Michigan Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Michigan is holding about $2.0 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, the official Michigan Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Michigan’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, run by the Michigan Department of Treasury, 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. Michigan lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Michigan Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division
Michigan’s unclaimed property is held by the Michigan Department of Treasury, 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.
Michigan's Unclaimed Property Division sits inside the Department of Treasury and reports to MissingMoney.com. Michigan leans on its online claim system and asks most claimants to upload documents through the portal rather than mail them, which speeds up review.
What’s specific to Michigan
- Michigan processes most claims through document uploads, not the mail.
- The Treasury runs periodic 'Michigan Money' outreach around tax season.
- Michigan holds property indefinitely — there is no claim deadline.
How to claim in Michigan
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search your name on unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov
Go to unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, the official Michigan 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. Michigan 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
Michigan 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 Michigan
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Michigan 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 Michigan accepts.
Dormancy periods in Michigan
“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 | 3 years |
| Uncashed wages | 1 year |
| Utility deposits | 1 year |
| Insurance proceeds | 3 years |
| Stocks and dividends | 3 years |
| Travelers checks | 15 years |
Michigan 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.
Michigan caps what a finder can charge at 10%, under Mich. Comp. Laws §567.251. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Michigan unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov is run by the Michigan Department of Treasury. Searching and claiming are free, and Michigan reports to MissingMoney.com.
Yes. 'Found money' is unclaimed property the Michigan Department of Treasury holds for you — old accounts, refunds, and uncashed checks. It is free to search and claim at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, and Michigan reports to MissingMoney.com.
Search your name at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, add your properties to a claim, verify your identity, and upload your ID. The Treasury pays approved claims by check.
Straightforward claims are typically reviewed within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the property type.
Michigan caps finder's fees at 10% under Mich. Comp. Laws §567.251. You do not need a finder for a claim in your own name.
Yes, as an heir, with a death certificate and proof of your right to the estate. See our deceased-relative guide.
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.