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

In Ohio, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds. Each claim form is customized: the Division emails it with a Claim ID when the claim is started online, listing the documents required for that specific claim.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

Ohio names 5 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds

Phone: 1-614-466-4433
Website: Search and claim →

The Division's free search and online claim filing are at unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov.

Probate court entry appointing the executor or administrator

For: The executor or administrator the probate court appointed, who is then the only person who may file
Letters dated within: 24 months of the claim
Conditions: A will is admitted to probate; the Division does not consider an unprobated will.
Where the estate was closed, the probate court has approved reopening it to recover the newly found funds.
Documents: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID
A certified copy of the probate court entry showing the claimant's appointment as executor or administrator, dated within two years of the claim
A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number
Where a closed estate was reopened, the motion and entry approving the reopening
Probate Form 1.0 listing the surviving spouse, children, legatees and devisees by name and address
The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card
Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address

Probate court release from administration (R.C. 2113.03)

This route is for an estate of $35,000 or less.

For: The person the court's release entry authorizes to recover the deceased owner's assets
Limit: An estate of $35,000 or less
Conditions: The release entry is date-stamped within two years of the claim.
Documents: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID
The court release from administration, date-stamped within two years of the claim
A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number
Probate Form 1.0 listing the surviving spouse, children, legatees and devisees by name and address
The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card
Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address

Probate court release from administration where the surviving spouse takes the whole estate (R.C. 2113.03)

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

For: The person the court's release entry authorizes to recover the deceased owner's assets
Limit: An estate of $100,000 or less
Conditions: The surviving spouse takes the whole estate, under the will or by intestate succession.
The release entry is date-stamped within two years of the claim.
Documents: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID
The court release from administration, date-stamped within two years of the claim
A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number
Probate Form 1.0 listing the surviving spouse, children, legatees and devisees by name and address
The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card
Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address

Another state's small estate affidavit

For: The affiant under a small estate affidavit from a state whose law provides one
Conditions: Ohio has no small estate affidavit; the Division accepts one from a state that allows them.
Documents: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID
A certified copy of the small estate affidavit
A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number
Documents proving the relationship to the deceased owner, such as a birth or marriage certificate
The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card
Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointed

For: The surviving spouse, or the next of kin in the order of descent: children, then parents, then siblings
Limit: Property held for the owner of $5,000 or less
Conditions: No executor or administrator has been appointed.
Relatives outside the spouse, children, parents and siblings may have to go through the probate court whatever the amount.
For a deceased parent's claim, every child is listed and each sibling signs a written waiver or consent on the Division's Table of Heirship.
The Table of Heirship is used only for claims of less than $3,000.
Documents: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID
A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number
Documents proving the relationship to the deceased owner, such as a birth or marriage certificate
The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card
Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address
The Division's Table of Heirship listing every known relative, with each sibling's waiver or consent, where the Division emails it
Form: Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointed

Notarization and finders

Notarization: The claim form must be notarized where the claim is $5,000 or more.
Finders: A finder must hold the Division's certificate of registration. An agreement made within two years after the holder reports the funds is invalid; a later one must be in writing, signed by the owner and notarized, and may not take more than 10 percent of the amount recovered.

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: O.R.C. Chapter 169 (Unclaimed Funds); O.R.C. 169.08(I) (escheat and the ten-year claim window)

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 Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds. The search and the claim start at the office's site. Each claim form is customized: the Division emails it with a Claim ID when the claim is started online, listing the documents required for that specific claim.

Heirs can claim without letters from a probate court through the Another state's small estate affidavit. Ohio does not have a small estate affidavit, and the Division accepts one issued by another state that allows them. Unclaimed funds properties over $5,000 must be submitted to probate court. The claim on that route includes: The claim form the Division emails with a Claim ID; A certified copy of the small estate affidavit; A certified, unredacted death certificate showing the deceased owner's Social Security number; Documents proving the relationship to the deceased owner, such as a birth or marriage certificate; The claimant's government-issued photo identification and Social Security card; Proof the deceased owner lived at or was associated with the reported address.

If the probate court appointed an executor or administrator, that person is the only one authorized to file the claim. The Division will not consider an unprobated will. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the executor or administrator the probate court appointed, who is then the only person who may file, with letters dated within 24 months of the claim.

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 hold the Division's certificate of registration. An agreement made within two years after the holder reports the funds is invalid; a later one must be in writing, signed by the owner and notarized, and may not take more than 10 percent of the amount recovered. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Ohio

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

Ohio names 5 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, who is then the only person who may file, with letters dated within 24 months of the claim. Without letters, heirs claim through the Another state's small estate affidavit.

Whether the claim form needs a notary is the program's own rule: The claim form must be notarized where the claim is $5,000 or more.

Ohio holds the property until a valid claim is paid. Under O.R.C. 169.08(I), added by House Bill 96, funds first reported after January 1, 2016 escheat to the state on the tenth anniversary of the reporting date if no valid claim is filed by then. Funds reported on or before January 1, 2016 escheated on January 1, 2026. The Division's standard is 120 days, and it states that claim processing is currently taking longer than that standard because of high claim volume.

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 Ohio statutes and official state code. How we research.

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

Ohio names 5 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Probate court entry appointing the executor or administratorClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Probate court release from administration (R.C. 2113.03)Probate Court Documents (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Probate court release from administration where the surviving spouse takes the whole estate (R.C. 2113.03)Probate Court Documents (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Another state's small estate affidavitClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointedClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

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Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Inheritance

Forms for Settling an Estate in Ohio

Petition for Probate and Letters

Notice to Creditors

Renunciation of Executor

Affidavit of Heirship

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

IRS Form 1310

Letter of Instruction

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Ohio Estate Settlement Resources

Ohio names 5 routes for a deceased owner's unclaimed property.

Where to search and file

Probate court entry appointing the executor or administratorClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Probate court release from administration (R.C. 2113.03)Probate Court Documents (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Probate court release from administration where the surviving spouse takes the whole estate (R.C. 2113.03)Probate Court Documents (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Another state's small estate affidavitClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointedClaiming On Behalf of a Deceased Person (Division of Unclaimed Funds)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source

Notarization and finders

Federal and national databases

Probate court entry appointing the executor or administrator

Probate court release from administration (R.C. 2113.03)

Probate court release from administration where the surviving spouse takes the whole estate (R.C. 2113.03)

Another state's small estate affidavit

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointed

Probate court entry appointing the executor or administrator

Probate court release from administration (R.C. 2113.03)

Probate court release from administration where the surviving spouse takes the whole estate (R.C. 2113.03)

Another state's small estate affidavit

Claim by the surviving spouse or next of kin with no executor or administrator appointed