Unclaimed Money in Delaware
Search Delaware unclaimed property — also called missing money — for free. Delaware holds it indefinitely until you or your heirs claim it.
How Delaware's unclaimed property works
When a business in Delaware can't reach you to return money — an uncashed paycheck, a forgotten checking account, a security deposit — state law requires them to turn it over to Delaware's unclaimed property division after a dormancy period. The money sits there indefinitely, waiting for you (or your heirs) to claim it.
What makes Delaware different
Delaware is the most consequential state in the country for unclaimed property despite being the second-smallest, because more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated there. Under the 'state of incorporation' rule from Texas v. New Jersey (1965), property owed to an unknown owner generally escheats to the holder's state of incorporation — which means Delaware receives an outsized share of unclaimed corporate equity, dividends, and credit balances. Unclaimed property is one of the state's largest revenue sources after the corporate franchise tax, and Delaware's audit posture toward Fortune 500 holders is the most aggressive in the country.
Delaware's law and holding agency
- Holding agency
- Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property (Department of Finance)
- Governing statute
- Delaware Escheats Law — 12 Del. C. § 1130 et seq.
- General dormancy period
- 5 years for most property under Delaware's general schedule
- Wages: 1 year
- Securities: 5 years
- Money orders: 7 years
What gets reported in Delaware
- Uncashed paychecks from Delaware employers
- Dormant bank and credit-union accounts
- Insurance policy proceeds (life, auto, health refunds)
- Utility deposits when you moved out of Delaware
- Security deposits from rentals
- Stocks, dividends, and brokerage account proceeds
- Court-ordered restitution and refunds
How to file your claim
- Search. Use our free search above, or go directly to the Delaware database: unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov.
- File the claim form. Most Delawareclaims are filed online with name, address, and proof of identity (driver's license or passport).
- Provide proof of ownership. For accounts at old addresses, you may need utility bills, lease records, or pay stubs from the matching period.
- Notarize if required. Some Delaware claims need a notarized signature. Online notaries run $5–$25.
- Wait for review. Delaware typically takes 30–180 days to review and pay valid claims. Payment is by check or ACH directly from the state.
Frequently asked questions about Delaware unclaimed property
Yes. Delaware returns your money directly. There is no fee to file or claim through the official portal.
Indefinitely. Delaware, like most states, does not extinguish valid claims — the money waits for you or your heirs as long as it takes.
Yes. You'll need a death certificate, proof of relationship, and (often) probate documents from Delaware or the state of residence. Heir claims are higher-value but more paperwork — consider a state-licensed recovery service for complex cases.
Because most large US public companies are incorporated in Delaware, and unclaimed property whose owner can't be located escheats to the company's state of incorporation. So Delaware ends up holding decades of orphan dividends, stock proceeds, and credit balances from companies headquartered all over the country.
If you ever held stock in a Delaware-incorporated public company (most Fortune 500 firms) and the company lost track of you, the unpaid dividends or shares may have been remitted to Delaware rather than your home state.
Related guides
- What happens if you never claim unclaimed money?
- Why does the state have my money? Escheatment explained