Unclaimed money guides
The honest answers to the questions people actually ask before they claim — is this site real, do I need to pay, who inherits it. Written by the Unclaimed Guide Editorial Team and reviewed each quarter.
Is MissingMoney.com Legit? What It Is (and the States It Misses)
MissingMoney.com is the official NAUPA search site and it is legit. Here is who runs it, why it is free, and the states it does not cover — including California, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives: Who Can Claim and How
Who can claim a deceased relative's unclaimed money, the documents each state asks for, and how long heir claims take. A plain walkthrough with no finder required.
How to Find Unclaimed Money in Your Name for Free
A step-by-step, free way to find unclaimed money in your name across all 53 U.S. state programs and the major federal sources — no finder, no fee, no SSN required to search.
Unclaimed Property Finder Fees: Caps by State and Why You Never Need to Pay
What a finder's fee is, the legal cap in each state, and why you can always file the same claim yourself for free through the official state site.
Every Official State Unclaimed Property Website (Verified List)
The verified official unclaimed property website for all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Canada, plus what NAUPA (the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators) is.
City and County Unclaimed Money: The Local Lists the State Never Shows
Cities and counties hold their own unclaimed money — uncashed vendor and payroll checks and property-tax refunds — that never reaches the state database. Here's how to check both, with verified official links for NYC, San Diego, Los Angeles County, and Cook County.
Ohio's 2036 Unclaimed Funds Deadline (House Bill 96): What's Happening to $1.7 Billion
Ohio's House Bill 96 lets unclaimed funds held 10+ years escheat to the state, with a claim window to January 1, 2036 — and a court has temporarily blocked transfers. What it means, the dates, the lawsuits, and how to claim now.
Lost 401(k)s and Pensions: How to Find Old Retirement Money (Free)
How to find a lost 401(k) or missing pension for free: the Department of Labor's abandoned-plan search, the PBGC unclaimed pension database, and the new Retirement Savings Lost and Found created by SECURE 2.0.
Unclaimed Savings Bonds: How to Search Treasury Hunt for Matured Bonds
How to find matured or uncashed U.S. savings bonds for free using Treasury Hunt and TreasuryDirect. What 'matured' means, why bonds stop earning interest, and how to cash them — with no service fee.
Unclaimed IRS Tax Refunds: How to Find an Undelivered or Uncashed Refund
How to track down a missing federal tax refund for free with the IRS 'Where's My Refund' tool, how undelivered refund checks happen, and the deadline after which an unclaimed refund is gone for good.
FDIC and NCUA Unclaimed Funds: Money Left at Failed Banks and Credit Unions
How to search for unclaimed deposits from failed banks (FDIC) and credit unions (NCUA) for free, how the 18-month deadline works before funds move to the state, and how to file the claim yourself.
HUD/FHA Mortgage Insurance Refunds: How to Check for Free (and Avoid Tracer Fees)
How to check whether HUD owes you an FHA mortgage-insurance refund using the official HUD lookup — for free. Why 'tracer' companies that charge a cut are unnecessary, and how to claim it yourself.
Unclaimed Life Insurance: How to Find a Lost Policy With the NAIC Locator
How to find a deceased relative's lost life insurance policy or annuity for free using the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, plus VA and Social Security benefits that often go unclaimed.
How to Claim a Class-Action Settlement for Free (Step-by-Step)
How to claim a class-action settlement yourself for free: confirm you qualify, find the official court-approved administrator, file the claim form before the deadline, and get paid — no lawyer or paid filing service needed.
Is Your Class-Action Settlement Notice Real? How to Spot a Scam
Most class-action settlement notices are real, but scammers copy them. Learn the 7 signs of a fake settlement notice, how to verify a case in two minutes, and why a real settlement never asks you to pay a fee.
How to Find Class-Action Settlements You Qualify For (2026)
How to find class-action settlements you're actually eligible for: what a class definition means, how to check without a mailed notice, which settlements pay with no proof, and where to file free before the deadline.