Money that belongs to you might be sitting in a state unclaimed property office, just waiting for you to claim it. Unclaimed property offices and state escheators currently hold several billion dollars of "lost money" belonging to millions of people. This web page will tell you how you can find out - for free - whether there is unclaimed property belonging to you, and how to claim that property.

How Property Becomes Lost

Most unclaimed property becomes abandoned as a result of a change of address (the owner moved), a name change (the owner got married or divorced), or death of the owner (the estate was unaware of the money or the heirs could not be located). Sometimes the owner knows about the asset, but is unaware that it has been declared abandoned and turned over to the state.

For example, here are a few of the most common scenarios in which you could "misplace" your money and not even know about it:

 

• Perhaps you moved and forgot to claim your security deposit.

   

• Perhaps the utility company owed you a refund check or a refund of your deposit, and you forgot to inform them of your new address.

   

• Perhaps the dividend checks from your stock or mutual fund have been going to the wrong address.

   

• Perhaps you moved your money to a new bank, but forgot about an account or safe deposit box you left with the old bank. Or maybe you left a little money in the checking account to be safe, and forgot about it.

   

• Perhaps you have a certificate of deposit with a bank that has seen no activity for five years. If you let it roll over and ignore the bank's mail, it could be declared abandoned.

   

• Perhaps a long lost relative died without a will, and its taken years for the courts to settle the estate.

   

• Perhaps a relative died and the insurance company took a while to send the check for the proceeds of the life insurance policy.

   

• Perhaps you simply forgot about some money owed you.

What is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed property can include:

• Dormant Savings and Checking Accounts and Certificates of Deposit

• Safe Deposit Box Contents

• Uncashed Money Orders, Cashiers Checks, and Travelers Checks

• Uncashed Payroll Checks

• Unused Gift Certificates

• Oil and Gas Royalty Payments

• Uncashed Stock and Mutual Fund Dividends

• Stock Certificates

• Mineral Royalty Payments

• Unclaimed Security Deposits

• Utility Deposits

• Customer Deposits, Overpayments, Credit Balances, and Refunds

• Court Deposits

• Insurance Payments

• Probate Court Judgments

• Property Overlooked in the Probate of an Estate

• Paid Up Life Insurance Policies

• Uncashed Death Benefit Checks and Life Insurance Proceeds

• Health and Accident Insurance Payments

• HUD/FHA Refunds

What Happens To Unclaimed Property?

Every state has unclaimed property laws which declare money, property, and other assets to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of three to five years. During this abandonment period landlords, banks, utilities, hospitals, brokerage firms, mutual funds, insurance companies, and other organizations are required to try to return the valuables to their rightful owners. If they are unsuccessful, they then turn the property over to the state's abandoned-property division or unclaimed property office.

According to a US Supreme Court decision (Texas vs. New Jersey, 379 US 674, 1965), the unclaimed property is returned to the state of the property owner's last known address. If no address is known, it is returned to the state in which the business holding the funds is incorporated.

The unclaimed property office then tries to find the rightful owners, by placing advertisements in newspapers and trying to trace the owners. Unfortunately, many states only advertise the new additions to their files.

Except in two states (New Hampshire and Wyoming), there is no time limit on claiming your property. Abandoned property has been reunited with its rightful owners 30, 40, and even 50 years after it was turned over to the state. Some states have unclaimed property dating to the late 1800s.

If the owner of the property is deceased, the relatives can file for the unclaimed property.

Finding Out About Your Lost Money

So how can you find out if there's money waiting for you? Very simply. If you think there might be unclaimed property that belongs to you, call or write to the unclaimed property office in each state in which you or your deceased relatives have ever lived. A list of the addresses of state unclaimed property offices appears below. It is a good idea to check with these offices every five years, even if you are certain that you haven't lost any property.

The unclaimed property office will ask for your name (including your maiden or former names), your Social Security number, current address, and all previous addresses where you lived while in the state. They will want the same information about any other individual for whom you're the legal beneficiary.

The unclaimed property office will use this information to check their database. If there's a match, they'll send you a form to fill out. You'll have to provide proof

• that you are who you say you are (a photocopy of your driver's license will do),

• that you resided at the address you provided (a bill showing your name at the address or a copy of your tax return showing the address), and

• that the money is yours (a pay stub, bank book, utility bill, or similar documentation of a connection between you and the money).

If money is in someone else's name, you will also have to supply proof that you're the beneficiary, such as a copy of the deceased's will.

Once you submit the claim form, it should take about two months for you to get the check.

Don't Pay Finder's Fees (boy, do I get hate mails over this section!)

