Arizona Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Arizona is holding about $2.8 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at azdor.gov/unclaimed-property, the official Arizona Department of Revenue site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Arizona’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is azdor.gov/unclaimed-property, run by the Arizona Department of Revenue. 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. Arizona lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Arizona Department of Revenue
Arizona’s unclaimed property is held by the Arizona Department of Revenue. 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.
Unlike most states, Arizona runs its unclaimed property program through the Department of Revenue (ADOR) rather than a treasurer. ADOR publishes the exact total it owes owners — recently about $2.8 billion — and returned a record $88 million in a single fiscal year. One thing worth knowing: Arizona holds the property and collects interest on cash, and after 35 years the state can claim unclaimed funds for itself, so it pays to search now.
What’s specific to Arizona
- Arizona's program is administered by the Department of Revenue (ADOR), not a state treasurer.
- ADOR lists a precise figure — about $2.8 billion — due to owners on its official page.
- After 35 years, Arizona can claim still-unclaimed cash for the state, so don't leave money sitting.
- Arizona's finder-fee cap is 30% — one of the highest in the country — which makes filing yourself for free especially worth it.
How to claim in Arizona
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search your name on azdor.gov/unclaimed-property
Go to azdor.gov/unclaimed-property, the official Arizona 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. Arizona 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
Arizona 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 Arizona
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Arizona 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 Arizona accepts.
Dormancy periods in Arizona
“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 |
Arizona 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.
Arizona caps what a finder can charge at 30%, under Ariz. Rev. Stat. §44-327. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Arizona unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. It is the official unclaimed property search of the Arizona Department of Revenue. Searching and claiming are free. Arizona also reports to MissingMoney.com, but the ADOR site is the authoritative source.
Simple cash claims are usually processed within a few weeks to a couple of months once ADOR confirms your identity. Securities and deceased-owner claims take longer.
Yes. 'Found money' is just unclaimed property — old accounts, uncashed checks, deposits, and insurance ADOR is holding for you. You can search and claim it yourself for free at azdor.gov/unclaimed-property. No finder is required.
Arizona allows finders to charge up to 30% of the recovered amount under Ariz. Rev. Stat. §44-327 — among the highest caps anywhere — and bars agreements within 24 months of the property reaching ADOR. Because filing yourself is free, that 30% is money you can keep.
Yes, as an heir. ADOR will ask for a death certificate and proof of your right to the estate. See our guide on claiming for a deceased relative.
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.