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

In Delaware, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

Delaware names 3 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property

Phone: 1-855-505-7520
Email: escheat.claimquestions@delaware.gov
Website: Search and claim →

The Office of Unclaimed Property offers a free search and online claims at unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov. The search covers only property reported to Delaware.

Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estate

For: The executor or other representative with a legal right to claim property on behalf of the deceased owner or the estate
Conditions: Payment for a deceased owner is made to the estate by check only, never to an individual or to the estate representative.
Property from securities is paid to the estate as cash, not returned as stock.
A power of attorney and related documents end at the owner's death.
Documents: A certified copy of Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estate
A certified copy of the last will and testament
A death certificate; for a Delaware decedent the office points to a certified copy from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics
A certified copy of any document showing the relationship to the deceased owner
The signed claim form, and the documents listed in its Section C
A color image of a government-issued photo identification and proof of current mailing address

Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306

This route is for an estate of $50,000 or less.

For: The decedent's spouse, a grandparent or a grandparent's descendant, the named executor, the trustee of the decedent's trust, or a funeral director licensed in Delaware
Limit: An estate of $50,000 or less
Conditions: Thirty days have passed since the death, and no petition to appoint a personal representative is pending or has been granted.
The decedent's personal estate, other than jointly owned property and the property § 1901(b) and (c) describes, is $50,000 or less.
All known debts are paid or provided for, and the surviving spouse's allowance is paid, provided for, waived or expired.
The decedent owned no real estate in Delaware, alone or as a tenant in common.
Documents: A certified copy of the small estate affidavit
A certified copy of the last will and testament, where there is one
A death certificate; for a Delaware decedent the office points to a certified copy from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics
A certified copy of any document showing the relationship to the deceased owner
The signed claim form, and the documents listed in its Section C

Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account

For: The surviving joint owner of a bank or investment account the holder reported as joint without showing a right of survivorship
Conditions: Without a signature card or other account documentation, or this certification, the survivor claims only the survivor's share and the deceased owner's estate claims the rest.
The certification is signed under penalty of perjury in front of a notarial officer and is tied to a claim number.
Documents: A signature card or other account record showing a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, or this certification where no such record is available
Information showing that the other joint owner is deceased
The signed claim form, and the documents listed in its Section C
Form: Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account

Notarization and finders

Notarization: A notarized document is needed only where the claim form's list of required documents in its Section C asks for a notarized claim form, and always on the surviving joint owner's certification.
Finders: An agreement needs the owner's notarized signature, a description of the property and services, the amount before and after the fee and notice that the Department of Finance holds it. One made before 24 months after delivery to the state is void; fees are capped at the lesser of $1,000 or 10%.

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: Del. Code tit. 12, ch. 11 (Escheats), subch. II (Unclaimed Property), §§ 1165-1167

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 Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property. The search and the claim start at the office's site. An heir or estate claim needs a certified copy of any document showing the claimant's relationship to the deceased owner, and documentation showing a legal right to claim on behalf of the deceased or the estate.

Heirs can claim without letters from a probate court through the Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306, for an estate of $50,000 or less. 12 Del. C. § 2306 allows distribution of a decedent's personal estate without letters when the personal estate, excluding property described in § 1901(b) and (c) and jointly owned property, does not exceed $50,000. The claim on that route includes: A certified copy of the small estate affidavit; A certified copy of the last will and testament, where there is one; A death certificate; for a Delaware decedent the office points to a certified copy from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics; A certified copy of any document showing the relationship to the deceased owner; The signed claim form, and the documents listed in its Section C.

12 Del. C. § 1165 lets any person claiming an interest in property paid to the State Escheator file a claim. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or other representative with a legal right to claim property on behalf of the deceased owner or the 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.

An agreement needs the owner's notarized signature, a description of the property and services, the amount before and after the fee and notice that the Department of Finance holds it. One made before 24 months after delivery to the state is void; fees are capped at the lesser of $1,000 or 10%. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Delaware

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 Delaware resident therefore covers Delaware and every other state where the person lived, worked or held an account.

Delaware names 3 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or other representative with a legal right to claim property on behalf of the deceased owner or the estate. Without letters, heirs claim through the Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306, for an estate of $50,000 or less.

Whether the claim form needs a notary is the program's own rule: A notarized document is needed only where the claim form's list of required documents in its Section C asks for a notarized claim form, and always on the surviving joint owner's certification.

Delaware holds the property until a valid claim is paid. There is no deadline: the Office of Unclaimed Property states that a claim may be submitted at any time.

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

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

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

Delaware names 3 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estateClaim FAQ (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306Claim FAQ (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment AccountCertification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Inheritance

Forms for Settling an Estate in Delaware

Renunciation of Executor

Small Estate Affidavit

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

IRS Form 1310

Letter of Instruction

Affidavit of Death

IRS Form 56

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Can I Self-File Probate?

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How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

What Social Security Survivor Benefits Can I Get?

Hire a Delaware Probate Attorney

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Delaware Estate Settlement Resources

Delaware names 3 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estateClaim FAQ (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306Claim FAQ (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment AccountCertification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account (Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estate

Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306

Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account

Letters Testamentary, or other documentation of the legal right to claim for the deceased owner or the estate

Small estate affidavit under 12 Del. C. § 2306

Certification of Surviving Owner Regarding Nature of Joint Tenancy in Bank or Investment Account