Don't pay a fee for someone to locate your unclaimed property.

Tracers are professionals who make a living finding the owners of unclaimed property. They then contact the owners, and offer to help them locate their unclaimed property for a fee. The fees range from 10% of the value of the property to as much as 60%. All you get for the fee is the name and address of the state unclaimed property office that has your property.

If a tracer tells you there's money waiting for you, you can call the state yourself and get the money without having to pay anybody anything. States return abandoned property for free.

If the tracer is unwilling to tell you which state has the unclaimed property, try calling or writing each of the states listed below. Start first with the states in which you've lived, and the states in which your deceased relatives lived. Also try the state in which the tracer is located, since many tracers specialize in tracing their home state's unclaimed property listings. Once you know that there is unclaimed property waiting for you in some state's coffers, it is very easy to file a claim. If all else fails, sending a postcard to each of the state unclaimed property offices will cost you less than most finder fees.

If you come up empty-handed, try waiting a year and trying again. Some tracers buy unclaimed property lists directly from major companies, in order to get a head start on the state unclaimed property office. (A few states have passed laws making it illegal to charge finders fees once the unclaimed property is published on the state's list.)

Of course, you may decide to pay the tracer's fee because it is convenient. If so, try to negotiate the fee down to 20% or less before signing any contract. Also ask for information their guarantees. For example, in some cases you may already know about the property and were just not aware that it had been turned over to the state.

If a tracer asks you to pay money up front, don't pay anything. Reputable tracers always work on a percentage basis and get paid after you receive your money, not before.

Federal Unclaimed Property Offices

If you had an old FHA mortgage paid off before November 5, 1990, you may be due a refund. For more information, call the FHA Support Service Center at 1-800-697-6967, or write to HUD, Distributive Shares Branch, PO Box 23699, Washington, DC 20026.

If you forgot about a bank account, even one at a bank or savings & loan that went out of business, try calling your state banking commission or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at 1-800-250-9286. They can help you track down the current location of your bank accounts and reunite you with your funds.

State Unclaimed Property Offices

A list of the state unclaimed property offices follows. If an unclaimed property office maintains a web site, the name of the state is linked to the web site.

ALABAMA
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 302520
Montgomery, AL 36130-2520
(334) 242-9614
http://www.treasury.state.al.us/website/ucpd/ucpd_frameset.html

ALASKA
Department of Revenue
Unclaimed Property Unit
P.O. Box 110420
Juneau, AK 99811-0420
(907) 465-4653
http://www.tax.state.ak.us/tas/ucpsrch.htm

ARIZONA
Department of Revenue
Unclaimed Property Unit
P.O. box 29026, Site Code9026
Phoenix, AZ 85038-9026
(602) 542-4643
http://www.revenue.state.az.us/unclprop.htm

ARKANSAS
Auditor of State
Unclaimed Property Division
1400 West 3rd, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201-1811
(501) 682-6000
http://www.ark.org/auditor/unclprop/

CALIFORNIA
Division of Collections
Bureau of Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, CA 94250-5873
(916) 323-2850
1-800-992-4647 (w/i CA)
https://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/scoucp/inquiry/
 

COLORADO
Unclaimed Property Division
1560 Broadway, Suite 1225
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 894-2443
http://www.treasurer.state.co.us/payback/second/index.html
 

CONNECTICUT
Unclaimed Property Unit
Office of State Treasurer
55 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 702-3050
http://www.state.ct.us/ott/ucplisting.htm
 

DELAWARE
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 8931
Wilmington, DE 19899-8931
(302) 577-8205
http://www.state.de.us/revenue/escheat/escheat.htm
 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Office of the Comptroller
Unclaimed Property Unit
810 1st St. NE, Room 401
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 442-8181
 

FLORIDA
Department of Banking & Finance
Bureau of Unclaimed Property
101 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0350
(850) 488-7777
http://up.dbf.state.fl.us/Isearch.cfm
 

GEORGIA
Department of Revenue
270 Washington Street, Room 404
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-4244
http://www.state.ga.us/dor/ptd/ucp/
 

HAWAII
Unclaimed Property Section
P.O. Box 150
Honolulu, HI 96810-0150
(808) 586-1589
 

IDAHO
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 36
Boise, ID 83722-2240
(208) 334-7623
http://www.state.id.us/tax/unclaimed.htm
 

ILLINOIS
Unclaimed Property Division
Department of Financial Institutions
500 Iles Park Place
Springfield, IL 62718
(217) 782-6692
http://www.cashdash.net/
 

INDIANA
Attorney General's Office
Unclaimed Property Division
402 West Washington, Suite C-531
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-6348
http://www.state.in.us/attorneygeneral/ucp/index.htm
 

