Death notification procedures and required documents
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
MissingMoney.com (NAUPA-endorsed multi-state search and claim service)
Every state and the District of Columbia operates an unclaimed property program. When a bank account, uncashed check, insurance payout, security deposit, or other asset goes inactive for a set dormancy period, the holder must turn it over to the state, which safeguards it until the rightful owner or their heirs claim it. After a death, the executor or surviving family can search the state where the deceased lived or did business, and claim property on behalf of the estate. The administering agency, search portal, and claim process are set by each state.
There is no death notification to file. Instead, the executor or heirs search the state unclaimed property database for assets belonging to the deceased and submit a claim with proof of death and proof of the claimant's authority to act for the estate. Most states accept claims online, and a national search at the NAUPA-endorsed site missingmoney.com covers most participating states at once.
Deadline: No deadline — most states hold property indefinitely
When someone dies
4-step process, 4 required documents, and claim processing varies by state.
View details →Common examples include dormant bank and brokerage accounts, uncashed payroll and vendor checks, insurance proceeds, utility and rental security deposits, refunds, and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. A holder turns the asset over to the state after it has been inactive for the state's dormancy period.
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
MissingMoney.com (NAUPA-endorsed multi-state search and claim service)