Missingmoney.com is a national database of governmental unclaimed property records that was first established in 1999 with the intention of helping the public to locate lost or stolen property, money and/or assets. It was founded by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and allows users to perform searches for lost money or missing assets.http://www.missingmoney.com/GeneralHelp/Help.cfm?Type=WhoWeAre Users search by entering in their first and last names. They can filter their searches to specific towns or cities or expand it to include the entire United States. All searches are free of charge and the data is updated monthly. If property is found alongside a user's name, the website provides links to other sites that can help with the next step towards rightful recovery.
Unclaimed Funds: Peter Franchot Interview
In this video, Peter Franchot explains how they have $700 million in unclaimed funds. These funds come from stocks in safety deposit boxes, life insurance policies and many other sources. They work hard to find the rightful owners of these assets and encourage people to visit MissingMoney.com to see if any of the money might be theirs.
How to Claim Property
Missingmoney.com claims to be completely secure, so users don't have to worry about their information being sold, shared or distributed in any way. After performing a search, a list of records are displayed. Users click on familiar records and can initiate a claim to the property or money listed. A claim form is filled out and then sent to the proper state government agency for review and possible redemption.http://www.missingmoney.com/GeneralHelp/Help.cfm?Type=Claim
Types of Unclaimed Property
According to the website, common types of unclaimed property include: bank accounts and safe deposit box contents, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, dividends, uncashed checks and wages, insurance policies, CDs, trust funds, utility deposits and escrow accounts. The site does not list unclaimed real estate property.http://missingmoney.com/
In order to recover missing assets, users must select the assets and then file a claim. The claims will be processed by individual states and it will take varying amounts of time to recover the assets, however the site provides contact information that will enable users to check on the status of their claims.
Disclaimer
The content of this page is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice.
References
Fast Facts
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Site enables visitors to find out if they have unclaimed property or money
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Site links to different state sites if property found under your name
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Database is updated monthlyOfficial Site: Missing Money
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Participating states are added frequentlyOfficial Site: Missing Money
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Some states only list minimum amountsOfficial Site: Missing Money FAQ
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Some states only list recent itemsOfficial Site: Missing Money FAQ
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Search results limited to 200 resultsOfficial Site: Missing Money FAQ
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States do not impose time limits for claims, property held in perpetuityOfficial Site: Missing Money FAQ
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Heirs can apply for inherited propertyOfficial Site: Missing Money FAQ
