State Unclaimed Property in District of Columbia

State Unclaimed Property in District of Columbia: key facts

Administering office

Unclaimed Property Unit within the Office of Finance and Treasury, under the DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). The office is at 1101 4th Street SW, Suite 800 W, Washington, DC 20024 (cfo.dc.gov writes the same suite as "Suite W800-B" in its mail-in instructions), and the unit's line is 202-442-8181. In-person visits are by appointment only.

Official search

unclaimedproperty.dc.gov — the District's free search and online claim site. The older dc.findyourunclaimedproperty.com address redirects to it. DC also links to missingmoney.com and naupa.org for a multi-state search.

Heir claim documents

If there is a court-appointed estate representative, that person can submit the claim. The District asks for the documents that apply: the death certificate, Letters of Administration or small estate papers, a copy of the claimant's photo ID, and proof of address or ownership connecting the owner to the funds. Letters of Administration come from the DC Superior Court Probate Division, Clerk's Office, Court Building A, 515 Fifth Street NW, Room 314, Washington, DC 20001 (general information 202-879-9460; small-estate specialist 202-879-9448). DC death certificates come from the DC Office of Vital Records, 899 North Capitol Street NE, 202-442-5955.

Small-amount shortcut

Under D.C. Code 41-159.03(b), the Administrator may waive the claim-form requirement and pay or deliver property directly where the claimant is the apparent owner named on the holder's report, the Administrator reasonably believes they are entitled to it, and the property is worth less than $500.

Decision window

Under D.C. Code 41-159.04, the Administrator must allow or deny a filed claim and notify the claimant in writing within 90 days of filing. If the Administrator takes no action within that 90-day period, the claim is deemed denied — which opens the claimant's right to file an amended claim or bring an action under D.C. Code 41-159.06.

Small estate option

Estates with DC-situs property valued at $80,000 or less qualify as small estates under D.C. Code 20-351 (threshold raised from $40,000 by D.C. Law 25-302, effective March 21, 2025). A personal representative may open a simplified small-estate administration by filing a verified petition under D.C. Code 20-352 with DC Superior Court rather than full probate. The Unclaimed Property Unit accepts certified Letters of Administration issued under this simplified proceeding as proof of authority to claim on behalf of the estate.

Owner who died outside DC

If the owner died domiciled outside the District but left property in DC, the personal representative appointed in the other jurisdiction opens a Foreign Estate Proceeding (FEP) in DC Superior Court under D.C. Code 20-341 to 20-344 rather than a DC probate. No DC personal representative is appointed and no DC Letters of Administration are issued, so the authority for the claim is the exemplified (triple-sealed) copy of the out-of-jurisdiction appointment. The Unclaimed Property Unit links this route directly from its own site.

Claim processing time

All claims are generally processed and paid within 30 days of receipt of all requested evidence, per the Office of Finance and Treasury. Claims involving minerals or royalties, stock, inheritance, or other complex issues may take longer.

Governing law: D.C. Code Title 41, Chapter 1A (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 2021); D.C. Code 41-159.03, 41-159.04

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Search unclaimedproperty.dc.gov for the deceased's name and prior DC addresses, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com.
2. Select the property in the search results and click "Continue to File Claim" to start the claim online. Alternatively, contact the Unclaimed Property Unit at 202-442-8181 or through its online inquiry form to establish probable ownership and have the unit mail a claim form.
3. Complete and sign the claim form, have the signature notarized if the mailed form calls for it, and provide the documents that apply:
   • Death certificate for the original owner
   • Letters of Administration or small estate papers from the DC Superior Court Probate Division — or, for an owner who died domiciled outside DC, the exemplified appointment filed in a Foreign Estate Proceeding
   • Copy of the photo ID of the person claiming the funds
   • Proof of address or ownership connecting the owner to the funds
4. Upload the documents through the "Upload Claim Documentation" page at unclaimedproperty.dc.gov, or mail them with the signed claim form to the DC Office of Finance and Treasury, Unclaimed Property Unit, 1101 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. In-person drop-off requires an appointment (202-442-8181).
5. Track the claim through "Check the Status of a Claim." The Unclaimed Property Unit reviews it and, under D.C. Code 41-159.04, must allow or deny it within 90 days of filing; no action within 90 days means the claim is deemed denied.

Frequently asked questions