State treasuries across the U.S. are holding over $58 billion in unclaimed property. Old bank accounts, forgotten insurance policies, uncashed paychecks, utility deposits — money that belongs to real people but has never been claimed.
What is unclaimed property?
When a financial institution, company, or government agency holds money that hasn't been touched for a certain period (usually 3-5 years), they're legally required to turn it over to the state. The state then holds it until the rightful owner claims it.
Common sources include: dormant bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance policy proceeds, utility deposits, stock dividends, gift card balances, and tax refunds.
The biggest states for unclaimed property
New York: Over $18 billion — the largest unclaimed property fund in the country. The state comptroller's office processes millions of claims annually.
California: Approximately $10 billion in unclaimed property. The State Controller's office has returned over $1 billion in the past three years.
Texas: Around $8 billion. The Texas Comptroller's office holds unclaimed property indefinitely — there's no deadline to claim.
Florida: Over $3 billion. Florida's Department of Financial Services makes it easy to search online.
Pennsylvania: Roughly $4 billion. One of the most proactive states for returning unclaimed property.
How to search for your unclaimed property
Option 1: Search each state individually. Every state has a free unclaimed property website. You'll need to search each state you've ever lived in. This works but is tedious if you've lived in multiple states.
Option 2: Use a multi-state search tool. Services like JustClaim search multiple state databases at once, saving you the time of checking each one individually.
Tips for finding your money
Search under maiden names, previous names, and common misspellings of your name. Check every state you've lived in, worked in, or had financial accounts in. Don't forget deceased family members — next of kin can often claim their property.
Is it really free to claim?
Yes. States never charge fees to claim your property. Be wary of companies that charge large percentages to "find" your unclaimed money — the same searches are available for free through state websites.
Search for your unclaimed property across all states with JustClaim →