Colorado Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback (Unclaimed Property)

Colorado · Unclaimed Property

treasury.colorado.gov/programs/unclaimed-property

State Unclaimed Property in Colorado

The Colorado State Treasury holds unclaimed property — dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, utility refunds, and similar assets — through the Great Colorado Payback program. The Treasury holds these funds in perpetuity until a valid claim is made, and property is held in trust until the rightful owners or their heirs claim it.

Steps to takeKey factsForms

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Search unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov for the deceased's name, business name, and former cities; the Treasury's FAQ also points to missingmoney.com for a nationwide search.
2
Select the property and file the claim through the portal. The Unclaimed Property Office sends a claim form listing the documentation that claim requires.
3
Return the claim form with proof of ownership or heirship, uploading documents at unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov/app/claim-doc-upload for fastest processing.
4
Track the claim at unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov/app/claim-status-search; the Treasury reports most claims are processed in a matter of days.

Required Documents

  • Proof of ownership or heirship: Submitted with the claim form; the claim form lists the documentation required for that claim.

State Unclaimed Property in Colorado: key facts

What Colorado says7

Official search

The Great Colorado Payback offers a free search and online claims at unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov.1

Property held by other states

The Treasury's FAQ points to missingmoney.com to search nationwide.2

Documents for an heir or estate claim

After a search match, the Unclaimed Property Office sends a claim form, and the claim form lists the documentation required for that claim.3

Along with the form, the claimant submits proof of ownership or heirship. Documents can be uploaded at unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov/app/claim-doc-upload.3

Deadline to claim

There is no time limit for a claim: the Treasury acts only as custodian and holds unclaimed property in perpetuity until a valid claim is made.4

Fees

There is no charge for claiming unclaimed property from the Treasury.4

Processing time

The Colorado State Treasury reports that most claims are processed in a matter of days.4

Claiming without a probate order

Heirs may use the Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999) instead of Letters Testamentary when all property the decedent owned that is subject to disposition by will or intestate succession, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed the threshold for the year of death.5

Form JDF 999 prints the threshold as $88,000 for a year of death of 2026, adjusted annually. The affidavit cannot transfer real estate.5

C.R.S. § 15-12-1201 allows the affidavit once at least 10 days have elapsed since death, and only if no application or petition to appoint a personal representative is pending or has been granted.6

C.R.S. § 15-12-1202(1) discharges holders, including financial institutions, when they transfer property on presentation of the affidavit, as if they had dealt with a personal representative.6

Governing law: Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-13-101 to 38-13-1504 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)

Forms Colorado uses2

Claim form

Sent by the Unclaimed Property Office after a search match; it lists the documentation that claim requires.3

JDF 999: Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit

A successor collects a qualifying small estate's property on this affidavit instead of Letters Testamentary.5

Not in Colorado's published guidance1

  • A document checklist for an heir claim

Sources6

  1. 1.Great Colorado Payback (Colorado Unclaimed Property)
  2. 2.General FAQ (Great Colorado Payback)
  3. 3.Claim FAQ (Great Colorado Payback)
  4. 4.Unclaimed Property (Colorado Department of the Treasury)
  5. 5.Colorado Judicial form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit, R: April 28, 2026
  6. 6.Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 15 (C.R.S. 15-12-1201, 15-12-1202)

Colorado unclaimed property

Colorado Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback (Unclaimed Property)

Verified Aug 2026

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