IOWA
State Treasurer's Office
Unclaimed Property Division
State Capitol Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-5367
http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/unclaimed/great.cfm
 

KANSAS
Unclaimed Property Division
900 Jackson, Suite 201
Topeka, KS 66612-1235
(913) 296-4165
http://www.unclaimed.state.ks.us/cgi-win/unclpage.kst/
 

KENTUCKY
Unclaimed Property Division
Kentucky State Treasury Department
Suite 183, Capitol Annex
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4722
http://www.kytreasury.com/html/kyt_uprop.asp
 

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Dept of Revenue & Taxation
Unclaimed Property Section
P.O. Box 91010
Baton Rouge, LA 70823-9010
(504) 925-7407
Fax: (504) 925-3853
http://www.treasury.state.la.us/unclaimedproperty/unclaimedproperty_index.htm
 

MAINE
State Treasurer's Office
Abandoned Property Division
39 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0039
(207) 287-6668
http://www.state.me.us/treasurer/property.htm
 

MARYLAND
Unclaimed Property Unit
301 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-2385
(800) 782-7383
(410) 767-1700
https://interactive.marylandtaxes.com/unclaim/default.asp
 

MASSACHUSETTS
Abandoned Property Division
1 Ashburton Place 12th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 367-0400
http://www.state.ma.us/treasury/abp.htm
 

MICHIGAN
Department of Treasury
Unclaimed Property Division
Lansing, MI 48922
(517) 335-4327
http://www.michigan.gov/treasury
 

MINNESOTA
Department of Commerce
Unclaimed Property Division
133 East 7th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
(612) 296-2568
http://www.commerce.state.mn.us/pages/UnclaimedProp/OwnerList.htm
 

MISSISSIPPI
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 138
Jackson, MS 39205-0138
(601) 359-3600
http://www.treasury.state.ms.us/site/property/main.htm
 

MISSOURI
Unclaimed Property Section
P.O. Box 1272
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1272
(573) 751-0840
http://www.sto.state.mo.us/ucp/database/search.htm
 

MONTANA
Unclaimed Property Division
Department of Revenue
Mitchell Building
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-2425
http://www.state.mt.us/revenue/css/2forindividuals/08unclaimedproperty.asp

NEBRASKA
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 94788
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2455
http://www.treasurer.state.ne.us/ie/uphome.asp
 

NEVADA
Unclaimed Property Division
2501 East Sahara Avenue, Suite 304
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 486-4140
http://nevadatreasurer.com/unclaimed/search.asp
 

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Unclaimed Property Division
Treasury Department
25 Capitol Street - Room 205
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2649
http://www.state.nh.us/treasury/Divisions/AP/APsearch.htm
 

NEW JERSEY
Department of the Treasury
Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 214
Trenton, NJ 08646-0214
(609) 292-9200
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/upsearches.htm
 

NEW MEXICO
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 25123
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5123
(505) 827-0767
https://ec3.state.nm.us/ucp/SearchUCP.htm

NEW YORK
Office of Unclaimed Funds
Alfred E. Smith Building, 9th Floor
Albany, NY 12236
(518) 474-4038
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/
 

NORTH CAROLINA
Escheat & Unclaimed Property
325 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1385
(919) 508-5929
https://www.treasurer.state.nc.us/DSTMcmsWeb/Escheats/Pages/Forms/Search.asp
 

NORTH DAKOTA
Unclaimed Property Division
State Land Department
P.O. Box 5523
Bismarck, ND 58506-5523
(701) 328-2805
http://www.land.state.nd.us/abp/abphome.htm
 

OHIO
Division of Unclaimed Funds
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43266-0545
(614) 466-4433
http://www4.state.oh.us/com/unfd/qry1.asp

OKLAHOMA
Unclaimed Property Division
2501 Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73194-0010
(405) 521-4275
http://www.state.ok.us/~sto/unclaimed.html
 

OREGON
Division of State Lands
Unclaimed Property Division
775 Summer Street, NE
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 378-3805
http://statelands.dsl.state.or.us/upintro.htm

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania State Treasury
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 1837
Harrisburg, PA 17105-1837
(800) 222-2046 Claims inquiries
http://www.treasury.state.pa.us/search.html
 

RHODE ISLAND
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 1435
Providence, RI 02901-1435
(401) 222-6505
http://www.state.ri.us/treas/unclaimed.htm
 

SOUTH CAROLINA
State Treasurers Office
Palmetto Payback Program
P.O. Box 11778
Columbia, SC 29211-1778
(803) 737-4771
http://www.state.sc.us/treas/unclaimedproperty/index.htm

