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Connecticut · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in Connecticut: how to find and claim it

Connecticut holds about $1.85 billion in unclaimed money. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

Search Connecticut's official list of unclaimed property by name.

Search Connecticut's list (free, official) →

Scam warning: the state never charges a fee to claim, and the FTC warns that state programs don't text you alerts or links. How to spot a scam

About $1.85 billionwaiting to be claimed (as of June 30, 2026)
$102.4 millionreturned to 69,459 owners in fiscal year 2026 (July 2025 to June 2026)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches Connecticut's list

How to claim in Connecticut

  1. Search your name on CTBigList.gov. The site is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call 1-800-833-7318 for help.

  2. Start a claim online. Once you do, your name comes off the public list so no one else can claim it.

  3. Read the claim form the state emails you, then sign it. It lists the documents you need.

  4. Upload the form and documents on CTBigList.gov, or mail them to the Unclaimed Property Division in Hartford.

  5. Check your claim status online with your claim ID number.

Yes. Under CT Big Match (started in 2025), if you are the only owner, the property is worth less than $2,500, and the state can verify your address, you get a letter and then, about 6 to 8 weeks later, a check. You don't have to do anything. Some claims also qualify for Fast Track; if no claim form is sent to you, your claim was likely one of them.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • Your signature on the claim form
  • A copy of your photo ID, such as a driver's license
  • A copy of your Social Security number
  • Proof of your current address and/or the address on the property
  • Proof of ownership, such as a tax return, the original check, or a utility bill
  • Other papers, depending on the type of property

Money owed to a relative who died

Only owners or their legal heirs may file. Search for your relative's name and start a claim; the claim form will list the papers needed. The Treasurer's site does not publish a separate list of heir documents.

Contact the program

Program
Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division
Phone
1-800-833-7318 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern)
Claims by mail
Office of the Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 5065, Hartford, CT 06102

Finder fees in Connecticut

A finder may keep or charge no more than 10% of the property's value. The contract must be signed at least two years after the property was reported to the state. Every signature must be notarized. The contract must list the property and its value, the fee, and the amount you will get. Since January 1, 2025, it must also say clearly that you can claim directly from the Treasurer at no cost on CTBigList.gov.

Law: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-70a; Public Act 24-81, § 100

Watch out: If you get a check and think it might be a scam, call the Treasurer's unclaimed property team at 1-800-833-7318; claiming from the state is always free and you do not need to hire anyone.

Good to know

  • When you claim, you can choose to donate your money to one of four state funds, such as the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust or the Military Relief Fund.
  • Connecticut has returned more than $1.2 billion to owners through its unclaimed property program.
  • There is no time limit to claim your property.

Also check outside Connecticut

Search every other state where you lived or worked. Some money, like old savings bonds and IRS refunds, is held by federal agencies.

MissingMoney.com and NAUPA state unclaimed property search

Money that businesses could not return to you and had to hand over to a state, such as old bank accounts and insurance policies. USA.gov says state governments hold most unclaimed money.

Official site

U.S. savings bonds (TreasuryDirect)

Old paper or electronic U.S. savings bonds that were never cashed, including bonds that have matured and stopped earning interest (EE and I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years), plus lost, stolen or destroyed bonds.

Official site

IRS refunds from tax returns never filed (3-year rule)

Tax refunds owed to people who never filed a federal tax return for a year, often because they earned little and were not required to file. The IRS says taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim a refund; after that the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

Official site

Questions about Connecticut

How do I find unclaimed money in Connecticut?

Search the official database run by the Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in Connecticut.

Does it cost anything to claim money in Connecticut?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder may keep or charge no more than 10% of the property's value. The contract must be signed at least two years after the property was reported to the state. Every signature must be notarized. The contract must list the property and its value, the fee, and the amount you will get. Since January 1, 2025, it must also say clearly that you can claim directly from the Treasurer at no cost on CTBigList.gov.

How do I claim money for a relative who died in Connecticut?

Only owners or their legal heirs may file. Search for your relative's name and start a claim; the claim form will list the papers needed. The Treasurer's site does not publish a separate list of heir documents.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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