How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property in Alabama?

In Alabama, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Alabama State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. A probate-appointed executor or administrator files on behalf of the estate under that appointment, with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

Alabama names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Alabama State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division

Phone: 1-888-844-8400
Website: Search and claim →

The Division offers a free search and online claims at unclaimed.alabama.gov.

Appointment by the probate court as executor or administrator of the estate

For: The executor or administrator a probate court named over the owner's estate
Conditions: The Division pays the property to the estate of the deceased owner.
The Division lists the further documents for each claim on the claim form attachment it emails to the claimant.
Documents: A completed and signed claim form
A copy of the claimant's photo identification
The claimant's Social Security number
Proof of the probate court's appointment as executor or administrator

Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate

For: The surviving spouse of an owner who died without a will
Limit: Property held for the owner of $3,000 or less
Conditions: No estate has been or will be opened in the owner's name in any court.
The claimant was married to the owner at the time of death.
Anyone entitled to a share who did not receive it may recover it from the claimant, up to the value the claimant received.
Documents: The executed claim form
The Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate, signed before a notary
A copy of the claimant's driver's license or government-issued identification card
A copy of the certified death certificate of the spouse
The Statement of No Estate from the probate court of the county where the owner lived
Form: Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate

Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of Decedent

For: The surviving children of an owner who died without a will and left no surviving spouse
Limit: Property held for the owner of $3,000 or less
Conditions: No estate has been or will be opened in the owner's name in any court.
Every surviving child signs the affidavit, and the children have agreed among themselves on how to divide the property.
One child signs the claim form, and the Division issues one check payable to that child.
Anyone entitled to a share who did not receive it may recover it from those who received the property, up to the value each received.
Documents: The executed claim form
The Affidavit of Claimant/Children of Decedent, signed before a notary by each surviving child
A copy of the claimant's driver's license or government-issued identification card
A copy of the certified death certificate of the deceased parent
A list of the surviving children with their mailing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses
A copy of the birth certificate of each surviving child
The Statement of No Estate from the probate court of the county where the owner lived
Form: Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of Decedent

Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of Decedent

For: The surviving parents of an owner who died without a will and left no surviving spouse or children
Limit: Property held for the owner of $3,000 or less
Conditions: No estate has been or will be opened in the owner's name in any court.
Each surviving parent signs the affidavit, and where both parents are living they have agreed on how to divide the property.
Anyone entitled to a share who did not receive it may recover it from those who received the property, up to the value each received.
Documents: The executed claim form
The Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of Decedent, signed before a notary by each surviving parent
A copy of the claimant's driver's license or government-issued identification card
A copy of a certified death certificate of the child
The written confirmation from the probate court of the county where the owner lived that no estate has been opened
Form: Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of Decedent

Notarization and finders

Notarization: A notarized document is needed only where heirs claim without a probate appointment: each heir's affidavit on the Division's intestate claim form is signed before a notary.
Finders: A finder's agreement made before 24 months have passed since the property reached the Treasurer is void, except an attorney's agreement to file a claim. A later agreement must be in writing, state that the Treasurer returns the property for free, and cap the fee at 10 percent of the amount claimed.

Federal and national databases

MissingMoney.com: The national database endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators searches the participating states at once for free and links to each one's official program. Most states participate; a state that does not is searched on its own official site.
The Treasury (TreasuryDirect): Unredeemed savings bonds; claims are made on FS Form 1048, as the Treasury Hunt search was withdrawn
PBGC: Unclaimed pensions from terminated plans, searched at pbgc.gov
The IRS: Undelivered tax refunds
The FDIC: Unclaimed deposits and checks from failed banks, searched by name, business name or check number
The NCUA: Unclaimed share accounts at liquidated federally insured credit unions, listed by last name and first initialamacmail@ncua.gov
The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator: A deceased person's life insurance and annuities; a participating insurer contacts the beneficiary if it finds onehelp@naic.org
The VA: Unclaimed VA life insurance

Governing law: Code of Ala. 1975, Title 35, Chapter 12 (Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act of 2004); §§ 35-12-83, 35-12-84

General information about claiming a deceased person's unclaimed property, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions. Data verified Aug 24, 2026

File the claim with the Alabama State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. The search and the claim start at the office's site. A probate-appointed executor or administrator files on behalf of the estate under that appointment, with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.

