Guides

MissingMoney.com is run by NAUPA, the official association of state unclaimed-property administrators.

Unclaimed property finders are usually legal — but most charge 10–35% for work you can do yourself in 20 minutes.

If you got a letter saying HUD owes you a mortgage insurance refund, here's how to verify it's legitimate, what HUD letters actually look like, and how to.

Found an old paycheck from a former employer? Here's how to cash it years later, what happens if the employer is gone, and where the state holds it if it was.

States hold unclaimed property indefinitely in most cases — but the money funds the state's general budget while it sits.

From filing to check in hand: most states process unclaimed property claims in 30 to 120 days. Here's the actual timeline by state, what slows it down, and.

Most denied unclaimed-property claims are documentation problems, not ownership disputes. Here are the common denial reasons, the state-by-state.

State unclaimed-property claims typically take 30 to 180 days. Here's what affects processing time, the published SLAs that exist, and how to file so your.

Remote Online Notarization is accepted in most states, but unclaimed-property portals don't all accept it.

Divorce decrees, QDROs, and beneficiary designations all affect who can claim unclaimed property held under an ex-spouse's name.

If you're a current or former federal employee, your unclaimed property may be in DC, your home state, or held federally.

Service members and veterans rack up unclaimed property across every state they were stationed in. Here's the multi-state strategy, the federal-vs-state pay.

If you or a relative immigrated and changed names — through naturalization, anglicization, or transliteration — there's likely property filed under a name no.

If you've changed your name through marriage or divorce, you have to search every name you've ever used.

California's Form 540 now asks whether you received unclaimed property from the state. Here's what gets reported, how it interacts with federal tax, and why.

Most unclaimed-property recoveries don't require amending a prior return — the IRS treats them as current-year income.

Recovered old wages from a state's unclaimed-property division? Here's whether to push for a W-2C from the original employer, accept a 1099-MISC, or amend a.

Inherited unclaimed property usually flows through with stepped-up basis and minimal tax. But income in respect of a decedent (IRD) is the trap that catches.

Life insurance death benefits are generally tax-free — even when unclaimed for years. But interest accrued on the unpaid benefit is taxable.

Whether your unclaimed-property recovery is taxable depends entirely on what kind of property it is. Bank principal, no. Interest, yes.

Arizona caps unclaimed-property finder fees at 30% — the highest in the country. The 24-month void window blunts the worst effects, but Arizona owners need to.

Washington caps unclaimed-property finder fees at 5% — the lowest in the country. Here's why the protection is so strong, what it means for owners, and why.

Texas caps unclaimed-property finder fees at 10% — but Tex. Prop. Code § 74.507 also lets recovery firms charge ‘reasonable attorney's fees' on top.

New York's Office of Unclaimed Funds holds about $19 billion — second only to California. Here's why the balance is so large, what types of property dominate.

Delaware reports outsized unclaimed-property volume because most US corporations are domiciled there.

Hawaii is the only US state that doesn't participate in MissingMoney.com. Search the Department of Budget and Finance portal directly — here's how.

Most US states pay zero interest on returned unclaimed property. A few pay partial — Connecticut, New York, a handful of others. Full breakdown.

California holds ~$13B+ in unclaimed property — and pays zero interest to claimants since 2003. The math, the politics, and what to do about it.

Most states use the Treasurer for unclaimed property — but at least 10 don't. Indiana uses the AG, Maryland the Comptroller. Full list and right portals.

Indiana is one of the few states where the Attorney General — not the Treasurer — runs unclaimed property.

Several states require unclaimed property finders to register. Texas publishes the list. Here's how to check and what registration actually guarantees.

Got a finder-fee letter? Use this template to decline, then file the claim yourself for free. Plus when to report the firm to the state.

MissingMoney.com is free and official. Finder firms charge 10–30% to do the same search. Here's the side-by-side comparison and the math.

States don't text claimants — full stop. If you got a text about unclaimed money, it's smishing. Here's how the scam works and what to do.

Finder firms aren't psychic. Every state's unclaimed property database is public, free, and searchable by anyone. Here's exactly how the letters reach you.

Quick 51-state reference of statutory finder-fee caps for unclaimed property. Washington 5% lowest, Arizona 30% highest. Most states cap at 10-15%.

Already signed a finder-fee contract? Most states let you rescind. Here's the 24-month unenforceability window, the rescission letter, and when to escalate.

Got a letter or text claiming you have unclaimed money? Here are the four tells of a finder-fee pitch, the FTC's 2026 alert, and how to spot real vs.

Old credit union account unclaimed? Here's how NCUA, escheatment, and state programs actually work — and how to claim your money for free.

Old stock certificates or shares at a broker that closed? Here's how DTCC, transfer agents (Computershare, Equiniti), and state escheatment work — and the.

Forgotten PayPal/Venmo/Cash App balance? Stored-value escheats after about 3 years in most states. Here's how to recover from the platform first, then claim.

Prudential, MetLife, and Manulife demutualized and gave policyholders shares. Many never got them. Here's how to find insurance demutualization unclaimed shares — free.

Forgotten crypto on an old or bankrupt exchange? How to recover funds from active accounts, dormant ones, and creditor processes for failed exchanges.

What's the average unclaimed property claim worth? Real numbers from NAUPA and state treasurers, plus what to actually expect when you file.

Treasury holds about $30B in matured, unredeemed savings bonds. Here's how to find old paper bonds, file FS Form 1048 for replacements, and claim a deceased.

Your stockbroker went out of business — here's how to find your shares using SIPC, transfer agents, and state unclaimed property. All free, no finders needed.

Want to recover an old security deposit? Here's how to chase your landlord, sue in small claims, or find it in state unclaimed property — for free.

