State Unclaimed Property in Connecticut
The Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer holds unclaimed property — dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, and similar assets — as custodian until the owner or their heirs claim it. The CT Big List at ctbiglist.gov is the free official search, and there is no time limit for the owner or their heirs to file a claim.
Administering agency
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer — Unclaimed Property Division
Authority
Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 3, Chapter 32 (Sec. 3-64a, 3-65a, 3-70a)
State Unclaimed Property in Connecticut: key facts
- Administering office
- Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division.
- Official search
- ctbiglist.gov (free search; the claim is initiated from the search result). Only owners of the property or their legal heirs may file a claim.
- Claim documents
- A signed claim form, a copy of photo identification, a copy of the Social Security number, proof of address (current and/or previous), and proof of ownership such as a tax return, original check, or utility bill. Additional documents depend on the type of property and are listed on the claim itself.
- Claim deadline
- None. A claim may be filed at any time after the property is surrendered to the Treasurer, who holds it as custodian until the rightful owner or their heirs claim it (Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(a)).
- Deceased owner
- For solely owned property of a deceased owner worth less than $500 in the aggregate, the Treasurer may pay a claimant directly without a probate transfer decree or fiduciary certificate, on a certified claim plus a sworn affidavit of entitlement (Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(g)). Above that, the ordinary probate documentation applies, and the Treasurer notifies the Commissioner of Revenue Services of payments of $500 or more made to a deceased owner's administrator or executor (3-70a(d)).
Governing law: Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 3, Chapter 32 (Sec. 3-64a, 3-65a, 3-70a)
Steps to take when someone dies
- Search ctbiglist.gov for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and initiate a claim from the search result.
- Complete the claim as the owner's legal heir or the estate's representative and gather the documentation the claim lists:
- A signed claim form
- A copy of photo identification and a copy of the Social Security number
- Proof of address and proof of ownership (tax return, original check, utility bill)
- Any additional documents the claim identifies for that property type
- Upload the documents through the secure link at ctbiglist.gov, or mail them to the Office of the Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, PO Box 5065, Hartford, CT 06102.
- The Treasurer considers each claim within 90 days of filing and pays each claim allowed without deduction for costs of notices, sale, or service charges (Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(b), (d)).
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer — Unclaimed Property Division
Phone: 1-800-833-7318
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Search ctbiglist.gov and initiate a claim from the search result. Only the owner or their legal heirs may file. All claims require a signed claim form, a copy of photo identification, a copy of the Social Security number, proof of address, and proof of ownership; the claim itself lists any additional documents required for that property.
No. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(a), a person claiming an interest in property surrendered to the Treasurer may claim it at any time thereafter, and the Treasurer holds the property as custodian until the rightful owner or their heirs come forward.
No. The Treasurer states that claiming is free — if you can prove the property is yours it is returned without charge, and you do not need to hire someone to locate your unclaimed assets. An allowed claim is paid without deduction for costs of notices, sale, or service charges (Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(d)).
Not always. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-70a(g), for solely owned property of a deceased owner worth less than $500 in the aggregate, the Treasurer may pay a claimant directly without a decree to transfer personal property, a fiduciary certificate, or any similar document — the claimant furnishes a certified claim and a sworn affidavit under penalty of perjury showing entitlement, affirming either that they are the sole heir or attaching attestations from the other heirs. That route is available where no affidavit in lieu of administration has been filed, where more than a year has passed since the last transfer decree, or where a fiduciary was appointed but the estate closed more than a year before the property was found.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unclaimed Property in Connecticut primary sources (6 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer — Unclaimed Property Division
Authority
Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 3, Chapter 32 (Sec. 3-64a, 3-65a, 3-70a)