UNCLAIMED FUNDS FREE UNCLAIMED MONEY SEARCH ALL SECRETARIES OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF STATES HOLD BILLIONS OF
UNCLAIMED MONEY. SEE IF SOME OF THE FUNDS
BELONG TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
THE SECRETARY OF STATES HOLD BILLIONS OF
UNCLAIMED MONEY. SEE IF SOME OF THE FUNDS
BELONG TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
There’s an estimated $49 billion in unclaimed funds waiting to be claimed.
More than $3 billion in unclaimed money is returned to its owners by the states each year, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
Here are some tips to help you find any unclaimed cash:
Check states you previously lived in for unclaimed money.
If you are or were a small business owner, you can search for unclaimed money from your business. Most states’ unclaimed money websites give you an option to search as an individual or as a business.
If you have ever changed your name, search for records under those names.
If you are an heir, check to see if the deceased person has unclaimed funds. If you can prove you are the heir, you may qualify to inherit the funds.
Unclaimed money is money that belongs to you but because the payer couldn’t contact you, it is sent to your respective states’ treasury department.
Unclaimed money can come from a range of sources, including abandoned checking and savings accounts, company refunds, annuities, customer over payments, payroll checks, investment accounts, trust distributions, life insurance payments and utility security deposits. It can also include physical items that were abandoned in safe deposit boxes such as precious metals.
If the payer is unable to contact you to deliver your money, the money enters a “dormancy” period. Once that dormancy period exceeds a specific amount of time, the money must be turned over to the state treasury department.
Each state has different lengths of dormancy periods based on the type of property. For example, California has a one year dormancy period on wages, three years on dividends, and 15 years on travelers checks. But once the dormancy period passes and the payer has done their best to deliver the money, the money is turned over to the respective state, and remains there until it is claimed.
What To Know About Unclaimed Money Scams
You should never pay up front to find unclaimed money. There are third-party services, typically referred to as locators or finders, out there willing to search for you, but not all are legit.
In addition, be on the lookout for letters, text messages or emails alerting you about unclaimed property. Be sure to verify it is from the state treasury department, as several states have reported unclaimed money fraud schemes, including using stolen identities to make fraudulent claims.