State Unclaimed Property in Washington

Official search

ucp.dor.wa.gov is the official site for free searches and online claim filing.¹

Property held by other states

The Department of Revenue points claimants to unclaimed.org, a national site with links to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, for a multi-state search.²

Dormancy period

RCW 63.30.040 sets three years of no owner contact for most property, including bank deposits, retail credits and matured insurance proceeds.³

It sets one year for property held by a government entity, for unpaid wages and for utility deposits, and five years for money orders.³

Who may claim for a deceased owner

The claims FAQ lists the original owner as reported by the company holding the funds, an heir of the original owner, a beneficiary, or the personal representative while the estate is in probate.²

A person acting as executor without a court appointment cannot file as executor and uses the heir (no probate) path instead.⁴

Documents for an heir or estate claim

With probate open, the executor or administrator files with current Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration dated within 12 months of the day the claim is filed; if older, DOR may also require a current bank statement for the estate.⁴

With probate closed, an heir files with current mailing addresses for all heirs and either a certified copy of the will or trust or, where there was no will, a copy of the Declaration of Completion of Probate.⁴

Claiming without a probate order

With no probate, an heir files with a copy of the will or trust if one exists, current mailing addresses for all heirs, and a notarized Affidavit of Successor, a DOR form provided after the claim is filed.⁴

If the decedent was not a Washington resident at death, DOR requires a notarized small estate affidavit instead of the Affidavit of Successor.⁴

RCW 11.62.010 lets a successor collect a decedent's personal property by affidavit at any time 40 days after death if the decedent was a Washington resident at death, the entire probate estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000, and no personal representative has been appointed.⁵

The section also requires that all debts including funeral expenses are paid or provided for and that at least 10 days have passed since written notice to all other successors; a copy of the affidavit, with the decedent's Social Security number, is mailed to the DSHS Office of Financial Recovery.⁵

Processing time

The claims FAQ says claims are processed in the order received and can take up to 90 days, and staff contact you if more information is needed.²

The Department of Revenue currently posts a notice asking claimants to allow a minimum of 90 business days for a claim to be processed because of heavy claim volume.¹

How an approved claim is paid

Funds are mailed 2 to 3 weeks after a claim is approved.²

Deadline to claim

There is no time limit for filing a claim: the Department of Revenue holds the funds until the rightful owner or their heirs come forward.⁶

Property reported by the FDIC is the one exception: it is held for ten years and then returned to the FDIC.⁶

Governing law: Chapter 63.30 RCW (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act); RCW 11.62.010 (small estate affidavit)

Date of the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration on a probate-open claim

within 12 months of the day the claim is filed; if older, DOR may require a copy of a current bank statement for the estate⁴

Earliest time a successor may collect personal property by small estate affidavit

within 40 days of the date of death⁵

Wait after written notice to all other successors before using the small estate affidavit

at least 10 days after the written notice⁵

Claim for property reported by the FDIC

within 10 years; the property is returned to the FDIC⁶

DSHS Office of Financial Recovery

Receives a copy of every small estate affidavit, with the decedent's Social Security number⁵

1. 1.Washington Unclaimed Property search and claims (ucp.dor.wa.gov)
2. 2.Claims FAQ (Washington Department of Revenue Unclaimed Property)
3. 3.RCW 63.30.040
4. 4.UCP: What type of documentation will I be requested to provide (Department of Revenue claim documentation tool)
5. 5.RCW 11.62.010 (small estate affidavit)
6. 6.Unclaimed Property (UCP) (Washington Department of Revenue)