Don’t Miss Out on Unclaimed Property Day: How to Reclaim Your Lost Money or Property

On February 1, Unclaimed Property Day, remember that you may be owed a fortune. National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators: 1 in 7 Americans are eligible for unclaimed property. The average unclaimed property claim is $2,080.

How to Reclaim Your Lost money or property? (Photo: SA/Rachelle J)

How do you search for unclaimed money or property in your state?

The states retain $42 billion in unclaimed property and money, and you can check if your portion is waiting. A state may be holding onto your property if you’ve lived there.

You can utilize the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators‘ property search engine or free sites like MissingMoney.com and FindMyMoney to find unclaimed property or money in any state you’ve lived in.

New properties are reported annually, so even if your previous searches yielded no results, it’s worth checking again. On February 1st, Unclaimed Property Day will be here before we know it.

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How do you claim your property from a state after finding it?

The state may email you for further information after you file your claim. Some states need supporting papers to be mailed, while others allow online filing. Kentucky charges $1 for property over $10 as a holding fee.

Some states auction property after a deadline, but most do not. You can generally claim its worth from the state if so.

How long until you obtain your money or property?

As with claiming, property delivery times vary by state. The California state controller believes financial claims can be addressed in 30–60 days. More complex cases involving several heirs or corporations may take 180 days.

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