State Unclaimed Property in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Treasury holds unclaimed property — dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, and similar assets — until the owner or their heirs claim it. The free official search and claim portal is ClaimItTN.gov. Heirs of a deceased owner file a claim with proof of death and proof of authority to act for the estate.
Unclaimed Property
Tennessee
treasury.tn.gov/Unclaimed-Property/Claim-Unclaimed-Property/Find-Your-Missing-Money→Administering agency
Tennessee Department of Treasury — Unclaimed Property Division
Authority
Tenn. Code Title 66, Chapter 29, Part 1 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)
State Unclaimed Property in Tennessee: key facts
- Administering office
- Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division.
- Official search
- ClaimItTN.gov — free search and online claims, hosted at unclaimedproperty.tn.gov.
- Estate claim documents
- Certified death certificate of the original owner, certified Letters Testamentary or of Administration naming the executor, and the estate's federal tax identification number (FEIN). The check is issued to the estate in care of the executor or administrator.
- Heir claim documents
- Certified death certificate of the original owner; the probated will (or, if there was no will, an obituary showing how many heirs there may be); and a certified birth certificate for each heir. Each heir files a separate claim and is paid separately.
- Deadline
- There is no time limit to claim property held by the Treasury; it is held until the owner or their heirs claim it.
- Estate claim vs. heir claim
- Any claim valued at $10,000 or more must use the Estate Claim (pay the estate) option. Below $10,000, heirs may instead file an Heir Claim, which splits the funds among the heirs.
- Dormancy
- Property is reported to the Treasury as abandoned after the holder has been unable to contact the owner for a set period — typically 1 to 3 years.
Governing law: Tenn. Code Title 66, Chapter 29, Part 1 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)
Steps to take when someone dies
- Search ClaimItTN.gov for the deceased's name and prior addresses, and run a multi-state search at missingmoney.com.
- File the claim online and upload the documents the Treasury requires for a deceased owner:
- Estate Claim (required at $10,000 or more): certified death certificate, certified Letters Testamentary or of Administration, and the estate's FEIN
- Heir Claim (available below $10,000): certified death certificate, the probated will or an obituary if there was no will, and a certified birth certificate for each heir
- The Treasury Unclaimed Property Division reviews the claim and the uploaded documentation and issues a decision.
Tennessee Department of Treasury — Unclaimed Property Division
Phone: 866-370-9429
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Search ClaimItTN.gov, then file a claim online. For property worth $10,000 or more, file an Estate Claim with a certified death certificate, certified Letters Testamentary or of Administration, and the estate's FEIN. Below $10,000, heirs may file an Heir Claim instead.
The Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division, holds it under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (Tenn. Code Title 66, Chapter 29). The free official portal is ClaimItTN.gov, and the division can be reached at 866-370-9429.
No. The Tennessee Treasury states there is no time limit to claim your property — it is held until the owner or their heirs claim it.
Any claim valued at $10,000 or more must be filed as an Estate Claim, which requires a certified death certificate, certified Letters Testamentary or of Administration, and a federal tax identification number (FEIN) for the estate; the check is paid to the estate. For property below $10,000, heirs may file an Heir Claim with a certified death certificate, the probated will (or an obituary if there was no will), and a certified birth certificate for each heir. Each heir files separately and is paid separately.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unclaimed Property in Tennessee primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Unclaimed Property
Tennessee
treasury.tn.gov/Unclaimed-Property/Claim-Unclaimed-Property/Find-Your-Missing-Money→Administering agency
Tennessee Department of Treasury — Unclaimed Property Division
Authority
Tenn. Code Title 66, Chapter 29, Part 1 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)