property.

You should receive confirmation that your claim was received. If you don't hear anything after the expected processing window, follow up directly with the state's unclaimed property division.

Avoiding Escheatment in the First Place

While claiming forgotten money feels like a windfall, the ideal scenario is never losing track of your assets to begin with. Property doesn't become unclaimed overnight — companies are required to make reasonable efforts to contact you before reporting assets to the state.

A few simple habits can prevent escheatment:

• Keep your contact information current. Whenever you move, update your address with every financial institution, former employer, and insurance company. This single step prevents most escheatment situations.
• Consolidate your accounts. The more accounts you have scattered across different institutions, the easier it is to forget one. Periodically review and consolidate old accounts.
• Respond to correspondence. Those letters that look like junk mail from financial institutions you barely remember? Open them. They might be required pre-escheatment notices giving you one last chance to claim your property.
• Log into dormant accounts. Most states reset the dormancy clock when you access an account. Even if you don't plan to use a savings account or investment account, logging in once a year keeps it from being reported as abandoned.
• Keep records of all accounts. Maintain a master list of every financial account, insurance policy, and investment you own. This makes it easier to track everything and ensures your heirs can locate your assets if something happens to you.

Should You Pay Someone to Find Your Unclaimed Property?

You'll encounter companies offering to locate and recover unclaimed property for a fee — typically a percentage of whatever they find. In most cases, these services are unnecessary.

The search process genuinely takes just a few minutes using official free databases. The claim process requires some paperwork but isn't complicated. Unless you're dealing with an extremely complex estate situation or have severe time constraints, there's rarely a good reason to pay someone for something you can easily do yourself.

That said, these locator services aren't scams in the traditional sense. They use public records (often obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests) to identify people with unclaimed property and then reach out with offers to help recover it. The service is real; it's just not necessary for most people.

One exception: if you receive a letter informing you about unclaimed property you didn't know existed, that's actually useful information. You can thank them for the tip and then file the claim yourself for free.

What If You're Claiming for a Deceased Relative?

Claiming inherited unclaimed property adds additional steps to the process. You'll need to prove not only that the original owner is deceased but also that you have legal authority to claim on their behalf.

Required documentation typically includes:

• Death certificate of the original property owner
• Proof of your relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)
• Letters testamentary or letters of administration if the estate went through probate
• Small estate affidavit for estates that didn't require probate
• Valid ID for yourself

If multiple heirs exist, all may need to sign the claim form, or one heir may need to provide documentation showing authority to act on behalf of the estate.

Processing times for heir claims tend to run longer than standard claims because of the additional verification required.

Final Thoughts

Running a free unclaimed property search takes less time than reading this article. Whether you're checking databases for Wisconsin, Kentucky, Arizona, or any other state, the process is the same: search the official database, identify any matches, gather your documentation, and submit your claim.

The money is already yours — it's just waiting for you to come get it.

Start with MissingMoney.com for a broad search, then check individual state databases for anywhere you've lived, worked, or conducted business. Check under maiden names, former names, and common misspellings. And don't forget to search for deceased relatives whose assets you might be entitled to inherit.

Billions of dollars sit unclaimed in state treasuries right now. Some of it probably belongs to you.