Unclaimed money from a deceased relative: heir claim checklist

1. **MissingMoney.com** — the state aggregator. Cover most states with one search. Use the deceased's name, with and without middle initial; try maiden names if applicable. 2. **State unclaimed property sites for every state the deceased lived in.** Property is held by the state where the property originated, not where the person died — so a deposit from a job in California 30 years ago stays in California even if your relative moved to Florida. 3. **California, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware** directly — these states' funds aren't always fully indexed in MissingMoney.com. 4. **NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator** (eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator) — for unclaimed life insurance. 5. **PBGC** (pbgc.gov) — for unclaimed pensions if the deceased worked at a company with a defined-benefit plan. 6. **HUD FHA refunds** — if the deceased ever had an FHA mortgage that was paid off early. 7. **Treasury matured savings bonds** (treasurydirect.gov/services/treasury-hunt) — for old paper bonds. This sweep takes about 20 minutes per state and surfaces the vast majority of unclaimed property.

Every state varies, but the standard heir-claim packet includes: - **Death certificate** (certified copy, not a photocopy — most states require originals or notarized true copies) - **Proof of relationship to the deceased:** birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption decree, etc. - **Will** (probated or not, depending on state) **or letters testamentary/letters of administration** if probate is open - **Small-estate affidavit** if the estate qualifies and probate isn't open (most states allow this for estates under a certain dollar threshold — typically $50K to $150K) - **Your photo ID** and current address proof - **The state's claim form, notarized** - **EIN of the estate** if the estate is being claimed as a legal entity, or the heir's SSN if claiming individually Additional documents commonly requested: a copy of the obituary, prior tax returns showing the deceased's address history, old W-2s if claiming wages.

Three patterns: 1. **Probate is open or closed:** the estate's executor/administrator claims on behalf of the estate. The state issues the check to the estate, which then distributes per the will or intestate succession. 2. **No probate, intestate (no will):** state intestate succession law determines heirs. Typically: spouse first, then children equally, then parents, then siblings. The state will require evidence of who the heirs are. If multiple heirs, they often must sign consents agreeing on how the property is divided. 3. **No probate, will exists:** the will identifies the heirs. The named heir(s) submit the will (often a probated version, or a small-estate affidavit) along with their claim. If you're claiming and other heirs may also have a right, you generally need their written consent — or you'll claim only your fractional share.

1. **Missing original death certificates.** States generally require certified originals; photocopies bounce. Order from the vital records office of the state where death occurred — typically $25 each. 2. **Disputes among heirs.** If two siblings disagree about who should claim, the state will not step in to adjudicate. The claim sits until you sort it out among yourselves. 3. **Unclear estate situation.** Did probate happen? Was it ever opened? If not, can you do a small-estate affidavit instead? Each state has different thresholds and rules; getting this wrong adds 60 to 90 days. 4. **Old property records.** If the property has been at the state for 30+ years, the state may have lost some original supporting documentation. They may ask for additional proof of the deceased's identity from the time period. 5. **Multiple states.** If your relative lived in five states over their life, you may have five separate claims to file, each with its own paperwork.

Heir claims are one of the few cases where a finder/locator firm sometimes earns its fee — but only when the situation is genuinely complex. Worth considering if: - Multiple states involved with conflicting laws - High-value claim ($10K+) with title research needed (mineral rights, oil/gas royalties, old securities) - Heir disputes requiring legal mediation - Estate that was never properly probated and now has tax or title complications Not worth it for: routine claims under $5K, single-state property, simple immediate-family heirship, anything where the documents are straightforward. Even when worth it, the standard fee is 10–25%, never 35%+. If you sign a contract, read it carefully and verify the firm is licensed/registered in your state.

Most heir claims aren't taxable income. The principal of bank accounts, life insurance, and most refunds passes to heirs without federal income tax. Exceptions where tax does apply: - Pension/IRA distributions — taxed as ordinary income to the heir - Stock sold by the state before paying you — capital gains based on stepped-up basis - Estate tax — only if the total estate exceeded the exclusion (~$13.6M federal in 2026) For very large recoveries, consult a CPA. For routine recoveries under $50K, the answer is almost always: not taxable as income.

Plan on 4 to 9 months from filing to check. Faster if: single-state, simple immediate family, complete document set, no probate complications. Slower if: multi-state, multiple heirs, contested estate, old property requiring additional verification.

Heir claims are valuable and worth the paperwork. The most common reason families miss them: nobody searches. Once a year, run a quick MissingMoney.com search on every deceased relative whose property could have escheated. Twenty minutes of typing has, for some families, surfaced four-figure recoveries that no one had any reason to expect.