FAQS

Claiming Property

Do I have to pay a finder’s fee?

NO, you do not need to pay a finder’s fee. Neither the State of Michigan nor the Department of Treasury charge a fee to inquire or file a claim. You can search for and file claims on your own, and of course we’re happy to assist you with the process over the phone.
There are companies that offer fee-based assistance with finding property and filing claims, but you are not required to use them.
These companies are often called asset locators, fee finders, or heir finders.
Disclaimer: The Michigan Department of Treasury does not endorse any finders/locators

Who can claim funds listed in the database?

The original owner(s) as reported to the Department of Treasury by the company holding the funds.
If the owner is deceased:

Biological heir, or devisee of the original owner.
Beneficiary.
Personal Representative (if the estate is currently in probate).

On the website, there is no identifying information listed with the name I found. How do I find out if it belongs to me? How would I prove that the funds belong to me?

The State of Michigan is committed to safeguarding the privacy of all persons, including to whom unclaimed property is owed. To ensure your privacy, our website limits identifying information to the owner’s name(s), the reporting company, and the Michigan city on record for the owner (if provided to us).
If a company does not report a property with a name, address, social security number and/or date of birth, you may be required to provide proof of ownership of the property. An example of proof is the original, uncashed check or an account statement that includes the original owner’s name and the company name.
If you have never done business with the company reporting the property, it’s likely the funds belong to a different person with a similar name.

Why are you asking for all my former addresses, and where can I find them?

Properties reported to Michigan’s Department of Treasury oftentimes do not have a social security number reported with them. Without a social security number for our office to match to the owner’s, we rely on matching an address instead. Properties on our system date back several decades, so we ask that you be as complete and thorough as possible when providing addresses. Previous addresses can be found in these common records:

Utility Bill.
Bank Statement.
Tax Record.
Credit Report.

What if my name has changed?

Provide proof of the name change such as:

Marriage Certificate.
Divorce Decree.
Court Document.

What will happen to my investment accounts if I do not maintain contact with my broker or the company in which my funds are invested?

After the dormancy period, your broker, or the company in which your funds are invested, is required to turn over your investment accounts to the State of Michigan where they will be liquidated upon receipt. The cash proceeds from the sale of the securities will be credited to a property in your name and will be ready to claim.

Does the Michigan Department of Treasury auction off unclaimed property?

Yes, after items have been held as unclaimed property for at least two years, the Michigan Department of Treasury periodically sells those items at auction. Auction proceeds are then held for the rightful owner or their heirs to claim. Auctions typically include a variety of collectibles retrieved from abandoned safe deposit boxes including jewelry, coins, stamps, and other items.

How long do I have to claim my funds?

There is no time limit for filing a claim. Michigan Department of Treasury serves as the custodian for unclaimed property and holds the funds until the rightful owner comes forward to claim them.

How long does it take to process my claim?

Claims are processed in the order they are received. Please allow 90 days for processing.

Our staff will contact you via email (or by mail if an email was not provided) if additional information is needed. You will also be notified when your claim has either been approved or denied.

How long does it take to receive my funds?

Please allow approximately 6 weeks from the time the claim begins the approval process to receive your payment. Check your claim status online periodically for updates.

How do I find out if I have unclaimed property in another state?

Go to www.unclaimed.org, a national site that contains links to 49 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and certain Canadian provinces.

I have a gift card/certificate from a closed business. How do I find out if the money was reported to the state?

Please call our office and one of our customer services representatives can perform a search for you. Be prepared with the following:

Your full name, mailing address, and phone number.
Name of the business the gift card/certificate is from.
Unused amount (if known).
Gift card/certificate number.

What if I was told my property was sent to the State of Michigan but I cannot find it on the website?

Unclaimed Property reports from companies are due to the Michigan Department of Treasury on July 1st of each year. There is a processing period between the time we receive a transfer of abandoned property and when it is on our system and the website. If the company is indicating your property was only recently sent, around this time of the current year, please check back on the website periodically, as reports continue to be processed and additional property becomes available to be claimed. Thank you for your patience.

I did not receive an email after submitting my form:

A confirmation email will be sent to you typically within the hour from Michigan Unclaimed Property no-reply@michigan.findyourunclaimedproperty.com. The email will contain an attachment so please ensure no-reply@michigan.findyourunclaimedproperty.com is added to your ‘Safe Senders List’.

If you are unable to locate the email, search your junk/spam folder.
If you are still unable to locate the email, please call our office and a claim form will be mailed to you.

Why did I receive a postcard from the State of Michigan regarding unclaimed property?

You received a postcard because our team believes that we may be holding unclaimed property belonging to you.

If there is a claim number on the postcard (see below) call our office at (517)636-5320 to reclaim your unclaimed property.
If there isn’t a claim number on the postcard, search our website for property that may belong to you and establish a claim online. Please visit How To Claim Unclaimed Property for additional help with establishing a claim.

Where can I find a notary public?

Notary public services are commonly offered at libraries, banks, credit unions, city hall, mail stores, and more. Please note that it’s a good idea to call ahead to ensure they have a notary available and are authorized to serve walk-in clients. You can also visit the Michigan Department of State e-Services website to search for a notary public in your area.