Minnesota Department of Commerce, Unclaimed Property

Minnesota · Unclaimed Property

unclaimedproperty.mn.gov

State Unclaimed Property in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Commerce holds unclaimed property — dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and similar assets — until the owner or their heirs claim it. Heirs of a deceased owner file a claim on the form prescribed by the commissioner with proof of death and authority to act for the estate.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Search unclaimedproperty.mn.gov for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com.
2
File a claim with the Department of Commerce as the estate representative or heir:
  • •The claim form prescribed by the commissioner
  • •Proof of death and identification
  • •For a claim based on a will, trust, or court order, only the portions needed to establish the claim (Minn. Stat. 345.49)
3
The commissioner considers the claim, may hold a hearing, and on an approved claim makes payment without deduction for notice, sale, or service charges (Minn. Stat. 345.50).

Required Documents

  • Claim form prescribed by the commissioner
  • Copy of the death certificate of the deceased owner
  • Proof of identification
  • Proof of authority to act for the estate
  • Portions of the will, trust, or court order: for a claim based on a will, trust, or court order. Only the portions needed to establish the claim.

State Unclaimed Property in Minnesota: key facts

What Minnesota says7

Official search

unclaimedproperty.mn.gov offers a free search and online claims.1

Property held by other states

A multi-state search is available at MissingMoney.com.1

Who may claim for a deceased owner

An heir or the estate representative of a deceased owner files the claim with the Department of Commerce.1

Documents for an heir or estate claim

Minn. Stat. 345.49 has a claim filed on the form prescribed by the commissioner. A claimant relying on a will, trust, or court order may submit only the portions of the document needed to establish the claim.2

The Department's claim process for a deceased individual owner asks the claimant to provide a copy of the death certificate.3

A claim for a deceased owner includes proof of death and proof of the claimant's authority to act for the estate.1

Claiming without a probate order

Minn. Stat. 524.3-1201 lets heirs collect personal property, including intangible assets and debts owed to the decedent, by affidavit without opening full probate when the net probate estate is $75,000 or less and at least 30 days have elapsed since death.4

Under Minn. Stat. 524.3-1202, the paying party is discharged to the same extent as if it had dealt with a personal representative.5

How an approved claim is paid

Minn. Stat. 345.50 has the commissioner of commerce consider each filed claim, and the commissioner may hold a hearing. On an approved claim, payment is made without deduction for the costs of notice, sale, or service charges.6

Deadline to claim

The state holds unclaimed property "in perpetuity or until the rightful owner or heirs come forward to claim," so there is generally no deadline to claim it.7

Governing law: Minn. Stat. 345.31 to 345.60; §§ 345.49, 345.50

Deadlines1

Earliest use of the small-estate affidavit under Minn. Stat. 524.3-1201

at least 30 days after the date of death4

Sources7

  1. 1.Minnesota Unclaimed Property (Minnesota Department of Commerce)
  2. 2.Minn. Stat. 345.49
  3. 3.Unclaimed Property Process Report (Minnesota Department of Commerce, mandated report, 2018)
  4. 4.Minn. Stat. 524.3-1201
  5. 5.Minn. Stat. 524.3-1202
  6. 6.Minn. Stat. 345.50
  7. 7.What is Unclaimed Property? (Minnesota Unclaimed Property)

Minnesota unclaimed property

Minnesota Department of Commerce, Unclaimed Property

Verified Aug 2026

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