Heirs can claim without letters from a probate court through the Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate, for property held for the owner of $3,000 or less. Code of Ala. § 35-12-84(a) lets the surviving spouse, or if none the surviving children, or if none the surviving parents, of an owner who died intestate claim without a probate court order. The claim on that route includes: The executed claim form; The Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate, signed before a notary; A copy of the claimant's driver's license or government-issued identification card; A copy of the certified death certificate of the spouse; The Statement of No Estate from the probate court of the county where the owner lived.

The Division's claiming FAQ says an executor or administrator named by a probate court over the owner's estate is authorized to file a claim on behalf of the estate. If the deceased owner had no will or estate, the surviving spouse or children may be able to file a claim. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or administrator a probate court named over the owner's estate.

Every state where the person had an address can hold some of the property: the holding company reports it to the state of the owner's last-known address, and to its own home state where it has no address on record. MissingMoney.com searches most states at once. Insurance, savings bonds, pensions, refunds and failed-bank deposits sit in federal and national databases: the Treasury (TreasuryDirect), PBGC, the IRS, the FDIC, the NCUA, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and the VA.

A finder's agreement made before 24 months have passed since the property reached the Treasurer is void, except an attorney's agreement to file a claim. A later agreement must be in writing, state that the Treasurer returns the property for free, and cap the fee at 10 percent of the amount claimed. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Alabama

Property goes to the state of the owner's last-known address in the holding company's records. Where the records show no address, it goes to the state where the company is organized, so a deceased person's property can sit in any state they once lived in or where a company that owed them is based. A search for a deceased Alabama resident therefore covers Alabama and every other state where the person lived, worked or held an account.

Alabama names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or administrator a probate court named over the owner's estate. Without letters, heirs claim through the Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate, for property held for the owner of $3,000 or less.

Whether the claim form needs a notary is the program's own rule: A notarized document is needed only where heirs claim without a probate appointment: each heir's affidavit on the Division's intestate claim form is signed before a notary.

Alabama holds the property until a valid claim is paid. Alabama holds unclaimed property until it is claimed, so there is generally no deadline for heirs to file a claim. Code of Ala. § 35-12-83(b) has the Treasurer allow or deny a filed claim within 120 days and give the claimant written notice of the decision.

Searching and claiming are free through a state's official unclaimed property program or missingmoney.com. Third-party finders or locators charge a fee, usually a percentage of the amount recovered, and the same property can always be claimed directly at no cost.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated October 26, 2026

Legal Sources

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Data sourced from Alabama statutes and official state code. How we research.

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How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property in Alabama?

Alabama names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Appointment by the probate court as executor or administrator of the estateClaiming Property FAQ (Alabama Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died IntestateCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of DecedentCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of DecedentCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

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Inheritance

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Petition for Probate and Letters

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Hire an Alabama Probate Attorney

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Alabama Estate Settlement Resources

Alabama names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Appointment by the probate court as executor or administrator of the estateClaiming Property FAQ (Alabama Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died IntestateCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of DecedentCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of DecedentCode of Ala. 1975, § 35-12-84, Filing of a Claim - Intestate and Small ClaimsVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Appointment by the probate court as executor or administrator of the estate

Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate

Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of Decedent

Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of Decedent

Appointment by the probate court as executor or administrator of the estate

Claim by Spouse of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit by Spouse of Person Who Died Intestate

Claim by Child(ren) of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Children of Decedent

Claim by Parent of a Person Who Died Intestate, with the Affidavit of Claimant/Parent of Decedent