Basics
Types of Unclaimed Property: Uncashed Checks, Dormant Accounts & More
Updated July 24, 2026
"Unclaimed property" covers dozens of asset types. Knowing the categories helps you recognize what might be yours when you search your name. Here are the most common ones.
Bank and financial accounts
Dormant checking, savings, and CD accounts are among the most common unclaimed property. So are brokerage accounts, uncashed dividend checks, and mutual funds, plus matured but unredeemed savings bonds (a federal, not state, matter).
Uncashed checks and wages
Final paychecks, commissions, and reimbursements frequently go uncashed after someone changes jobs or moves. So do refund, rebate, and settlement checks — see uncashed checks, refunds & store credit and unclaimed tax refunds.
Insurance and refunds
Life-insurance benefits, annuities, and premium refunds are a huge category, commonly escheated when the insurer can't locate the payee. Credit-balance refunds from retailers and utilities show up constantly too.
Deposits and tangible property
Utility and rental security deposits are classic unclaimed property. So are the contents of abandoned safe-deposit boxes, which states inventory and hold (and sometimes auction, keeping the proceeds for the owner).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common types of unclaimed property?
Dormant bank accounts, uncashed paychecks and vendor checks, insurance payouts and refunds, security deposits, stocks and dividends, and the contents of abandoned safe-deposit boxes.
Are uncashed checks considered unclaimed property?
Yes. Uncashed paychecks, refunds, and vendor payments are one of the most common categories of unclaimed property once they go stale and are reported to the state.
Ready to check for money in your name?
Search your name free across millions of records, or browse by state.