How to Find Your Unfound Money

May 1, 2006 — -- While the possibility always exists of finding some extra change under the cushions or a forgotten bill in the pocket of a pair of pants or a jacket, significant money may be out there for your taking -- you just need to find it.

According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, state governments have about $22.8 billion in unclaimed assets. In 2003, the last year NAUPA tracked unclaimed assets, 953,000 successful claims were made, resulting in $876 million in property being returned to its rightful owners.

What constitutes unclaimed property?
Unclaimed property is generally defined as any financial asset that has had no activity by its owner for a period of five years or more. This includes savings accounts, safety deposit boxes, checking accounts, uncashed dividends, stocks, customer deposits or overpayments, certificates of deposit, credit balances, refunds, matured life insurance policies, and uncashed death benefit checks.

For example, if you have ever moved without getting your utility deposit back or forgotten about an old checking or savings account, you are entitled to those funds from your state. Unclaimed property is normally turned over to the state or federal government by financial institutions, until the rightful recipient (you!) recovers them or until the property is sold at auction.

What is the average amount people can expect is out there in their name?
It's been reported that one out of eight persons in the United States has unclaimed property. The average claim amounts to roughly $920.

How can you find out if you have unclaimed property?
When it comes to hunting for your own potentially hidden treasures, many states have made finding and recovering unclaimed property pretty simple. Most states publish (twice a year) all unclaimed property in the newspaper. Also, many states offer free, online access to property databases and even online claim forms.

NAUPA (unclaimed.org), a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Association of State Treasurers, is an excellent source for information on unclaimed property. NAUPA's site links to individual state Web sites that allow you to search for your property.