Unclaimed property is money or assets a business has lost contact with the owner of — forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and security deposits — that are turned over to the state. Every state runs a free official database, and the multi-state search MissingMoney.com is endorsed by state treasurers. There is never a fee to claim your own property.
Last Updated: June 2026 · Reviewed quarterly by the Searchadex editorial team.
Unclaimed property is any financial asset that has been dormant — with no owner contact — for a set period, usually one to five years. Common types include forgotten checking and savings accounts, uncashed payroll and refund checks, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, stocks and dividends, and safe-deposit-box contents.
Under 'escheatment' laws, holders such as banks and employers must report and remit this property to the state after the dormancy period. The state then holds it indefinitely as custodian until the rightful owner — or their heir — comes forward to claim it.
Every state and the District of Columbia maintains a free, official unclaimed-property database, typically run by the State Treasurer or Comptroller. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) backs MissingMoney.com, which searches many states at once. Claiming is always free; never pay a 'finder' an upfront fee.
All states offer a free official unclaimed-property search; most also feed MissingMoney.com. The table lists the official state program for the 15 largest states.
| State | Free Online? | Official Portal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Yes | California State Controller Unclaimed Property | Free search and claim; CA does not participate in MissingMoney. |
| Texas | Yes | Texas Comptroller ClaimItTexas | Free statewide search and online claims. |
| Florida | Yes | Florida CFO FLTreasureHunt | Free search; many claims processed online. |
| New York | Yes | NY Office of the State Comptroller Unclaimed Funds | Free statewide search and claims. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | PA Treasury (patreasury.gov / claimit) | Free search; participates in MissingMoney. |
| Illinois | Yes | Illinois Treasurer ICASH | Free search and online claims. |
| Ohio | Yes | Ohio Dept. of Commerce Unclaimed Funds | Free statewide search and claims. |
| Georgia | Yes | Georgia DOR Unclaimed Property | Free search; participates in MissingMoney. |
| North Carolina | Yes | NC Treasurer NCCash | Free search and online claims. |
| Michigan | Yes | Michigan Treasury Unclaimed Property | Free search; participates in MissingMoney. |
| New Jersey | Yes | NJ Unclaimed Property Administration | Free statewide search and claims. |
| Virginia | Yes | Virginia Treasury Vamoneysearch | Free search; participates in MissingMoney. |
| Washington | Yes | Washington DOR Unclaimed Property | Free search and online claims. |
| Arizona | Yes | Arizona DOR Unclaimed Property | Free search; participates in MissingMoney. |
| Tennessee | Yes | Tennessee Treasury ClaimItTN | Free search and online claims. |
Search your state's official unclaimed-property website and the NAUPA-endorsed MissingMoney.com. Both are free, and claiming your own property never costs a fee.
Yes. Official state databases and MissingMoney.com are free to search and to claim. Be wary of 'finder' services that charge a percentage for information you can get yourself.
Forgotten bank accounts, uncashed payroll or refund checks, insurance payouts, utility and security deposits, stocks, dividends, and safe-deposit-box contents that have gone dormant.
Yes. Heirs can claim inherited unclaimed property by providing proof of death, relationship, and entitlement through the state's claim process.
Indefinitely. States act as permanent custodians, so you or your heirs can claim eligible property years or even decades later.
Under escheatment laws, banks and companies must turn over assets to the state after a dormancy period (often 1–5 years) when they lose contact with the owner.
Official portals are perfect for verifying a single record. When you need compiled reports — combined people search, contact data, or multi-source background information — these professional lookup tools go further. They are paid services, not government sources.
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