State Unclaimed Property in Illinois

State Unclaimed Property in Illinois: key facts

Administering office

Illinois State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division.

Official search

icash.illinoistreasurer.gov (free search and online claims).

Heir claim documents

An heir claim needs a completed claim form — notarized if the claim is over $5,000, or involves a safe deposit box or securities — the death certificate of the listed owner, and proof that the deceased owned the asset. The added documents depend on the estate: no will (intestate) — a small estate affidavit listing all heirs with their addresses and the percentage each is entitled to, plus proof of relationship through death, birth, and/or marriage records; will filed but no probate — a small estate affidavit and a court-certified copy of the will; open estate — the estate's tax ID and a court-certified Letter of Office certifying the claimant's appointment, dated within the last three years; closed estate — a court-certified copy of the will (or, if there is none, a court-certified Order Declaring Heirship) and a certified copy of the final distribution and order showing the estate closed. A Capacity to Claim Affidavit with proof of death may be used instead only when the total claimed value is $250 or less.

Time to claim

No deadline. The Treasurer holds unclaimed property in a custodial capacity until the rightful owner or heir claims it.

Small estate option

Heirs may submit an Illinois Small Estate Affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) instead of Letters of Office when no letters of office are outstanding, contemplated, or pending and the decedent's personal estate — excluding motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State — does not exceed $150,000. The Treasurer publishes the affidavit form and accepts it on intestate and will-filed-but-not-probated heir claims.

Claim processing time

Claims are reviewed in the order received. Processing time before a claimant receives a first communication or payment may be up to 12 weeks, depending on claim volume.

Governing law: 765 ILCS 1026 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act); claims 765 ILCS 1026/15-903

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Search icash.illinoistreasurer.gov for the deceased's name and prior addresses.
2. File a claim through I-Cash as the estate representative or heir, providing:
   • A completed claim form (notarized if the claim is over $5,000, or involves a safe deposit box or securities)
   • A death certificate for the listed owner, and proof that the deceased owned the asset
   • Court-certified Letters of Office (dated within the last three years) if probate is open, or a small estate affidavit listing all heirs if the estate was not probated
   • Proof of the claimant's relationship to the decedent through death, birth, and/or marriage records
3. Submit the documents by email to unclaimedproperty@illinoistreasurer.gov, through the I-Cash document upload page, or by mail; the Treasurer reviews the claim and pays the verified owner or heir.

Frequently asked questions