Find Mass Money: Your Roadmap to Tracking Down Lost Assets and Funds

Find mass money for unclaimed property. Unclaimed money and assets are those funds or properties that are financially related where their rightful owner is not located or has no activity within the said asset for a long period of time.

Generally, unclaimed money or assets are surrendered to the government by the company, business, or organization that owes you money after a long period of time. The government has the right to hold and take the proprietorship of the unclaimed money of its citizens also known as Escheat.

Usually, Escheat happens when a person with funds or properties dies without a will or an inheritor. However, the main idea of escheat is that the unclaimed money or property will always have its acknowledged owner, this is where the federal or government acts. Each state in the United States has its respective laws and regulations regarding escheat.

Moreover, unclaimed money or assets can be reclaimed by its rightful owner but it needs to undergo a specific process. The process of getting your unclaimed funds or properties depends on your local state.

Want to Find Mass Money?

Here are some of the most common Unclaimed Money or Funds.

How Do Funds Become Unclaimed

Money or Funds of a person becomes unclaimed when the owner of the asset cannot be found or has no activeness with his/her assets according to its dormancy period. The dormancy period of an asset is the allocated time when a company or financial institution evaluates an asset as unclaimed until the government considers the asset as unclaimed.

Usually, the common dormancy for several states is a 5 years period. After the said program, the asset will undergo escheatment and will be under the government until the rightful owner reclaims the said asset.

Various causes can be counted as specific money or funds becoming unclaimed. For instance, a person will have a tax refund. Before the process of tax refund, the person moves from another house but does not update his/her new address with the tax authority.

In this case, the tax refund of the person will be unclaimed since the tax authority doesn’t know his/her new address. Another common situation for unclaimed funds is someone’s pension. If a closed company does not give information regarding the administration of pensions, the pensions of its employees will be unclaimed.

In terms of tax, as a specific property is considered unclaimed, it does not have tax. After the reclamation process wherein the property already belongs to its rightful owner, it can be recognized as taxable. However, some unclaimed property funds like investments can be reclaimed tax-free by their owner.

How to Find Mass Money?

You can find your unclaimed money by navigating to official databases for free.

1. If You Will Find Unclaimed Money In Your State:
   • Businesses and other financial institutions send the unclaimed money to respective state-run unclaimed property offices when the rightful owner of the money is not active. Mostly, insurance policies and bank accounts are the common unclaimed money held by each state.
2. If You Will Find Unclaimed Money From Your Employer:
   • The Department of Labor (DOL) manages the unclaimed money from employers, especially those unpaid wages, you can recover them once your employer breaks labor laws. Visit the Department of Labor website, write your employer's name, and search whether your employer owes you money.
3. If You Will Find Unclaimed Money From Insurance:
   • If you want to know whether you have unclaimed money or funds from your insurance, you can simply visit the insurance website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
4. If You Will Find Unclaimed Money From Tax Refund:
   • The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is in charge of when an individual has an unclaimed tax refund. Simply visit the IRS website and check if you have unclaimed tax refunds.
5. If You Will Find Unclaimed Money From Investments And Banking:
   • The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) handles unclaimed money when there’s a failure in the bank or financial institution of the owner.

How to Reclaim My Unclaimed Money?

Reclaiming unclaimed money or property varies somewhat by jurisdiction, but the general process is similar across states in the U.S. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Search for Unclaimed Money or Property:
   • Visit your state's official unclaimed property website. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) has a website called "Missing Money" which can guide you to your state's official site.
   • You can also check directly on your state's treasury or controller's website for a link to the unclaimed property division.
   • Input your name (and possibly other personal details) to search for any unclaimed assets.
2. Identify Your Property:
   • If your search returns any results, review the details to confirm it's genuinely your property (e.g., match the last known address).
3. Submit a Claim:
   • Click on the item you believe is yours and follow the website's instructions to claim it.
   • You will usually be required to provide proof of your identity and, in some cases, proof of your address at the time the asset became unclaimed.
4. Gather Necessary Documentation:
   • Typical required documents might include:
   • Photo identification (e.g., driver's license, passport)
   • Social Security card or a document with your SSN
   • Proof of address (e.g., old utility bills, rental agreements, or bank statements that match the last known address associated with the unclaimed property)
   • If claiming on behalf of a deceased relative, you may also need a death certificate, will, or other legal documentation proving your right to claim.
5. Submit Your Claim:
   • Once you've gathered all necessary documentation, submit your claim either electronically (if allowed by the website) or via mail.
6. Wait for Review:
   • The state's unclaimed property department will review your claim. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the state and the complexity of the claim.
7. Claim Approval:
   • Once your claim is approved, you will either receive a check for the amount or, in the case of physical property, instructions on how to retrieve it.

What are the Documents I Need Upon Reclamation?

When reclaiming unclaimed money or property, the specific documents required might vary slightly depending on the jurisdiction or the nature of the unclaimed property. However, here are some commonly requested documents to prove both your identity and your right to the property:

1. Proof of Identity:
   • Photo Identification: A current, government-issued photo ID such as:
     • Driver's license
     • Passport
     • State ID card
   • Social Security Number (SSN): A Social Security card or any official document that displays your SSN.
2. Proof of Residency:
   • Documents that show your connection to the address associated with the unclaimed property. Examples include:
     • Old utility bills
     • Rental or lease agreements
     • Bank statements
     • Tax returns
3. Proof of Ownership:
   • If the unclaimed property is a financial account, insurance policy, security deposit, or similar, you might need:
     • Original or copy of the policy or account statement
     • Any contract or agreement related to the property
4. Legal and Other Documents (where applicable):
   • Death Certificate: If you're claiming property that belonged to a deceased relative.
   • Probate Documents: Demonstrating your legal right to claim an estate.
   • Will or Trust Documents: Proving your right to inherit or manage assets.
   • Affidavits: In some cases, especially if other documentation is missing or incomplete, you might be asked to provide a sworn statement or affidavit attesting to your claim.
   • Power of Attorney: If you're claiming on behalf of someone else, you'd typically need a document proving your authority to act on their behalf.
   • Adoption or Name Change Documents: If your name has changed since the property became unclaimed, you might need to provide evidence of that change, such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or official name change documents.
   • Business Documentation: If claiming on behalf of a business, documents proving your association with or authority in the business might be required.

When initiating the reclamation process, it's essential to carefully review the specific requirements provided by the state or agency handling the unclaimed property. They'll typically provide a list or checklist of required documentation to support your claim. Make sure to provide clear, legible copies (or originals, if required) and ensure every document is relevant and supports your claim effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions