Maryland Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Maryland is holding about $2.7 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at the Comptroller of Maryland's unclaimed property site, the official Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Maryland’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is the Comptroller of Maryland's unclaimed property site, run by the Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division. 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. Maryland lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division
Maryland’s unclaimed property is held by the Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division. 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.
Maryland's Unclaimed Property Division sits inside the Office of the Comptroller, which holds more than $2.7 billion for residents. In October 2025 the Comptroller launched a modernized claims system — with electronic document upload and 24/7 status tracking — replacing software that was about three decades old. Property is held indefinitely for you or your heirs, and the office has returned everything from small refunds to six-figure checks.
What’s specific to Maryland
- Maryland's program is run by the Comptroller of Maryland, not a treasurer.
- A modernized online claims system launched in October 2025, with electronic uploads and 24/7 status tracking.
- Property is held indefinitely — there is no deadline to file a claim.
- Maryland sets no flat percentage cap on finder fees, but voids any finder agreement made within 24 months of the property reaching the state.
How to claim in Maryland
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search the Comptroller's unclaimed property site
Go to the Comptroller of Maryland's unclaimed property site and search your last name. Try maiden names and any Maryland business you owned. Searching is free.
Add each match to your claim
Open every result that could be you and add it. Maryland lists property under old addresses, so search each place you have lived.
Register and verify your identity
Create an account, get your claim number, and provide your address and Social Security number so the Comptroller can match you. There is no fee.
Upload documents electronically
The new system lets you upload a government ID and any required proof online. For estates, add a death certificate and legal paperwork.
Track and receive payment
Check your claim status online 24/7. Approved claims are paid by check; simple claims move fastest, and processing can take up to about 12 weeks.
Claiming for a deceased relative in Maryland
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Maryland 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 Maryland accepts.
Dormancy periods in Maryland
“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 |
|---|---|
| Uncashed paychecks / wages | 3 years |
| Bank accounts (checking/savings) | 3 years |
| Utility deposits | 3 years |
| Insurance proceeds | 3 years |
| Stocks / securities | 3 years |
| Money orders | 7 years |
Maryland 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.
Maryland does not set a flat percentage cap on finder fees. Instead, under Md. Code, Com. Law §17-325, no finder agreement is enforceable if it is signed within 24 months of the date the property is turned over to the state, and you can always challenge a fee as excessive. Either way, the same claim is free if you file it yourself.
Maryland unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. It is the official unclaimed property program of the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, reached through marylandtaxes.gov. Searching and claiming are free. If a site or letter asks for a fee just to see your money, it is not the state.
With the modernized system launched in October 2025, many claims are processed within a few weeks, though the Comptroller notes claims can take up to about 12 weeks. Stock and estate claims take longer because more documents are reviewed.
Yes. 'Found money' is unclaimed property — uncashed checks, forgotten accounts, and deposits the Comptroller is holding for you. You can search and claim it yourself for free through the state's official site; there is no fee and no finder required.
Maryland does not set a flat percentage cap, but under Md. Code, Com. Law §17-325 any finder agreement signed within 24 months of the property reaching the state is unenforceable. Because filing yourself is free, you almost never need a finder.
Yes, as an heir. Because Maryland holds property indefinitely, there is no deadline. The Comptroller will ask for a death certificate and proof you are entitled 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.