You can look for unclaimed money in your name for free by searching the unclaimed-property office in every state where you have lived. Start with your current and former states, then use the separate government database that fits the money you are missing.
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What counts as unclaimed money?
Unclaimed money is money that a business, bank, insurer, employer, or government agency owes you but you did not collect. USAGov’s unclaimed-money guide says state governments hold most of it.
Common examples include:
- Old bank accounts
- Uncashed checks or unpaid wages
- Insurance payments
- Stocks, dividends, and other investment property
- Utility deposits
- Forgotten gift-card balances
The New York State Comptroller lists old bank accounts, uncashed checks, stock certificates, and unused gift cards among the property its program receives after inactivity.
How do you check if money is in your name?
Use your name to search each relevant state’s unclaimed-property office. Search both your current name and any prior name you used. If you moved, include every state where you lived or did business.
- Go to your state unclaimed-property office.
- Search your name and prior names.
- Review any matching property carefully.
- Start a claim through that state’s site.
- Provide the documents the state asks for to support your claim.
State rules and paperwork differ. Maryland’s program, for example, describes a four-step process: search, file a claim, provide supporting documents, and wait for a decision. Its service is provided at no cost. See the Maryland unclaimed-property program.
Which free search should you use?
| If you are looking for | Start here | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Old accounts, checks, insurance, deposits, or stock property | Your state unclaimed-property office | Search every state where you have lived. |
| Unpaid wages | Department of Labor database | Use the back-pay search listed by USAGov. |
| A former employer pension | PBGC search tool | Search for an unclaimed pension. |
| Tax refund | IRS refund tool | Check the status of a missing refund. |
| Matured savings bond | TreasuryHunt.gov | Search for bonds that stopped earning interest. |
| Bankruptcy funds | U.S. Courts locator | Search for funds connected with a bankruptcy case. |
USAGov’s guide brings together these government routes and explains that there is no single database for every kind of unclaimed money.
Can you search by Social Security number?
Start with a name search on the state’s official site. A state may ask for more identifying information during its own claim process, but the search and claim steps differ by state. Use the state office’s own instructions rather than sending your Social Security number to a paid finder.
How do PA, Kentucky, Florida, and Texas searches work?
Use the unclaimed-property office run by the state you are searching. For Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida, and Texas, search the name-based tool on that state’s official unclaimed-property site and follow its claim instructions. If you also lived elsewhere, repeat the search there.
Florida’s retention rules are set by Florida law and its program procedures. Ask the Florida unclaimed-property office how long it holds the specific property you found before relying on a general answer.
Can you claim money for a deceased relative?
You may be able to file for money owed to a deceased relative if you are the legal heir. USAGov identifies that route. The state holding the property will tell you which estate or heir documents it requires.
Gather the property record, the death certificate, and any documents showing your authority or relationship before starting the claim. The exact documents depend on the state and the estate situation. If you need help understanding estate paperwork or finding local assistance, see free legal aid options and lower-cost legal help.
What happens after you file?
Keep your claim number and copies of what you submit. Processing times vary. North Carolina says claims are handled in the order received and that its current processing time is greater than 90 days; its database is updated daily. See NCCASH.
Washington also asks people to allow at least 90 business days because of a heavy claim volume. Its unclaimed-property program has separate tools to search, upload documents, and check claim status.
Before you submit a claim
- Use the state or federal government route first. State searches are free.
- Search all former names and states where you lived.
- Save the claim number and confirmation page.
- Read the state’s document instructions before uploading personal records.
- If a notice, court paper, or deadline is part of the issue, preserve it and find the applicable rule promptly. See court-paper deadline help.
By LegalHelpOnline.org Editorial Team