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

In Missouri, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Missouri State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. An heir claim needs proof of death plus proof of authority: probate documents such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if the estate was probated.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

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

Where to search and file

Missouri State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division

Phone: 1-573-751-0123
Website: Search and claim →

The State Treasurer's free unclaimed property search and online claims portal is at treasurer.mo.gov/UnclaimedProperty. The Treasurer also advertises it as showmemoney.com, which redirects there.

Letters testamentary, certified by the probate court

For: The personal representative of an estate in which letters testamentary were issued
Conditions: The Treasurer may request these documents with the claim form, and may require certified copies of records such as death certificates and probate records.
The claimant proves entitlement to the property by clear and convincing evidence.
Documents: The claim form, signed under oath or affirmation
A copy of the death certificate
A copy of the letters testamentary, certified by the probate court
A copy of the will admitted to probate, where there is one

Refusal of letters ordered by the probate court, certified by the probate court

For: A claimant for an owner whose estate the probate court closed by a refusal of letters
Conditions: The Treasurer may request these documents with the claim form, and may require certified copies of records such as death certificates and probate records.
The claimant proves entitlement to the property by clear and convincing evidence.
Documents: The claim form, signed under oath or affirmation
A copy of the death certificate
A copy of the refusal of letters, certified by the probate court

Final order of distribution, certified by the probate court

For: A claimant for an owner whose estate the probate court closed with a final order of distribution
Conditions: The Treasurer may request these documents with the claim form, and may require certified copies of records such as death certificates and probate records.
The claimant proves entitlement to the property by clear and convincing evidence.
Documents: The claim form, signed under oath or affirmation
A copy of the death certificate
A copy of the final order of distribution, certified by the probate court
A copy of the will admitted to probate, where there is one

Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)

For: An heir of an owner whose estate was not probated
Conditions: The estate was not probated.
The claimant lists every known relative of the owner (spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings and their children) and swears to knowing of no other potential heirs.
Each heir with an equal right to the property signs a release, or the claimant authorizes the Treasurer to treat the claim as filed for all of them.
The claimant proves entitlement to the property by clear and convincing evidence.
Documents: The claim form, signed under oath or affirmation
The Table of Heirship, signed under penalty of perjury before a notary
A copy of the death certificate
A copy of the claimant's birth certificate
Where the claim passes through a descendant of the owner, that person's birth certificate and death certificate
Form: Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)

Notarization and finders

Notarization: A notarized document is needed only where the claimant files the Treasurer's Table of Heirship for an owner whose estate was not probated.
Finders: A finder must register with the Treasurer, and the agreement must be in writing and state the property and its value. An agreement made within 12 months after the Treasurer receives the property is unenforceable; the fee is capped at 10 percent to 24 months, 15 percent to 36 months, then 20 percent.

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: Mo. Rev. Stat. 447.500 to 447.595 (Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act); RSMo 473.097 (small estate affidavit); 15 CSR 50-3.090

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 Missouri State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. The search and the claim start at the office's site. An heir claim needs proof of death plus proof of authority: probate documents such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if the estate was probated.

Heirs can claim without letters from a probate court through the Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer). Under RSMo 473.097, if the estate does not exceed $40,000 net of liens, debt and encumbrances and 30 days have passed since the death, an heir may use a small estate affidavit filed with the probate division of the circuit court, without full probate. The claim on that route includes: The claim form, signed under oath or affirmation; The Table of Heirship, signed under penalty of perjury before a notary; A copy of the death certificate; A copy of the claimant's birth certificate; Where the claim passes through a descendant of the owner, that person's birth certificate and death certificate.

With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the personal representative of an estate in which letters testamentary were issued.

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 must register with the Treasurer, and the agreement must be in writing and state the property and its value. An agreement made within 12 months after the Treasurer receives the property is unenforceable; the fee is capped at 10 percent to 24 months, 15 percent to 36 months, then 20 percent. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Missouri

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

Missouri names 4 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the personal representative of an estate in which letters testamentary were issued. Without letters, heirs claim through the Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer).

Whether the claim form needs a notary is the program's own rule: A notarized document is needed only where the claimant files the Treasurer's Table of Heirship for an owner whose estate was not probated.

Missouri holds the property until a valid claim is paid. Missouri holds unclaimed property under the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act until it is claimed, so there is generally no deadline for heirs to file a claim.

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 Missouri statutes and official state code. How we research.

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

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

Where to search and file

Letters testamentary, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Refusal of letters ordered by the probate court, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Final order of distribution, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Inheritance

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Renunciation of Executor

Affidavit of Heirship

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IRS Form 1310

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IRS Form 56

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What Social Security Survivor Benefits Can I Get?

Hire a Missouri Probate Attorney

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Missouri Estate Settlement Resources

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

Where to search and file

Letters testamentary, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Refusal of letters ordered by the probate court, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Final order of distribution, certified by the probate court15 CSR 50-3 (Missouri State Treasurer, unclaimed property rules)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Letters testamentary, certified by the probate court

Refusal of letters ordered by the probate court, certified by the probate court

Final order of distribution, certified by the probate court

Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)

Letters testamentary, certified by the probate court

Refusal of letters ordered by the probate court, certified by the probate court

Final order of distribution, certified by the probate court

Table of Heirship (Missouri State Treasurer)