Unclaimed Property Guides

Everything you need to find and claim money that's yours — for free. Then search your name or browse unclaimed property by state.

• Basics

  What Is Unclaimed Property? The Complete Guide

  Unclaimed property is money and assets a business owes you but lost track of — forgotten accounts, uncashed checks, refunds, and more. Here's how it works and how to get yours back.

• How-To

  How to Find Unclaimed Money in Your Name (Free, Step by Step)

  A free, step-by-step guide to searching for unclaimed money in your name — which databases to check, what to search, and how to avoid missing money in states you've lived in.

• Safety

  Is Claiming Unclaimed Money Free? Finder Fees and Scams Explained

  Claiming unclaimed money is always free through official state programs. Learn how finder fees work, which are legitimate, and how to spot unclaimed-property scams.

• How-To

  How to Claim Unclaimed Property: Documents, Timeline, and Tips

  Once you find unclaimed property in your name, here's how to claim it: the documents you'll need to prove ownership, how long payment takes, and how to claim as an heir.

• Basics

  Types of Unclaimed Property: Uncashed Checks, Dormant Accounts & More

  From uncashed paychecks to dormant bank accounts, insurance payouts, and safe-deposit boxes — a rundown of the most common types of unclaimed property and where they come from.

• By State

  Unclaimed Property by State: How to Search All 50 States

  Unclaimed property is held by the state of your last address, so you may have money in several states. Here's how state programs work and how to search each one.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Paychecks & Wages

  Never got your final paycheck, a bonus, or a commission after leaving a job? Unpaid wages are one of the most common types of unclaimed property. Here's how to find and claim yours.

• Property types

  Unclaimed & Dormant Bank Accounts

  Old checking, savings, and CD accounts you forgot about are turned over to the state after a few years of inactivity. Here's how dormant bank accounts become unclaimed property — and how to get yours back.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Stocks, Bonds & Dividends

  Forgotten brokerage accounts, uncashed dividend checks, and old stock certificates are commonly turned over to the state. Here's how unclaimed securities work — and an important catch about liquidation.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Life Insurance & Insurance Money

  Billions in life-insurance benefits go unclaimed because beneficiaries don't know a policy exists. Here's how to find unclaimed insurance payouts, refunds, and annuities.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Utility & Security Deposits

  Security deposits from old apartments and utility accounts are routinely forgotten and turned over to the state. Here's how to get back a deposit you never collected.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Tax Refunds & Rebates

  Undelivered tax refunds, rebates, and overpayments can end up as unclaimed property — but state and IRS refunds work very differently. Here's how to find each.

• Property types

  Unclaimed Safe Deposit Box Contents

  When a safe-deposit box is abandoned, the bank turns its contents over to the state. Here's what happens to the jewelry, documents, and cash inside — and how to reclaim it.

• Property types

  Uncashed Checks, Refunds & Store Credit

  Uncashed checks, credit-balance refunds, rebates, and gift balances are the most common unclaimed property of all. Here's how they end up with the state and how to claim them.

• Claiming

  Finding Unclaimed Money for a Deceased Relative

  When someone dies, their unclaimed property doesn't disappear — heirs can claim it. Here's how to search for a deceased relative's unclaimed money and file a claim as an heir or executor.

• Beyond the states

  Old 401(k)s, Pensions & Federal Unclaimed Money

  Not all unclaimed money is held by the states. Here's where to look for lost 401(k)s and pensions, savings bonds, tax refunds, FHA refunds, and other federal unclaimed money.

• Claiming

  Do You Pay Taxes on Unclaimed Property?

  Is unclaimed property taxable when you claim it? Usually you're just getting your own money back — but some of it can be taxable income. Here's the general rule and when to ask a tax pro.

• Claiming

  How Long Does an Unclaimed Property Claim Take?

  How long does it take to get your unclaimed property after you file a claim? Timelines vary by state and claim type — here's what to expect and how to speed it up.

• Basics

  MissingMoney.org vs. Your State's Site

  MissingMoney.org, your state's official site, and aggregators like this one all search unclaimed property. Here's how they differ and why it's worth checking more than one.

• Basics

  Unclaimed Property Glossary

  Plain-English definitions of the unclaimed-property terms you'll run into — escheat, dormancy period, holder, NAUPA, claimant, and more.