Quick answer: Every state keeps a free, official database of unclaimed money: old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, utility deposits, insurance payouts and refunds. Search each state where you have lived or worked, using the official links in the table below. It costs nothing to search or claim your own money. The national group of state programs says about 1 in 7 Americans has unclaimed property, and states return more than $4 billion a year.
I built this page because the hardest part of finding unclaimed money is not the search. It is finding the real state website. Search “unclaimed money” and you get ads, finder companies that charge a fee, and lookalike sites. Every link below goes to an official state program. I checked each one by hand on Oct. 31, 2026.
How to search for unclaimed money in 3 steps
- List every state you have lived, worked or banked in. Money is held by the state of your last known address, not where you live now.
- Search each state’s official site below. Try your full name, then your last name only, then old names (maiden name, misspellings, initials).
- File a claim on the same site. Most states let you claim online and upload an ID. Small claims are often paid in a few weeks; larger ones can take a few months.
Unclaimed money by state: all 50 official sites + D.C.
Links open the state’s own program. Where we have written a full guide for a state, you will find it next to the link.
| State | Who runs it | Official search site |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Treasurer | unclaimed.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | Department of Revenue | unclaimedproperty.alaska.gov |
| Arizona | Department of Revenue | azdor.gov |
| Arkansas | Auditor of State | claimitar.gov |
| California | State Controller | claimit.ca.gov · Our California guide |
| Colorado | State Treasurer (Great Colorado Payback) | unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | State Treasurer (CT Big List) | ctbiglist.gov |
| Delaware | Department of Finance | unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov |
| District of Columbia | Office of Finance and Treasury | unclaimedproperty.dc.gov |
| Florida | Chief Financial Officer (Claim Your Cash FL) | claimyourcashfl.gov · Our Florida guide |
| Georgia | Department of Revenue | dor.georgia.gov · Our Georgia guide |
| Hawaii | Department of Budget and Finance | unclaimedproperty.hawaii.gov |
| Idaho | State Treasurer | yourmoney.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | State Treasurer (I-Cash) | icash.illinoistreasurer.gov · Our Illinois guide |
| Indiana | Attorney General | indianaunclaimed.gov |
| Iowa | State Treasurer (Great Iowa Treasure Hunt) | greatiowatreasurehunt.gov |
| Kansas | State Treasurer | kansascash.ks.gov |
| Kentucky | State Treasurer | treasury.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | State Treasurer (LA Cash Claim) | lacashclaim.org |
| Maine | State Treasurer | maineunclaimedproperty.gov |
| Maryland | Comptroller | claimitmd.gov |
| Massachusetts | State Treasurer | findmassmoney.gov |
| Michigan | Department of Treasury | unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov |
| Minnesota | Department of Commerce | mn.gov/commerce |
| Mississippi | State Treasurer | treasury.ms.gov |
| Missouri | State Treasurer | treasurer.mo.gov |
| Montana | Department of Revenue | revenue.mt.gov |
| Nebraska | State Treasurer | nebraskalostcash.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | State Treasurer | nevadatreasurer.gov |
| New Hampshire | State Treasury | nh.gov/treasury |
| New Jersey | Department of the Treasury | unclaimedfunds.nj.gov |
| New Mexico | Taxation and Revenue Department | tax.newmexico.gov |
| New York | State Comptroller | osc.ny.gov · Our New York guide |
| North Carolina | State Treasurer (NCCash) | nccash.gov |
| North Dakota | Department of Trust Lands | unclaimedproperty.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Department of Commerce | unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov · Our Ohio guide |
| Oklahoma | State Treasurer | oklahoma.gov/treasurer |
| Oregon | Department of State Lands | unclaimed.oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | State Treasury | patreasury.gov · Our Pennsylvania guide |
| Rhode Island | General Treasurer | findrimoney.gov |
| South Carolina | State Treasurer | treasurer.sc.gov portal |
| South Dakota | State Treasurer | sdtreasurer.gov |
| Tennessee | Treasury Department | treasury.tn.gov |
| Texas | Comptroller | claimittexas.gov · Our Texas guide |
| Utah | State Treasurer | mycash.utah.gov |
| Vermont | State Treasurer | vermonttreasurer.gov |
| Virginia | Department of the Treasury | vamoneysearch.gov |
| Washington | Department of Revenue | ucp.dor.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | State Treasurer | wvunclaimedproperty.gov |
| Wisconsin | Department of Revenue | revenue.wi.gov |
| Wyoming | State Treasurer | statetreasurer.wyo.gov |
Also read: How to Find Unclaimed Money in Your Name: 5 Free Places to Check
Search many states at once: MissingMoney.com
MissingMoney.com is a free search endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), the group that represents state programs. It lets you search many participating states in one go. It is a good first step if you have moved a lot.
