Ever year, the amount of unclaimed checks and lost money continues to grow. Millions of dollars in property goes missing and completely unnoticed. Fortunately, it has become easier to find unclaimed checks and retrieve lost money without much hassle. With online databases and new resources to contact property that rightfully belongs to you, claiming what is yours is just a matter of searching for that money owed to you.

Interestingly, nearly 80% of those how have found unclaimed checks never knew there was money owed to them to begin with. But those individuals who perform a simple online search for missing money are often surprised to see cash and other property just waiting to be collected.

Just think of the number of times you have moved in your life, canceled a service or subscription that you pre-paid for, jobs you left, and cash you’ve earned through rewards programs. Many times these groups that owe you a check are not going to do it willfully, and they hope you don’t ask for the money you’re owed.

Common Unclaimed Checks, Lost Money and Missing Property:

Some of the most common types of things that go unclaimed are…

• Un-cashed checks and wages
• Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents
• Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
• Insurance policies, CD’s, trust funds
• Utility deposits, escrow accounts

These are all things may have been based down to you, either legally or through a will, that may be owed to you. But nobody’s taken the time to search for outstanding money or thought about how to retrieve it.

How to Find Missing Money

The first step is to perform a search by using your name, address and previous addresses you lived in. The more accurate the information you provide, the better the search results will be. This is particularly true if you have moved states and may have outstanding debts owed to you from your previous residence, such as an old employer or utility bill.

Once you find missing money or property and you submit your claim, the state will do some basic research to make sure you are who you say you are before rewarding you with your possessions.

In some cases, there may be items owed to you from a deceased relative as a result of being the rightful heir. It is not uncommon for someone to have bank accounts, stocks, real estate, and other assets that family members do not know exist. Unfortunately, when that person passes away the money is often unclaimed and eventually becomes property of the bank… unless you can get to it first.

In the end, it is your responsibility to find and acquire unclaimed checks, missing money and lost property. Rarely is somebody going to go out of their way to make sure it is delivered to their rightful owner, and in many cases they hope you never come calling. After all, it could be a lifetimes worth of savings that can be useful for a very long time.