North America
Unclaimed assets in United States
Estimated unclaimed
$70B+
≈ $70B · USD
Government authority
State Unclaimed Property Offices (NAUPA network)
Official search
Unclaimed.org / MissingMoney.com
Overview
In the U.S., unclaimed property is held by each state's treasury or comptroller under escheatment law, not by a single federal body. Collectively states hold tens of billions of dollars in dormant bank accounts, uncashed payroll and insurance cheques, forgotten security deposits and safe-deposit-box contents. Every state offers a free official search; the NAUPA-endorsed MissingMoney.com aggregates most of them. There is no fee to claim — beware paid 'finder' services.
Asset types held
Documents you'll typically need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of current address
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Documentation linking you to the property or prior address
Common mistakes
- • Paying a finder a percentage for something you can claim free
- • Searching only your current state (search every state you've lived in)
- • Not checking maiden names, misspellings and business names
Success tips
- • Search MissingMoney.com plus each state treasury site directly
- • Check names of deceased relatives you may inherit from
- • Re-run searches annually — new property is reported each year
Frequently asked questions
Keep your own assets findable
LifeWyn records what you own and who should inherit it — so your family never has to hunt through United States's registries.