How to Search & Claim Property

If you’re a current or former resident of New York, you may have lost money waiting to be claimed. All claims can be filed online within minutes, and most are paid within 30 days. We will contact you if any documentation is needed to prove your claim. 

This is a free and secure service provided by the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds. For more information, see About Unclaimed Funds.

Search for Unclaimed Funds 

  1. Go to our search database.
  2. Enter your last name or the name of your business in the Last or Business Name field.
  3. Select the Search button. 

If needed, refine your search by entering your first name, city and ZIP code. Try different variations of your name, such as nicknames and common misspellings, and any previous addresses.

If you received a letter or email from our office notifying you of unclaimed property, use the Property ID from that notice and leave all other fields blank.

Exact matches will appear first in the list followed by partial matches.

Search for Friends and Family

You’re encouraged to search the names of your friends and family to help them find lost money. To alert them of any matches, select the Share button next to the property and then follow the prompts. An email will be sent to the owner with instructions on how to claim.

If You Can’t Locate Your Property

If you were notified by the original holder that your property was turned over to our office, it may take three months for it to appear in our search database. If it’s been more than three months and you still can’t locate your property, see Mail Your Claim for instructions.

How to Tell If You’re Eligible to Claim

If a property is in your name and shows an address that you have a connection to, submit a claim to start the verification process. You can also submit a claim if it’s in your name and you have a connection to the business that reported the property, such as a former employer.

Claims for Properties with Multiple Owners

If the above requirements apply to you, but the property also includes one or more co-owners, you can submit a claim by yourself. You don’t need the other owners to jointly file.

Claims on Behalf of Someone Else

You can submit a claim on behalf of another person if you are the owner's:

  • parent,
  • custodian,
  • guardian,
  • conservator,
  • trustee,
  • power of attorney, or
  • legal representative.

Claims for Deceased Owners or Estates

See Claims for Deceased Owners for eligibility requirements.

Submit Your Claim

Step 1

To start a claim, select the Claim button next to each of the properties you’re entitled to, and then the Continue to File a Claim button at the top or bottom of the table. 

Step 2 

Identify your relationship to the owner in the Claimant Relationship dropdown for each of the properties. If the property is in your name, choose Owner (Self). If not, select a different option. Refer to the top of the page for a description of each of the options. 

Once complete, select File a Claim at the bottom of the table. 

Step 3

Provide your name, date of birth, contact information, Social Security Number, and mailing address where your check will be mailed to, if approved.

If you’re claiming on behalf of another person or for a deceased owner, do not enter their information—enter yours instead. 

Social Security Number 

If you’re a U.S. citizen, provide your Social Security Number (SSN) to submit your claim online. Your SSN verifies your identity and entitlement to the funds, which may shorten the review process. 

If you do not wish to provide your SSN, you must mail your claim instead. 

Employer Identification Number 

If you’re claiming as an owner of a U.S. business, provide the business’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), a nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes. This will be used to verify your identity and entitlement to the funds. If your business is no longer active and you cannot locate the EIN, provide your Social Security Number instead. 

Once complete, select the Next button at the bottom of the page. 

Step 4 

Check the box and enter your first and last name in their respective fields to electronically sign your claim. After you have reviewed your claim information for accuracy, select the Submit button. 

Step 5 

After you submit your claim, you may need to provide documentation to prove ownership of the property. See Claim Submitted—What’s Next? for further instructions. 

Mail Your Claim (alternative)

Complete and mail a blank claim form only if: 

  • it’s been more than three months since you were notified that property was turned over to our office and you still can’t locate it in our search database; or
  • you do not want to provide your Social Security Number when claiming online. 

For more information, refer to the instructions on the second page of the form, which includes the address of where to mail the form. 

After mailing your claim, see Claim Submitted—What’s Next? for further instructions. 

Additional Resources

Need help? Contact us for assistance