Every year millions of dollars are turned over to state Unclaimed Property Departments.

Gift certificates are lost and never redeemed. Bank accounts go dormant because the owner either forgot about the account or died. Insurance payments are lost and never cashed. Safety deposit boxes are forgotten. If the companies holding money or valuables can't locate the owners within a certain time period, eventually the property is turned over to the state. It's required by law.

There are many companies out there that claim they will help you find your property, but they’ll charge you a fee. You don’t need to pay a fee. If your state is holding unclaimed property in your name, then the state is looking for you. They want to find you and they’ll help you for free.

The site MissingMoney.com lets your search for unclaimed property in 32 states. It’s fast, free and you can search multiple states at one time. If your in one of the 18 states that are not included, then you can go directly to the states unclaimed property web page.

Almost every state has a searchable database online and I’ve included links to almost every state’s unclaimed property division below. Search for your name, the names of your relatives, friends and even your neighbors. You might be surprised at who you find.

Your search won't yield a lot of detailed information. Most states only release the name of the property owner, their last city of residence and the name of the company that turned the property over to the state. While it’s not a lot of information, it’s usually enough to determine if you should pursue the matter.

The unclaimed property department won’t just hand over the assets. If you think you’ve found property that belongs to you or your relatives, then you’ll have to file a claim and prove ownership. So be prepared to wait while your application is researched and approved.

If you have questions about the process, just call the Unclaimed Property Office for your state. They’ll be happy to help you.

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