Property types
Unclaimed Stocks, Bonds & Dividends
Updated July 25, 2026
Investments go unclaimed all the time: a dividend check that never got cashed, shares from an employer stock plan you forgot after leaving, a mutual-fund account at a firm that changed hands, or paper certificates in a drawer. After a dormancy period (often three to five years), the holder reports them to the state as unclaimed property.
Search your name to look for unclaimed securities and dividends — and read the catch below about how states handle shares.
Types of unclaimed securities
Investments show up as unclaimed property in several forms:
- Uncashed dividend and interest checks
- Brokerage and mutual-fund accounts
- Shares from employee stock-purchase or dividend-reinvestment (DRIP) plans
- Old paper stock and bond certificates
- Demutualization shares or cash from an insurer that became a stock company
- Note: matured, unredeemed U.S. savings bonds are held by the federal Treasury, not state programs — a separate search.
The catch: states often liquidate shares
Here is what surprises people. Many states sell escheated securities and hold the cash proceeds for you. If your shares were sold before you claimed them, you generally receive the sale proceeds — not the shares back, and not the market gains since. That is a strong reason to search early and claim promptly rather than assume the stock is sitting untouched.
How to find and claim unclaimed investments
Search your name and any former name, check each state you have lived in, and follow the claim process — you may need extra documentation for securities. It is free; be wary of finder fees.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover old stock I forgot about?
Often yes — but if the state already liquidated the shares, you will typically receive the cash proceeds rather than the shares themselves, so it pays to search and claim early.
Are uncashed dividend checks unclaimed property?
Yes. Uncashed dividend and interest checks are one of the most common forms of unclaimed securities-related property.
What about U.S. savings bonds?
Matured, unredeemed savings bonds are held by the U.S. Treasury, not state unclaimed-property programs, and are searched separately.
Ready to check for money in your name?
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