Unclaimed funds exist in the form of forgotten bank accounts, lost stocks, and missing tax return checks. These are just a few of the types of unclaimed assets out there.
Recent estimates predict that one in 10 people in the US have some form of unclaimed money out there. But it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to get what’s rightfully owed to you. Also, there are a ton of scams out there that try to take advantage of people who are looking for unclaimed money.
In this post, you will learn how to go about the unclaimed money search.
Unclaimed Money Search: An Overview
When a bank account, missing tax check, or piece of physical property goes unclaimed, eventually, those funds get turned over to the government. From there, the government has the responsibility to safeguard those funds until the rightful owner claims them.
Similar to how each state in the US has its own tax department, healthcare system, and housing agency, unclaimed money is also processed by the state in which you reside. This means you have to find out the contact information and website of the unclaimed money department within your state. Or, if you have funds in a state where you used to live, you would have to contact that agency. (or in the state where you used to live).
Contrary to popular belief, the government does not reach out to the owners of the unclaimed assets. You have to know where to search.
Note: If you ever get a text message, email, or phone call from someone that is promising you have unclaimed money, it is probably a scam. Never reveal any personal information to someone that contacts you in this manner, unless you know for sure that this person can be trusted.
Finding Your Funds: Step by Step
- Step 1: The first step in the unclaimed money search process is to visit this official US Government website.
- Step 2: Scroll down and click on the link to search for funds on your state’s unclaimed property division, located at org. From there, you can conduct a free search based on the state where you live.
- Step 3: Visit MissingMoney.com, which is a service that searches for unclaimed funds across a multi-state database. This is the place to look if you aren’t sure where your money might be located.
We hope that this quick guide has been helpful. Make sure to keep visiting our site for more tips and information about grants, unclaimed money, and other resources.
