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

In Maryland, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

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

Where to search and file

Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division

Phone: 1-410-767-1700
Email: unclaim@marylandtaxes.gov
Website: Search and claim →

Search for property and file a claim online for free at claimitmd.gov.

Letters of administration

For: The court-appointed estate representative
Documents: Claim Form ST912, or the online claim, signed by the claimant
A copy of the owner's death certificate
The letters of administration
A copy of the claimant's government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or military ID
Documentation showing the entire Social Security number or FEIN, such as the SS-4 letter for an estate
Form: Letters of administration

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills

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

For: The personal representative the Register of Wills appoints for a small estate
Limit: An estate of $50,000 or less
Conditions: The estate's value is the property subject to administration in Maryland at the date of death, less debts of record secured by that property.
Documents: Claim Form ST912, or the online claim, signed by the claimant
A copy of the owner's death certificate
The small estate papers
A copy of the claimant's government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or military ID
Documentation showing the entire Social Security number or FEIN, such as the SS-4 letter for an estate
Form: Small estate papers from the Register of Wills

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee

This route is for an estate of $100,000 or less.

For: The personal representative of a small estate whose sole heir or legatee is the surviving spouse
Limit: An estate of $100,000 or less
Conditions: The surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee.
The estate's value is the property subject to administration in Maryland at the date of death, less debts of record secured by that property.
Documents: Claim Form ST912, or the online claim, signed by the claimant
A copy of the owner's death certificate
The small estate papers
A copy of the claimant's government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or military ID
Documentation showing the entire Social Security number or FEIN, such as the SS-4 letter for an estate
Form: Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee

Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representative

For: The surviving spouse, or a non-blood relative appointed by the court such as a lawyer or a bank, where there is no representative or the estate is closed
Conditions: No court-appointed estate representative is serving, or the estate is closed.
Documents: Claim Form ST912, or the online claim, signed by the claimant
A copy of the owner's death certificate
Relevant documents, such as a true test copy of a court order
A copy of the claimant's government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or military ID
Documentation showing the claimant's entire Social Security number
Form: Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representative

Notarization and finders

Notarization: The program states no notarization rule.
Finders: An agreement to pay someone to recover property, or to help recover it, is unenforceable if it is made within 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the Comptroller. The act sets no percentage cap on the fee and no registration for finders.

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: Md. Code, Commercial Law Title 17; 17-308

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 Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division. The search and the claim start at the office's site. For a deceased owner or estate, Claim Form ST912 asks for a copy of the owner's death certificate and relevant documents such as letters of administration, small estate papers, or a true test copy of a court order.

Under Md. Code, Estates and Trusts 5-601, an estate with probate assets of $50,000 or less, or $100,000 or less when the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee, qualifies for small estate administration through the Register of Wills using Form RW1103.

Claim Form ST912 states that a court-appointed estate representative can submit the claim. If there is no representative, or the estate is closed, the surviving spouse or a non-blood relative appointed by the court may file. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the court-appointed estate representative.

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 to pay someone to recover property, or to help recover it, is unenforceable if it is made within 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the Comptroller. The act sets no percentage cap on the fee and no registration for finders. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Maryland

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

Maryland names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the court-appointed estate representative.

Whether the claim form needs a notary is the program's own rule: The program states no notarization rule.

Maryland holds the property until a valid claim is paid. The Comptroller states that Maryland law is custodial: the property may be claimed at any time during the owner's lifetime, or by legitimate heirs after the owner's death, and there is no statute of limitations to claim it. The Comptroller directs claimants who have not received a decision within 60 to 90 business days to check the claim status using the Claim ID on [claimitmd.gov](https://www.claimitmd.gov/).

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 Maryland statutes and official state code. How we research.

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

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

Where to search and file

Letters of administrationClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate papers from the Register of WillsClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legateeClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representativeClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)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 Maryland

Petition for Probate and Letters

Notice to Creditors

Renunciation of Executor

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

IRS Form 1310

Letter of Instruction

Affidavit of Death

Tools for Settling an Estate in Maryland

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Can I Self-File Probate?

How Do I Get Letters Testamentary?

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

What Social Security Survivor Benefits Can I Get?

Hire a Maryland Probate Attorney

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Maryland Estate Settlement Resources

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

Where to search and file

Letters of administrationClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate papers from the Register of WillsClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legateeClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representativeClaim Form ST912 (Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Letters of administration

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee

Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representative

Letters of administration

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills

Small estate papers from the Register of Wills, where the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee

Claim Form ST912 for a deceased owner with no serving representative