State Unclaimed Property in Mississippi

State Unclaimed Property in Mississippi: key facts

Administering office

Office of the Mississippi State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 138, Jackson, MS 39205.

Official search and filing

ms.findyourunclaimedproperty.com — free search, online claim filing, claim-status lookup, and secure document upload.

Dormancy period

The Treasurer applies a five-year dormancy period: holders report and remit property after five years of inactivity.

Filing a claim

Any person claiming an interest in property delivered to the state may file a claim on the form prescribed by the Treasurer (Miss. Code § 89-12-39(1)). The claim form must be notarized.

Deadline to claim

The Treasurer states most unclaimed money remains claimable indefinitely, but checks issued BY the state — tax refunds, payments for goods or services, uncashed payroll checks — become unclaimable after six years and revert to the general fund.

Deceased-owner documentation

Submit: (1) copy of the owner's death certificate, plus the death certificate of any deceased heir; (2) copy of the filed will — or, if none, a copy of the obituary or funeral program listing all heirs — or, if neither exists, each claiming heir must complete a notarized Affidavit of Death and Heirship (form available at treasury.ms.gov). Photo ID and an SSN document are required for each claimant.

Open vs. closed estate routing

The claim form must state whether the estate is open or closed. If the estate is open, the Treasurer pays the estate in care of the executor. If the estate is closed, the funds are split among all legal heirs and each heir must file a separate claim form.

Child-support offset

Since July 1, 2022, an approved claim is checked against Department of Human Services child-support records, and any portion needed to satisfy the claimant's child-support arrearage is transferred to DHS before payment (Miss. Code § 89-12-39(3)).

Interest paid on claims

The Treasurer pays the full amount received without deduction for notice costs or service charges, plus interest of 1/12 of 1% per month; property that was interest-bearing to the owner when surrendered earns up to 5/12 of 1% per month or the lesser market rate, stopping at 15 years after delivery or on payment (Miss. Code § 89-12-39(4)).

Governing law: Miss. Code Title 89, Chapter 12 (Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, §§ 89-12-1 to 89-12-57); § 89-12-39 as amended by Laws 2022, ch. 486

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Search ms.findyourunclaimedproperty.com for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com.
2. File the claim online, or on the form prescribed by the Treasurer, as the estate representative or heir. The completed form must be notarized, and it must state whether the estate is open or closed. Include:
   • A copy of the owner's death certificate, and of any deceased heir's death certificate
   • A copy of the filed will and probate orders; if none, the obituary or funeral program listing all heirs; if neither, a notarized Affidavit of Death and Heirship from each claiming heir
   • A photo ID and a document showing the Social Security number for each claimant
3. Upload the documentation through the portal's secure link, or mail it to the Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 138, Jackson, MS 39205. The Treasurer does not accept faxed or emailed claim forms.
4. The Treasurer considers the filed claim and may hold a hearing and receive evidence; if a hearing is held, the Treasurer prepares a written finding and decision, which is a public record (Miss. Code § 89-12-39(2)).
5. If the claim is allowed, the Treasurer checks the claimant against DHS child-support arrearage records, transfers any amount needed to satisfy an arrearage, and pays the balance with statutory interest.

Frequently asked questions