State Unclaimed Property
Searching for and claiming a deceased person's unclaimed property held by the states
Administered by
Each state's unclaimed property program
Select a state for its administering office, key facts, and steps.
National resources
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
Visit website →MissingMoney.com (NAUPA-endorsed multi-state search and claim service)
Visit website →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.
Unclaimed property in your state
Each state administers its own program. Select a state for its administering office, key facts, and the steps that apply there.
Claiming a deceased person's unclaimed property
Executors and heirs search state databases and file claims with proof of death and authority.
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.
Timeline: No deadline — most states hold property indefinitely
- •Provide the deceased's name and last known address
- •Provide proof of death (death certificate)
- •Provide proof of authority to act for the estate (letters testamentary, small-estate affidavit, or proof of heirship as the state requires)
Required Documents
- Death certificate
- Proof of the claimant's authority (letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a small-estate affidavit)
- The deceased's prior addresses and Social Security number, if requested
- Documentation linking the deceased to the reported property
Timeline
Claim processing varies by state
Frequently asked questions
Search the unclaimed property database in each state where the person lived or did business, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com, the search service endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Searches are free.
Yes. The executor or administrator can claim unclaimed property on behalf of the estate by submitting proof of death and proof of authority to act for the estate. When there is no formal estate, states provide an heir or small-estate claim process.
Most states hold unclaimed property indefinitely, so there is generally no deadline to file a claim. The specific rules and any exceptions are set by each state.
Search each state where the deceased lived, worked, or held accounts. missingmoney.com queries most participating states at once and links to each state's official portal; a handful of states run their own separate databases, so check those states directly as well.
A business can have unclaimed property under its own name. The executor or successor searches under the business name in addition to the individual's name, and files a business claim following the state's requirements for proof of authority over the business.
Unclaimed property is money or assets a business or government holds but cannot return to the owner, such as a forgotten bank account, an uncashed check, an insurance payout, or a security deposit. After a dormancy period, the holder turns it over to the state, which holds it until the owner or their heirs claim it.
Yes. Searching and claiming are free when done through a state's official unclaimed property program or the NAUPA-endorsed missingmoney.com. Paid finder companies sometimes offer to recover property for a percentage fee, but the same property can be claimed directly at no cost.
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.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unclaimed Property primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administered by
Each state's unclaimed property program
Select a state for its administering office, key facts, and steps.
National resources
National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
Visit website →MissingMoney.com (NAUPA-endorsed multi-state search and claim service)
Visit website →