State Unclaimed Property in North Dakota

Official search

The free search and online claims are at unclaimedproperty.nd.gov.¹

Documents for an heir or estate claim

To prove the right to claim for a deceased owner, the division accepts the court order documents showing appointment as personal representative or executor: the will, court appointment, or letters testamentary.²

Claiming without a probate order

The division accepts its own Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent in place of court appointment documents when at least 30 days have passed since the death and the estate's total net value, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000.^{3, 4}

The affidavit also requires that the estate hold no real property, that no probate case has been started or completed in any state or tribal court, and that the claimant is entitled to the property by will or intestate succession.³

Processing time

Under N.D.C.C. 47-30.2-51, the administrator allows or denies a filed owner claim within 90 days and gives written notice of the decision.⁵

How an approved claim is paid

Under N.D.C.C. 47-30.2-52, an allowed claim is paid within 60 days of allowance.⁵

If a claim is denied

Under N.D.C.C. 47-30.2-51, the administrator must state the reason for a denial and specify what additional evidence would allow the claim, and the claimant may file an amended claim.⁵

Under N.D.C.C. 47-30.2-53, within 180 days of filing the original claim, a claimant may instead sue the Board of University and School Lands in Burleigh County district court.⁵

Deadline to claim

The division states that a claim can be made at any time, because unclaimed property is kept in the Common Schools Trust Fund until the rightful owner or heir successfully claims it.²

Governing law: N.D.C.C. Chapter 47-30.2 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act); §§ 47-30.2-50, 47-30.2-51, 47-30.2-52; N.D.C.C. 30.1-23-01 (small estate affidavit)

Waiting period before presenting the small-estate affidavit

at least 30 days after the death^{3, 4}

Suit in Burleigh County district court to establish a denied claim

within 180 days of filing the original claim⁵

North Dakota Legal Self Help Center

Its guide for informal probate, where neither court appointment documents nor the small-estate affidavit fit²

Phone: 1-701-328-1852

Burleigh County District Court

A claimant's suit against the Board of University and School Lands to establish a denied claim⁵

1. 1.North Dakota Unclaimed Property (Department of Trust Lands)
2. 2.Claim FAQ (North Dakota Unclaimed Property)
3. 3.Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent (Small Estates), SFN 62529, rev. 6-2025
4. 4.N.D.C.C. Chapter 30.1-23 (small estate affidavit, 30.1-23-01)
5. 5.N.D.C.C. Chapter 47-30.2 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)
6. 6.Forms and Resources (North Dakota Unclaimed Property)