Not every state shares every record there, though. If MissingMoney shows nothing, still search each state’s own site from the table. That is where the full, current list lives.
What kind of money ends up unclaimed?
- Bank accounts left alone for years, including old checking and savings accounts.
- Uncashed checks: final paychecks, vendor refunds, rebate checks and dividends.
- Deposits: utility, rental and phone deposits that were never returned after a move.
- Insurance: life insurance payouts and refunds of overpaid premiums.
- Investments: stocks, mutual fund shares and dividends from forgotten accounts.
- Safe deposit box contents from boxes that stopped being paid.
Businesses must turn this money over to the state after a set “dormancy” period, often three to five years with no contact. The state then holds it, usually with no time limit, until the owner or an heir claims it.
Made-up example (not a real person): Maria grew up in Ohio, went to college in Pennsylvania and now lives in Texas. She searches Texas first and finds nothing. Then she checks Ohio and finds a $212 utility deposit from her first apartment. Pennsylvania shows a $64 final paycheck from a campus job. Ten minutes, $276. That is why searching every state you have lived in matters.
How to claim money for someone who died
Heirs can claim a relative’s unclaimed property. Each state sets its own rules, but you usually need:
- A copy of the death certificate.
- Proof you are entitled to the money, such as letters of administration, a will, or a small-estate affidavit.
- Your own photo ID and proof of your relationship to the owner.
Some states allow a simple affidavit for small amounts. Georgia, for example, created an heir affidavit for claims up to $7,500 in 2026. Check the state’s site for its exact limit and forms.
How to avoid unclaimed money scams
- Searching and claiming is always free on the official state sites. Nobody needs to charge you to get your own money.
- Finder companies may legally offer to claim money for a fee, often a percentage. You can do the same thing yourself for free.
- Be careful with texts and emails saying you have unclaimed money and asking you to click a link or pay a fee. Go to the state’s site yourself from the table above instead.
- Look for .gov in most state addresses. A few official programs use other domains (Louisiana’s lacashclaim.org and South Carolina’s search portal, for example), and those are listed here from the state treasurers’ own pages.
Tips that find more money
- Search old addresses’ states, not just your current one. This is the most common miss.
- Try name variations: “Robert,” “Bob,” “Rob,” middle initials, and maiden names.
- Search for your business if you have ever run one. Businesses have unclaimed refunds too.
- Search for parents and grandparents. Many claims are inherited money nobody knew about.
- Check again once a year. New money is added as businesses report it.
If your claim is slow or denied
- Check the claim status online. Most state sites give you a claim number and a status page.
- Answer document requests quickly. Most delays come from a missing ID, an old address you cannot prove, or an unsigned form.
- Prove the old address. An old tax return, utility bill, lease or bank statement showing that address usually works.
- Call the state program directly. Use the phone number on the official site, not one from an ad or a text message.
- Ask how to appeal. If a claim is denied, the state will usually explain why and how to send more proof.
Keep your papers ready for claims
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Nexgen Headlines earns from qualifying purchases.
Federal money is separate
State sites do not cover money held by the federal government. Check these too:
- IRS: unclaimed tax refunds, through the “Where’s My Refund?” tool at irs.gov.
- Treasury savings bonds: matured bonds through TreasuryDirect’s Treasury Hunt.
- FTC refunds: money from settlements with scam companies. See our FTC refund guide.
- Old pensions: the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) search.
FAQ
Is it free to search for unclaimed money?
Yes. Searching and claiming your own money on official state sites is free. Be wary of anyone asking for a fee.
Which state should I search?
Every state where you have lived, worked or had a bank account. Money is held by the state of your last known address with the business that owed you.
Is MissingMoney.com legit?
Yes. It is a free search endorsed by NAUPA, the national group of state unclaimed property programs. Still search each state’s own site, because not every record appears there.
How long does it take to get paid?
It depends on the state and the amount. Small, simple claims can be paid within weeks; larger claims or claims for a relative who died can take several months.
Does unclaimed money expire?
In most states, no. The state holds the money for the owner or heirs with no deadline, though rules vary by state.
Bottom line
Unclaimed money is real, common and free to claim. Take ten minutes, search every state you have lived in using the official links above, and check again next year. If you find something for a relative, you may be able to claim it as an heir.
Last reviewed: Oct. 31, 2026. All 51 links were checked on this date.
Sources: NAUPA: Search for your unclaimed property; official state unclaimed property programs linked in the table above; MissingMoney.com; IRS refunds; TreasuryDirect: Treasury Hunt.
Featured image: Assorted US bills. Photo: Tracy O / Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; edited by Nexgen Headlines.
