Tennessee Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Tennessee is holding about $1.2 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at ClaimItTN.gov, the official Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Tennessee’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is ClaimItTN.gov, run by the Tennessee 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. Tennessee lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Tennessee Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division
Tennessee’s unclaimed property is held by the Tennessee 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.
Tennessee's Unclaimed Property Division, part of the Department of Treasury, reports more than $1.2 billion waiting to be claimed. Fiscal 2025 was a record year: the Division returned $125 million across more than 168,000 claims — roughly double the prior year. The Treasury says about 70% of claims are paid within two weeks on average, and the money is held indefinitely for owners and their heirs.
What’s specific to Tennessee
- More than $1.2 billion is waiting to be claimed in Tennessee.
- The Treasury reports about 70% of claims are paid within two weeks, on average.
- FY2025 was a record: $125 million returned across 168,000+ claims.
- Property is held indefinitely — there is no deadline to claim.
How to claim in Tennessee
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search your name on ClaimItTN.gov
Go to ClaimItTN.gov, the official Tennessee 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. Tennessee 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
Tennessee 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 Tennessee
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Tennessee 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 Tennessee accepts.
Dormancy periods in Tennessee
“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 |
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee caps what a finder can charge at 10%, under Tenn. Code Ann. §66-29-176. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Tennessee unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. ClaimItTN.gov is the official unclaimed property site of the Tennessee Department of Treasury. Searching and claiming are free, and there is no time limit or fee to claim your money. Ignore anyone who asks you to pay to get it.
The Treasury says about 70% of claims are paid within two weeks on average once your identity is confirmed. Claims involving stock, safe-deposit contents, or a deceased owner take longer.
Yes. 'Found money' is unclaimed property — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, wages, and refunds the Treasury is holding for you. You can search and claim it yourself for free at ClaimItTN.gov, with no finder and no fee.
Under Tenn. Code Ann. §66-29-176, a locator cannot charge more than 10% of the property recovered or $50, whichever is greater, and the contract must be approved by the Treasury. Filing yourself is free, so you rarely need one.
Yes, as an heir or legal beneficiary. The Treasury 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.