Unclaimed Money in Massachusetts
Search Massachusetts unclaimed property — also called missing money — for free. Massachusetts holds it indefinitely until you or your heirs claim it.
How Massachusetts's unclaimed property works
When a business in Massachusetts 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 the state's unclaimed property division after a dormancy period. The money sits there indefinitely, waiting for you (or your heirs) to claim it.
What makes Massachusetts different
Massachusetts's roll is heavily shaped by the Boston/Cambridge financial and biotech corridors: Fidelity, State Street, and Putnam mutual fund accounts that lost their owners; biotech equity from the Kendall Square ecosystem (RSUs, post-IPO holdings, merger remainders); and university-related payroll across the country's densest concentration of higher-ed institutions. The state has been historically aggressive about returning property — the Treasurer's office runs a heavy outreach calendar and publishes monthly new-owner lists on its site.
Massachusetts's law and holding agency
- Holding agency
- Massachusetts State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division
- General dormancy period
- 3 years for most property; 1 year for wages
- Wages: 1 year
- Utility deposits: 1 year
- Securities: 3 years
What gets reported in Massachusetts
- Uncashed paychecks from Massachusetts employers
- Dormant bank and credit-union accounts
- Insurance policy proceeds (life, auto, health refunds)
- Utility deposits when you moved out of Massachusetts
- 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 Massachusetts database: missingmoney.com.
- File the claim form. Most Massachusettsclaims 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 Massachusetts claims need a notarized signature. Online notaries run $5–$25.
- Wait for review. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts unclaimed property
Yes. Massachusetts returns your money directly. There is no fee to file or claim through the official portal.
Indefinitely. Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts or the state of residence. Heir claims are higher-value but more paperwork — consider a state-licensed recovery service for complex cases.
Yes — Boston-headquartered fund families remit unclaimed accounts to Massachusetts when they can't locate the owner. Search Mass and your state of residence both, since some assets may have been escheated either way.
Often yes. University and teaching-hospital payroll for short-term postdocs, fellows, and visiting researchers is a recurring category on the Mass roll.