Why One State Search Isn’t Enough
Most people who look for unclaimed money search only the state they live in today. That’s a mistake. When a bank, employer or insurance company loses track of you, it reports the money to the state of your last known address on its records, which may be a place you left years ago.
If you’ve moved even once, part of your money could be sitting in another state’s database. In this guide, you’ll learn which states to search, how to use the free multi-state tool, and the search tricks that turn up matches most people miss.
Step 1: Make a List of Every State to Search
Before you open any website, take two minutes to list every state where you:
- Lived, even for a short time (including college towns)
- Worked or received a paycheck
- Opened a bank, credit union or brokerage account
- Paid a utility or rental security deposit
- Had an insurance policy or a relative who did
This list is your search plan. Money follows the address the company had on file, not where you live now.
Step 2: Run a Multi-State Search on MissingMoney.com
MissingMoney.com is the free multi-state search sponsored by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). One search checks the databases of all participating states at the same time.
- Enter your last name and first name. Leave the city blank on your first search so you don’t filter out old addresses.
- Leave the state field empty to search every participating state at once.
- Review each result. Pay attention to the city listed, since it often matches an old address.
- Select the properties that belong to you and add them to your claim.
Not every state participates in MissingMoney.com, and some states update their records on their own schedule. That’s why the next step matters.
Step 3: Search Each State’s Official Website
For every state on your list, also search that state’s own unclaimed property office. NAUPA keeps the official directory of state sites. Searching the state directly is a good way to catch records that a multi-state tool may not show, and some states let you file the claim online in the same session.
Tip: official state sites are run by the state treasurer, comptroller or department of revenue. If a site asks for a fee just to search, close it. Searching is always free.
Search Tricks That Find More Money
- Search name variations: maiden names, married names, nicknames (Bill vs. William), middle initials and common misspellings.
- Search for your business: if you owned or ran a company, search its name too.
- Search for relatives: parents, grandparents and spouses, including those who have passed away. Heirs can often claim.
- Try just your last name in smaller states, then scan the list for your first name or old cities.
- Repeat once a year. Companies report new property to states every year, so a search that came up empty today can show a match later.
What Kind of Money Will You Find?
| Type of property | Where it usually comes from |
|---|---|
| Dormant checking or savings | Banks and credit unions |
| Uncashed final paycheck | Former employers |
| Security deposit or overpayment | Landlords and utilities |
| Refund or credit balance | Retailers, hospitals, insurers |
| Stocks and dividends | Brokerages and transfer agents |
| Safe deposit box contents | Banks |
If you find something, don’t worry about the paperwork yet. We cover documents and the claim process in detail in Step 6 of this guide.
Next Step: Check for unclaimed IRS tax refunds
State databases only hold part of the picture. The IRS is also sitting on refunds for people who never filed, and unlike state money, those refunds have a hard deadline. The next step shows how to check and what happens if you wait too long.
Your Unclaimed Money Checklist
This guide is part of a 7-step series. Work through each step to make sure you haven’t missed any money in your name:
- Step 1: Search every state you have lived in (you are here)
- Step 2: Check for unclaimed IRS tax refunds
- Step 3: Find old savings bonds with Treasury Hunt
- Step 4: Look for back wages from old jobs
- Step 5: Check the federal databases
- Step 6: File your claim the right way
- Step 7: Avoid unclaimed money scams
