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

In Wisconsin, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property. The claimant attaches a copy of a government-issued ID, provides proof of a Social Security number to validate identity, and gives a current address.

State Where the Person Lived

Where the Estate Stands

Letters have been issuedA small estate affidavitNothing has been filed

Property Held in This State

Unclaimed property claims in Wisconsin

Where to search and file

Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property

Phone: 1-608-264-4594
Email: DORUnclaimedProperty@wisconsin.gov
Website: Search and claim →
Mail: WI Dept. of Revenue – Unclaimed Property P.O. Box 8982 Madison, WI 53708-8982

tap.revenue.wi.gov/UCPSearch is the free state search.

Who may claim for a deceased owner

An heir or the personal representative of a deceased owner files the claim.

Documents for an heir or estate claim

The claimant attaches a copy of a government-issued ID, provides proof of a Social Security number to validate identity, and gives a current address.

If the decedent or their spouse may have received Medicaid, DOR also requires the certified mail return receipt from the DHS Estate Recovery Program for the Transfer by Affidavit.

The claim includes the decedent's Social Security number, date of birth and date of death (death certificate), an Affidavit of Heirship showing the heirs, and an Affidavit of Service showing the other heirs were notified.

If the estate is open, DOR instead requires the domiciliary letters, the estate's tax identification number, and the decedent's Social Security number.

Claiming without a probate order

Wis. Stat. 867.03(1g) allows a Transfer by Affidavit, avoiding full probate, when the decedent's property subject to administration in the state does not exceed $50,000 in gross value.

The Transfer by Affidavit form is published by the State Bar of Wisconsin, and DOR accepts it in place of domiciliary letters.

For unclaimed property claims, DOR requires a Transfer by Affidavit for a claim under $50,000 and a court order if the property subject to administration is $50,000 or more.

Processing time

At certain times of the year, when the number of claims is high, it may take up to 12 weeks for a claim to be assigned for review.

Wis. Stat. 177.0904(2) requires DOR to allow or deny a filed claim, and notify the claimant, within 90 days.

How an approved claim is paid

Once a claim is approved, payment takes 7 to 10 days.

Under Wis. Stat. 177.0904(1)(a), DOR must pay a claimant who establishes ownership.

Deadline to claim

For ordinary unclaimed property, chapter 177 sets no time limit on an owner or heir filing a claim.

Under Wis. Stat. 177.0604(1), the state takes custody of the property and is responsible for safekeeping it.

An escheated estate, money reported to the state after a probate court could not locate the heirs, can only be claimed for ten years.

The claim to an escheated estate goes to the county probate court that reported the funds rather than to DOR (Wis. Stat. 863.39(3)(a)).

Property held by other states

DOR also directs claimants to missingmoney.com to search for unclaimed property nationwide.

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: Wis. Stat. ch. 177 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)

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 Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property. The search and the claim start at the office's site. The claimant attaches a copy of a government-issued ID, provides proof of a Social Security number to validate identity, and gives a current address.

Wis. Stat. 867.03(1g) allows a Transfer by Affidavit, avoiding full probate, when the decedent's property subject to administration in the state does not exceed $50,000 in gross value.

An heir or the personal representative of a deceased owner files 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.

For ordinary unclaimed property, chapter 177 sets no time limit on an owner or heir filing a claim. At certain times of the year, when the number of claims is high, it may take up to 12 weeks for a claim to be assigned for review.

Claiming Unclaimed Property in Wisconsin

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

Wisconsin sets who may claim for a deceased owner and what the claim includes. An heir or the personal representative of a deceased owner files the claim. The claimant attaches a copy of a government-issued ID, provides proof of a Social Security number to validate identity, and gives a current address.

A claim does not always wait for letters from a probate court. Wis. Stat. 867.03(1g) allows a Transfer by Affidavit, avoiding full probate, when the decedent's property subject to administration in the state does not exceed $50,000 in gross value.

Wisconsin holds the property until a valid claim is paid. For ordinary unclaimed property, chapter 177 sets no time limit on an owner or heir filing a claim. At certain times of the year, when the number of claims is high, it may take up to 12 weeks for a claim to be assigned for review.

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 August 24, 2026

Legal Sources

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

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

Unclaimed property claims in Wisconsin

Where to search and file

Who may claim for a deceased owner

Documents for an heir or estate claim

Claiming without a probate order

Processing time

How an approved claim is paid

Deadline to claim

Property held by other states

Federal and national databases

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Death of a Parent

Inheritance

Forms for Settling an Estate in Wisconsin

Notice to Creditors

Affidavit of Heirship

Small Estate Affidavit

Estate Inventory

Estate Closing

IRS Form 1310

Letter of Instruction

IRS Form 56

Tools for Settling an Estate in Wisconsin

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Can I Self-File Probate?

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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 Wisconsin Probate Attorney

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Wisconsin Estate Settlement Resources

Unclaimed property claims in Wisconsin

Where to search and file

Who may claim for a deceased owner

Documents for an heir or estate claim

Claiming without a probate order

Processing time

How an approved claim is paid

Deadline to claim

Property held by other states

Federal and national databases