State Unclaimed Property in Virginia

State Unclaimed Property in Virginia: key facts

Administering office

Virginia Department of the Treasury, Division of Unclaimed Property. Claims questions: 1-800-468-1088 or ucpmail@trs.virginia.gov. Claims and claim evidence: Virginia Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division, PO Box 2485, Richmond, VA 23218-2485.

Dormancy period

Five years is the general rule under Va. Code § 55.1-2501 — property unclaimed for more than five years after it became payable is presumed abandoned. Shorter periods apply to some property: one year for wages, utility deposits, business refunds, and property held by courts.

Official search

vamoneysearch.gov — the Commonwealth's free "Click and Claim" search and online claim portal.

Automatic return (no claim)

Under Va. Code § 55.1-2532(A), the Treasury administrator may pay unclaimed property without a claim being filed when the property is cash, the apparent owner is a verified sole natural-person owner, and the amount does not exceed $5,000.

Heir claim documents

Under Va. Code § 55.1-2532, the preferred proof is a certificate of qualification as executor or order appointing an administrator/personal representative; alternatively a Small Estate Act affidavit naming the claimant as successor, or a court order or final accounting showing distribution to the claimant.

Small affidavit option

If none of those documents exist, the death occurred at least one year before the claim, and the claim is $25,000 or less, the Treasury administrator may accept an affidavit of entitlement.

Small Estate Act affidavit

Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, heirs may use a Small Estate Act affidavit (instead of full probate) if the decedent's entire personal probate estate does not exceed $75,000 and at least 60 days have elapsed since death. This affidavit is expressly recognized as qualifying proof under Va. Code § 55.1-2532 for unclaimed property claims.

Claim processing time

Virginia does not specify a fixed number of days. Under Va. Code § 55.1-2533, the Treasury administrator must pay approved claims "as soon as practical."

Governing law: Va. Code Title 55.1, Chapter 25 (Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act); §§ 55.1-2501, 55.1-2532, 55.1-2533

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Search vamoneysearch.gov for the deceased's name and any prior Virginia addresses.
2. File a claim through vamoneysearch.gov as the estate representative or heir, supported by:
   • A certificate of qualification as executor or order appointing the administrator if the estate was probated
   • A Virginia Small Estate Act affidavit naming the claimant as successor if probate was not required
   • Proof of death and the claimant's identification
3. Complete the claim by uploading the signed claim form and supporting documents through the portal's secure upload link, or by mailing them to the Unclaimed Property Program at PO Box 2485, Richmond, VA 23218-2485.
4. The Treasury administrator reviews the claim, approves or denies it, and pays approved claims as soon as practical under Va. Code § 55.1-2533.

Frequently asked questions