Find Your Unclaimed Property
Are you the kind of person who likes finding coins in the couch cushions? Or do you have a feeling you had an account in the past but can’t quite remember what happened to it? If so, then you might want to check out your state’s unclaimed property database.
When assets are abandoned they are turned over to the state in a process called escheatment. These assets could be an old bank or brokerage account that you forgot about or estate assets where there are no heirs. While many of these are small accounts, the value can add up. For example, Washington, D.C. returned 42,389 unclaimed properties worth $16,662,508 to their rightful owners in 2020 alone!
Each state has a website where you can check on unclaimed property that belongs to you. Here are the websites for Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. If you live in another state, you can find your state’s website here. You can generally make a claim for property belonging to you through the website as well.
In addition to your current state of residence, you might want to also check the websites for other states where you have lived or worked. Good luck on the property hunt!
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