State Unclaimed Property in North Dakota: when someone dies
A 3-step process for North Dakota Department of Trust Lands — Unclaimed Property Division after a death in North Dakota.
OverviewWhen someone dies
Administering agency
North Dakota Department of Trust Lands — Unclaimed Property Division
Phone(701) 328-2800
WebsiteVisit website →
Authority
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)
Verified Jul 2026
Steps to take
- Search unclaimedproperty.nd.gov for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com.
- Select the property, click CLAIM, and file the claim as the estate representative or heir with:
- The court order documents showing appointment as personal representative or executor — the will, court appointment, or letters testamentary — or, for a qualifying small estate, the division's notarized Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent
- A certified copy of the death certificate, obtained from ND Vital Records
- Proof of identity
- The administrator reviews the claim and gives written notice of the decision within 90 days; an allowed claim is paid within 60 days of allowance.
North Dakota Department of Trust Lands — Unclaimed Property Division
Phone: (701) 328-2800
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Search unclaimedproperty.nd.gov and file a claim on the property. To prove your legal right to claim for a deceased person, the Unclaimed Property Division asks for the court order documents showing your appointment as personal representative or executor — the will, court appointment, or letters testamentary.
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. Under N.D.C.C. 47-30.2-52, an allowed claim is paid within 60 days of allowance.
No. The Unclaimed Property 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.
If the estate qualifies as a small estate — at least 30 days since the death, total net value under $100,000, no real property, no probate case started or completed, and the claimant entitled to the property by will or intestate succession — the Unclaimed Property Division accepts its own notarized Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent, which is presented to the division rather than filed with a court. Otherwise the division refers claimants to the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center (701-328-1852) and its guide for informal probate.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unclaimed Property in North Dakota primary sources (8 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
North Dakota Department of Trust Lands — Unclaimed Property Division
Phone(701) 328-2800
WebsiteVisit website →
Authority
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)
Verified Jul 2026