Alabama Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Alabama is holding about $1.0 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at Alabama Unclaimed Property (treasury.alabama.gov), the official Office of the Alabama State Treasurer site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Alabama’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is Alabama Unclaimed Property (treasury.alabama.gov), run by the Office of the Alabama State Treasurer. Searching is free, and so is filing your claim. You never pay the state to get your own money, and you never need to hand over money to see what is waiting for you.
Search your last name first, then try maiden names, nicknames, and any business you owned. Alabama lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Office of the Alabama State Treasurer
Alabama’s unclaimed property is held by the Office of the Alabama State Treasurer. When a bank, employer, or insurer loses touch with you for the state’s dormancy period, it must turn your money over to this office, which then holds it for you to claim.
Alabama Unclaimed Property is run by the Office of the State Treasurer, which safeguards the money at no charge until the rightful owner or heir comes forward. The Treasurer's office says it is holding more than $1 billion for Alabamians and returned roughly $50 million in a single recent year. A friendly quirk from the Treasurer: check on your birthday every year, since new property is turned over annually and one in seven Americans has some waiting.
What’s specific to Alabama
- Alabama is holding more than $1 billion in unclaimed property for current and former residents.
- The Treasurer suggests searching on your birthday each year as an easy reminder.
- Unclaimed safe-deposit box contents that stay unclaimed may be sold at public auction, with the proceeds still held for the owner.
- About 1 in 7 Alabamians has unclaimed property to claim.
How to claim in Alabama
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search your name on Alabama Unclaimed Property (treasury.alabama.gov)
Go to Alabama Unclaimed Property (treasury.alabama.gov), the official Alabama portal, and search your first and last name. Also search maiden names, misspellings, and any business you owned. Searching is free and takes about two minutes.
Open each matching property and add it to your claim
Click any result that looks like you and add it to your claim. Alabama lets you claim several properties at once, so check every address you have lived at.
Confirm your identity
The state asks for your current address and the last four digits of your Social Security number to match you to the property. You never pay a fee and you never send money to claim.
Upload proof and submit
Upload a photo of your government ID and, if asked, proof of your old address. Submit the claim online. Print the confirmation page for your records.
Wait for the state to review and pay
Alabama reviews the claim and pays valid claims by check or direct deposit. Simple cash claims are usually the fastest; claims involving stock or a deceased owner take longer.
Claiming for a deceased relative in Alabama
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Alabama will ask for more than a simple claim needs. Expect to provide a certified death certificate and proof that you are entitled to the estate — a will, letters testamentary, or a small-estate affidavit, depending on the amount.
Here’s the honest part: heir claims take longer than claims in your own name, sometimes several months, because the state verifies the chain of inheritance. If several heirs exist, each may need to sign. Our guide on claiming unclaimed money from deceased relatives walks through exactly which documents Alabama accepts.
Dormancy periods in Alabama
“Dormancy” is how long an account can sit untouched before the holder must report it to the state. It varies by property type:
| Property type | Dormancy period |
|---|---|
| Bank accounts (checking/savings) | 3 years |
| Uncashed paychecks / wages | 1 year |
| Utility deposits | 1 year |
| Insurance proceeds | 3 years |
| Stocks / securities | 3 years |
| Money orders | 7 years |
Alabama finder-fee cap
You do not need a finder. A finder is a company that offers to recover your money for a cut. Their letters are not a scam, but they are unnecessary — the same claim is free if you file it yourself.
Alabama caps what a finder can charge at 10%, under Ala. Code §35-12-93. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Alabama unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. It is the official program of the Office of the Alabama State Treasurer. Searching and claiming are both free. The state never charges you to return your own money, so ignore any site or letter that asks for an upfront fee.
Straightforward cash claims are typically paid within a few weeks to a couple of months after the Treasurer verifies your identity. Claims for stock, safe-deposit contents, or a deceased owner take longer.
Yes. 'Found money' is unclaimed property — forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance, and utility deposits the Treasurer is holding for you. You can search and claim it yourself for free at treasury.alabama.gov; you never need to pay a finder.
Under Ala. Code §35-12-93, a finder cannot charge more than 10% of the amount claimed, and cannot even sign you to a contract until 24 months after the property reaches the Treasurer. Filing yourself is free, so most people never need one.
Yes, as an heir. The Treasurer will ask for a death certificate and proof you are entitled to the estate. See our guide on claiming for a deceased relative for the exact documents.
Unclaimed property in nearby states
See all state guides, or read how to find unclaimed money in your name for free across every state and federal source.