How to claim unclaimed money
Every state runs a free program. The details differ, but the steps are much the same. Confirm the specifics on your state's official site.
- Search every state you've lived or worked in. Start with MissingMoney.com (it searches participating states), then check each state's own site from NAUPA's directory. Search old names and old addresses too.
- Start the claim on the official site. In the states we cover, you search the state's database and start the claim right there. Type the address yourself; never follow a link from a text or email.
- Expect to prove who you are. States usually ask for ID and proof that the account is yours. Florida, for example, says a copy of your current ID with your current mailing address is required and that
providing your identification alone may not be sufficient.
Your claim form lists exactly what's needed. - Heirs: claiming for someone who died usually takes estate documents. North Carolina, for example, sends heirs to the county Clerk of Superior Court first.
- Wait for review. Times vary: New York says most claims are paid within 30 days, and North Carolina generally reviews and validates claims within 90 days.
You never have to pay
Finders (also called heir finders, asset locators or location services) are legal in many states, but they're optional, and states cap their fees. In California it's no more than 10% by law; in New York it's 15%. You can always claim directly for free. See each state guide.
States in our guides: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.
Sources
- Search for your unclaimed property (it's free), NAUPA, checked 2026-10-07
- California state guide (with its official sources)
- Florida state guide (with its official sources)
- Illinois state guide (with its official sources)
- New York state guide (with its official sources)
- North Carolina state guide (with its official sources)
- Pennsylvania state guide (with its official sources)