SOUTH DAKOTA
State Treasurer's Office
State Capitol, Suite 212
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
(605) 773-3379
http://www.sdtreasurer.com/ucp/search.asp
 

TENNESSEE
Unclaimed Property Division
Andrew Jackson Building, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-0242
(615) 741-6499
http://www.treasury.state.tn.us/unclaim/unclaim-s.htm
 

TEXAS
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Unclaimed Property Section
P.O. Box 12019
Austin, TX 78711-2019
(800) 654-3463 (owner inquiries)
(800) 321-2274 (holders)
http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/
 

UTAH
State Treasurer's Office
Unclaimed Property Division
341 South Main Street, 5th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 320-5360
(888) 217-1203
http://www.up.state.ut.us/
 

VERMONT
Unclaimed Property Division
State Treasurer's Office
133 State Street
Montepelier, VT 05633-6200
(802) 828-2301
http://www.tre.state.vt.us/AbanProp/index.htm
 

VIRGINIA
Division of Unclaimed Property
Department of Treasury
P.O. Box 2478
Richmond, VA 23218-2478
(804) 225-2393
http://www.trs.state.va.us/UCP/ucp.html
 

WASHINGTON
Unclaimed Property Section
Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 448
Olympia, WA 98507-0448
(360) 586-2736
http://ucp.dor.wa.gov/default.asp?link=FIF
 

WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia State Treasurer
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
State Capitol Building 1, Room E-145
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-5000
http://www.wvtreasury.com/sites/unclaimed/
 

WISCONSIN
Unclaimed Property Division
State Treasurer's Office
P.O. Box 2114
Madison, WI 53701-2114
(608) 267-7977
http://www.ost.state.wi.us/home/html/unclaim.html
 

WYOMING
Unclaimed Property Division
State Treasurer's Office
1st Floor West, Herschler Building
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-5590
http://treasurer.state.wy.us/unclaimed.asp

Other Sources of Information

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAPUA) is a professional association for state unclaimed property administrators. They are working on developing a national unclaimed property database, which will be available for free on the web.

There are other websites:

National Unclaimed Property Database

Missing Money

National Credit Union Administration

Unclaimed Assets

Unclaimed Money

Other Informative - Possibly Interesting - Websites

Unclaimed Property Auctions and Stores

• Unclaimed Baggage Center
  Ever wonder what happens to your bags when they are lost by the airline? They eventually wind up here for purchase by intrepid treasure hunters!
• US Postal Service "Unclaimed Loose in the Mail" Auctions

Other Government Auctions

You've probably heard about government auctions, where you can buy government seized vehicles and boats for "pennies on the dollar" and other claims. The automobiles actually sell for closer to the price of a used-car (and are often bought by used car dealers). If you're interested in such government auctions, the U.S. General Services Administration publishes a guide to Federal Government Sales that provides detailed information about all federal government auctions. The guide is available on the GSA's US Consumer Information Center.

For information about U.S. General Services Administration auctions, call 1-703-305-7814 or visit http://www.gsa.gov/.

For information about Treasury Department Auctions, visit the Auction Information Page.

Other useful resources include:

• Guide to Federal Government Sales. How to buy land, houses, cars, and other items from 18 federal sales programs, including seize and unclaimed property.  Keep in mind that the $1 yacht is mythical!
• How You Can Buy Used Federal Personal Property. The government sells its used equipment and industrial items; this booklet lists telephone numbers to call for more information.
• National List of Authorized Sellers of Forfeited Property. The government sell real estate, motor vehicles, boats, jewelry, art, antiques, and more that have been forfeited under Federal law..
• U.S. Real Property Sales List. Lists government real estate properties for sale that are sold by auction/sealed bid. Tells how to get more information on specific properties.
• Are There Any Public Lands for Sale? Describes the federal program to sell excess undeveloped public land and why there is no more available for homesteading.
• US Marshals Service National Sellers List.  Way cool!
• Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service. 

Tracers on the Web

Here's a list of tracers with web pages. Some of these tracers provide a free teaser online, which tells you whether there's money listed under your name, but they do not tell you any of the details.

Please note that I do not have a financial interest in these companies, nor am I otherwise affiliated with them. I am not responsible for the content of their web pages. I neither recommend nor endorse (nor "disrecommend") the use of these firms. The sole criterion for listing them is the fact that they are tracers with web pages.

• Found Money International

• Knowledge in Motion

• Capital Tracers

Suggestions and contributions are welcome:

Click the animated GIF to send them to me

Site visits since January 21, 1998