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

In New Hampshire, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the New Hampshire State Treasury, Abandoned Property Division. Outside the small-estate route, RSA 471-C:26, I(c)(4) requires a probate estate to be opened for any other claim for a deceased owner.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

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

Where to search and file

New Hampshire State Treasury, Abandoned Property Division

Phone: 1-603-271-2619
Toll-free (calls from within New Hampshire): 1-800-791-0920
Website: Search and claim →
Office: New Hampshire State Treasury, Abandoned Property Division, 25 Capitol Street, Room 121, Concord, NH 03301

Search and file claims online for free at findnhmoney.gov, the division's official portal.

Probate court appointment as executor or administrator

For: The executor or administrator the probate court appointed for an open estate
Conditions: Where the property is valued at $10,000 or more or includes securities in share form, and no other route applies, a probate estate is opened to claim it.
Documents: A copy of the certified death certificate; the Division accepts a photocopy
Proof of the executor's or administrator's appointment by the probate court

The probate court's approved final distribution of a closed estate

For: The persons entitled under the final distribution of a closed estate
Limit: Property held for the owner of under $10,000
Conditions: The property does not include securities in share form.
Before paying, the Division confirms the Department of Health and Human Services has no claim for medical or financial assistance paid for the owner.
Documents: A copy of the certified death certificate; the Division accepts a photocopy
The final distribution of assets as approved by the probate court

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no estate opened

For: The surviving spouse, or where there is none, the next of kin in the order the intestacy statute sets
Limit: Property held for the owner of under $10,000
Conditions: No estate is open and the probate court has issued no decree of final distribution.
The property does not include securities in share form.
Before paying, the Division confirms the Department of Health and Human Services has no claim for medical or financial assistance paid for the owner.
Documents: A copy of the certified death certificate; the Division accepts a photocopy
For a surviving spouse, a copy of the certified marriage certificate; the Division accepts a photocopy

Notarization and finders

Notarization: The program states no notarization rule.
Finders: An agreement to pay a finder is unenforceable if made within 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the Division. A later agreement is valid only in writing, signed by the owner, stating the property's nature and value and the owner's share after the fee, with the statute's disclosure.

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: RSA 471-C (Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned Property); RSA 471-C:26 (filing of claim)

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 New Hampshire State Treasury, Abandoned Property Division. The search and the claim start at the office's site. An heir or estate claim needs proof of death and proof of authority to act for the estate, such as probate court documents (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration).

Under RSA 471-C:26, I(c)(3), where no estate is open, property valued at less than $10,000 that does not include securities in share form may be claimed by the surviving spouse or, if there is none, the next of kin under RSA 561:1, without opening probate.

Outside the small-estate route, RSA 471-C:26, I(c)(4) requires a probate estate to be opened for any other claim for a deceased owner. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or administrator the probate court appointed for an open 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 to pay a finder is unenforceable if made within 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the Division. A later agreement is valid only in writing, signed by the owner, stating the property's nature and value and the owner's share after the fee, with the statute's disclosure. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in New Hampshire

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

New Hampshire names 3 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or administrator the probate court appointed for an open estate.

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

New Hampshire holds the property until a valid claim is paid. The Treasury states there is no time limit to claim property: its office is only a custodian until the rightful owners or heirs come forward. Under RSA 471-C:26, II, the administrator considers each claim within 90 days after it is filed.

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 New Hampshire statutes and official state code. How we research.

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

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

Where to search and file

Probate court appointment as executor or administratorRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

The probate court's approved final distribution of a closed estateRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no estate openedRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified 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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How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

What Social Security Survivor Benefits Can I Get?

Hire a New Hampshire Probate Attorney

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New Hampshire Estate Settlement Resources

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

Where to search and file

Probate court appointment as executor or administratorRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

The probate court's approved final distribution of a closed estateRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no estate openedRSA 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned PropertyVerified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Probate court appointment as executor or administrator

The probate court's approved final distribution of a closed estate

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no estate opened

Probate court appointment as executor or administrator

The probate court's approved final distribution of a closed estate

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no estate opened