Lost or never received an IRS refund check? Use Where's My Refund and Form 3911 to trace and replace it. Here's the step-by-step recovery process.

Missed a class action settlement? Here's how to find checks you're owed, what happens to the residual fund, and how to claim a payment a settlement.

Unclaimed property divorce rules depend on your state and when the money was earned. Here's how community and equitable distribution states split it.

Old security deposit never returned? Most states make landlords escheat unclaimed deposits to the unclaimed-property fund after 1-5 years.

Should I pay an unclaimed money finder? We run the math on typical claims, fee caps by state, and the rare cases where hiring one actually makes sense.

Utilities owe you the deposit refund within 30 days of closing service. If they didn't reach you, the money is in state unclaimed property.

Why didn't I know about unclaimed money? Due-diligence letters get lost, addresses go stale, and states rarely call. Here's how the notification gap really works.

Bank failed and you can't find your money? Here's how to file an FDIC failed bank claim, check the failed-bank list, and get your insured deposits back free.

If you earned a pension from a company that went bankrupt or was acquired, the PBGC Missing Participants database is the first stop.

Step-by-step: NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, MIB Group disclosure, employer group policies, fraternal orgs, and credit-union coverages.

How to find unclaimed VA benefits, SGLI/VGLI insurance funds, and disability backpay. Free searches, real form numbers, no finder fees.

The 2018 IRS ruling treats forced 401(k) distributions to state unclaimed property as taxable. Here's the 1099-R timing and how to fix missed reporting.

Learn how to find unclaimed class action settlement money for free using ClassAction.org, court administrators, and state databases. No finder fees needed.

The DOL Retirement Savings Lost & Found database went live in late 2024. Here's how to use it, plus Form 5500 lookups and state escheatment fallbacks.

Left a utility deposit behind when you moved? Here's how to find and claim that money — for free — in the state you used to live in.

Order at least three certified death certificates for a multi-state unclaimed property sweep. Plain copies aren't accepted.

Treasury Hunt savings bonds search is free. Here's how to find matured U.S. savings bonds, deal with paper vs electronic, and skip the finder fees.

Most states hold unclaimed property forever — no statute of limitations. Here's how to claim 30+ year-old funds from a deceased grandparent or distant relative.

Wondering 'did I get an FHA refund?' Here's how to check HUD's official database for free, what qualifies, and how to claim without paying a tracer.

How to claim unclaimed money for a deceased parent: free state searches, heir forms, death certificate rules, probate vs. small-estate, and timelines.

If you discovered unclaimed property after probate already closed, you may not need to reopen the case. Here's the supplemental-affidavit path by state.

Got a text about unclaimed property? Here's how to spot an unclaimed property text scam, verify legit notices, and claim your money for free.

If a parent's will left you out, you may still inherit unclaimed property. POD, TOD, joint accounts, and beneficiary designations bypass the will entirely.

In almost every state, a half-sibling has the same intestate claim to a deceased parent's unclaimed property as a full sibling. The few exceptions, explained.

How to search Pennsylvania unclaimed property free through PA Treasury, file a claim, and skip the finder fees. Forms, timelines, and tips inside.

How to search Florida unclaimed property and file a claim for free with the state's Treasure Hunt. Forms, timelines, and what to skip.

Splitting unclaimed property among multiple heirs in 2026: release-of-claim forms, pro-rata vs. per stirpes, disclaimers by state, what to do when a sibling.

Find U.S. savings bonds left by a deceased relative — TreasuryDirect search, FS Form 1048, paper-bond redemption with FS Form 1455. Not in NAUPA databases.

How a surviving spouse claims a deceased spouse's unclaimed property: community vs. common-law states, joint-account overrides, when no affidavit is needed in.

How to search and claim Texas unclaimed property for free through the Comptroller's ClaimItTexas.gov. Forms, timelines, and the 10% finder fee cap explained.

Twelve-item checklist for executors searching for a deceased's unclaimed property in 2026: state portals, PBGC, IRS, savings bonds, life insurance, and more.

Search New York unclaimed funds free through the NY OUF. Step-by-step claim process, timelines, and how to avoid finder fees on your $19B state fund.

Executor's playbook for searching and claiming a deceased relative's unclaimed property across every state where they lived: parallel filing, name variants.

Why Louisiana requires a judgment of possession for unclaimed-property heir claims, how civil-law succession differs, the timeline, and when to hire local.

How to file an heir affidavit for unclaimed property when the deceased left no will: intestate rules, notarization, and when the state pushes you to probate.

Step-by-step path for grandchildren claiming a deceased grandparent's unclaimed property: generation-skip rules, intervening-estate proof, and what evidence.

When state unclaimed-property divisions require letters testamentary versus a small-estate affidavit, plus what to do for cross-state probate in 2026.

Every state's small-estate-affidavit threshold for claiming unclaimed property in 2026 — caps, what counts toward the limit, and which states accept.

If your parent died and left unclaimed money in a state's custody, you may not need probate to claim it.

Step-by-step process for finding life insurance policies of a deceased parent — NAIC Policy Locator, state unclaimed property, financial records to check.

Most unclaimed money is not taxable when you finally receive it — because tax was already paid. The exceptions matter.

Every state's unclaimed money finder fee cap, with statute citations. Most states cap fees at 10%. You don't need a finder to claim your own money.

How to find and claim unclaimed property left by a deceased relative: where to search, what documents you need, how to handle multiple heirs, and what slows.

Current unclaimed-money scams in 2026: fake state notices via text, FHA refund letters with bogus fees, AI-generated voicemails.

Escheatment is the legal process that transfers forgotten property to the state. Here's how it works, why it exists, what triggers it, and what the state does.