Washington Unclaimed Property: How to Search and Claim (Free)
Held by the state
Average claim
Cost to claim
Washington is holding about $2.4 billion in unclaimed property as of July 2026. You can search your name and claim it for free at ClaimYourCash.org, the official Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program site. A simple claim in your own name takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
How to search Washington’s unclaimed property for free
The only site you need is ClaimYourCash.org, run by the Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program. 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. Washington lists property under old mailing addresses, so search broadly and check every result that could be you before you file.
The Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program
Washington’s unclaimed property is held by the Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program. 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.
Washington's Unclaimed Property program is run by the Department of Revenue, not a treasurer, and the official free site is ClaimYourCash.org. The state holds about $2.4 billion, and fiscal year 2025 was a record year — Revenue took in $503 million and returned an all-time-high $182 million across 389,759 claims. The department employs 'locators,' staff who proactively reach out to people owed the largest amounts. The money never expires; the state holds it until you or your heirs claim it.
What’s specific to Washington
- The official portal is ClaimYourCash.org, run by the Department of Revenue rather than a treasurer.
- Washington caps finder fees at just 5% — one of the lowest limits in the country.
- FY2025 set records: $503 million reported by businesses and $182 million returned to owners.
- State 'locators' proactively contact residents who are owed the largest sums.
How to claim in Washington
You can do this yourself in about 10 minutes, free. Here is exactly how, step by step.
Search ClaimYourCash.org
Go to ClaimYourCash.org, the Department of Revenue's official site, and search your last name. Add maiden names and any Washington business you ran. Searching is free.
Add each match to your claim
Open every result that could be you and add it. Washington lists property under old addresses, so check each place you have lived.
Verify who you are
Provide your address and the last four digits of your Social Security number so Revenue can match you to the property. There is no fee to file.
Send in your documents
Upload a government ID and any proof the site lists. Larger, business, or estate claims may require more documentation.
Get paid
Revenue reviews the claim and pays approved claims by check. Simple cash claims are the fastest; stock and estate claims take longer.
Claiming for a deceased relative in Washington
You can claim property that belonged to a relative who died, but Washington 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 Washington accepts.
Dormancy periods in Washington
“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 | 1 year |
| Bank accounts (checking/savings) | 3 years |
| Government / agency payments | 1 year |
| Insurance proceeds | 3 years |
| Stocks / securities | 3 years |
| Money orders | 7 years |
Washington 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.
Washington caps what a finder can charge at 5%, under RCW 63.30.790. If a letter asks for more, or asks for money up front, treat it as a red flag.
Washington unclaimed property: common questions
Yes. ClaimYourCash.org is the official unclaimed property site of the Washington State Department of Revenue. Searching and claiming are free. If a site asks you to pay a fee just to see your money, it is not the state.
Most straightforward cash claims are paid within a few weeks to a couple of months after Revenue confirms your identity. Claims for stock, safe-deposit contents, or a deceased owner take longer because more documents are reviewed.
Yes. 'Found money' is unclaimed property — uncashed checks, forgotten accounts, and deposits the Department of Revenue is holding for you. You can search and claim it yourself for free at ClaimYourCash.org, with no finder and no fee.
Washington caps what a finder can charge at 5%, one of the lowest caps anywhere, under RCW 63.30.790 — and overcharging is treated as an unfair business practice. You never need a finder; the same claim is free at ClaimYourCash.org.
Yes, as an heir. The state 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.