State Unclaimed Property in Wisconsin

Official search

tap.revenue.wi.gov/UCPSearch is the free state search.¹

Property held by other states

DOR also directs claimants to missingmoney.com to search for unclaimed property nationwide.²

Who may claim for a deceased owner

An heir or the personal representative of a deceased owner files the claim.³

Documents for an heir or estate claim

The claimant attaches a copy of a government-issued ID, provides proof of a Social Security number to validate identity, and gives a current address.²

If the decedent or their spouse may have received Medicaid, DOR also requires the certified mail return receipt from the DHS Estate Recovery Program for the Transfer by Affidavit.²

The claim includes the decedent's Social Security number, date of birth and date of death (death certificate), an Affidavit of Heirship showing the heirs, and an Affidavit of Service showing the other heirs were notified.³

If the estate is open, DOR instead requires the domiciliary letters, the estate's tax identification number, and the decedent's Social Security number.³

Claiming without a probate order

Wis. Stat. 867.03(1g) allows a Transfer by Affidavit, avoiding full probate, when the decedent's property subject to administration in the state does not exceed $50,000 in gross value.⁴

The Transfer by Affidavit form is published by the State Bar of Wisconsin, and DOR accepts it in place of domiciliary letters.³

For unclaimed property claims, DOR requires a Transfer by Affidavit for a claim under $50,000 and a court order if the property subject to administration is $50,000 or more.³

Processing time

At certain times of the year, when the number of claims is high, it may take up to 12 weeks for a claim to be assigned for review.⁵

Wis. Stat. 177.0904(2) requires DOR to allow or deny a filed claim, and notify the claimant, within 90 days.⁶

How an approved claim is paid

Once a claim is approved, payment takes 7 to 10 days.⁵

Under Wis. Stat. 177.0904(1)(a), DOR must pay a claimant who establishes ownership.⁶

Deadline to claim

For ordinary unclaimed property, chapter 177 sets no time limit on an owner or heir filing a claim.⁷

Under Wis. Stat. 177.0604(1), the state takes custody of the property and is responsible for safekeeping it.⁸

An escheated estate, money reported to the state after a probate court could not locate the heirs, can only be claimed for ten years.^{3, 9}

The claim to an escheated estate goes to the county probate court that reported the funds rather than to DOR (Wis. Stat. 863.39(3)(a)).⁹

Governing law: Wis. Stat. ch. 177 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)

DOR allows or denies a filed claim and notifies the claimant

within 90 days of the filing of the claim⁶

Petition in the probate court claiming an escheated estate's funds

within 10 years of the date of publication under Wis. Stat. 177.0503⁹

County probate court

Claims to an escheated estate whose funds the court reported to the state⁹

DHS Estate Recovery Program

The certified mail return receipt for the Transfer by Affidavit, where Medicaid may have been received²

State Bar of Wisconsin

Publishes the Transfer by Affidavit form³

1. 1.Unclaimed Property Search (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
2. 2.Unclaimed Property (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
3. 3.Unclaimed Property: Heirs (Wisconsin Department of Revenue FAQ)
4. 4.Wis. Stat. 867.03(1g)
5. 5.Unclaimed Property: Claim Forms (Wisconsin Department of Revenue FAQ)
6. 6.Wis. Stat. 177.0904
7. 7.Wis. Stat. ch. 177, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act
8. 8.Wis. Stat. 177.0604
9. 9.Wis. Stat. 863.39