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Georgia · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in Georgia: how to find and claim it

Georgia holds about $3 billion in unclaimed money. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

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

Search Georgia'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 $3 billionwaiting to be claimed (as of 2026)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches Georgia's list

How to claim in Georgia

  1. Search the state database for free by name. Adding a city narrows the results.

  2. Register for a free claimant account. You need one to file a claim, and you can check your claim status online.

  3. File online for yourself. If you claim for an estate or a business, you must send a printed claim form, and more documents may be needed.

  4. Upload the documents your claim form asks for. The site says uploading them speeds things up.

  5. Watch for a paper check. It is mailed to the address you gave when you filed.

A 2026 law (SB 403, signed May 5, 2026) lets the Department of Revenue pay cash of $500 or less per property without a claim, when you are the sole owner and it can verify you through tax records; payment goes by direct deposit or check based on your latest state tax refund instructions, minus any state tax you owe. The DOR site does not yet describe this, so check before relying on it.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • The claim form you download after filing lists the documents your claim needs.
  • If you use a registered finder, the state's agreement form says every claim must include a copy of the front and back of your driver's license or other government ID, and proof of your Social Security number. Estate claims through a finder also need the death certificate and probate papers.
  • For an estate: the decedent's name and Social Security number and/or the estate's federal tax ID (FEIN) to search, plus a printed claim form.

Money owed to a relative who died

You can search and claim as an heir or executor, but estate claims need a printed claim form. Under SB 403 (2026), if the deceased person's total unclaimed property held by the state is $7,500 or less and no Georgia probate case was ever filed, the heirs can file an affidavit signed by all heirs instead of a probate court order. The affidavit must say the heirs agree on how to split the money and that funeral costs, last-illness costs and other debts of the estate are paid. Attach the will if there was one. The law defines heirs as an adult surviving spouse, child, parent or sibling.

Contact the program

Program
Georgia Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program
Phone
(855) 329-9863
Claims by mail
Georgia Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program, 4125 Welcome All Road, Atlanta, GA 30349
Processing time
Most claims are paid within 30 days of receipt, but it can take up to 90 days.

Finder fees in Georgia

Finders (called Claimant Designated Representatives) must register with the Department of Revenue. They may charge no more than 30% of the property's value (or of the claimed amount, whichever is lower), unless a court order is needed to prove entitlement or the finder bought the property from you. They must use the state's standard agreement forms, or the claim is void. Under SB 403, finder agreements signed on or after July 1, 2026 cannot be enforced until 120 days after the property is paid or delivered to the state.

Law: O.C.G.A. § 44-12-224 (fee cap and agreements); § 44-12-239.2 (prohibited acts); § 44-12-220(d.1)(4) as added by 2026 SB 403 (120-day period)

Watch out: Finder letters must say in capital letters that they are a solicitation and not a state bill or document, and you never need a finder to claim your money for free.

Good to know

  • There is no deadline to claim, except excess funds from the sale of an abandoned motor vehicle, which must be claimed within one year.
  • Stock shares the state receives after July 1, 2024 are sold right away, so you get the cash proceeds.
  • The Department of Revenue's pages still say claims are paid only by paper check. SB 403 (2026) allows electronic payment, but the DOR has not announced it yet.

Also check outside Georgia

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 Georgia

How do I find unclaimed money in Georgia?

Search the official database run by the Georgia Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in Georgia.

Does it cost anything to claim money in Georgia?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. Finders (called Claimant Designated Representatives) must register with the Department of Revenue. They may charge no more than 30% of the property's value (or of the claimed amount, whichever is lower), unless a court order is needed to prove entitlement or the finder bought the property from you. They must use the state's standard agreement forms, or the claim is void. Under SB 403, finder agreements signed on or after July 1, 2026 cannot be enforced until 120 days after the property is paid or delivered to the state.

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

You can search and claim as an heir or executor, but estate claims need a printed claim form. Under SB 403 (2026), if the deceased person's total unclaimed property held by the state is $7,500 or less and no Georgia probate case was ever filed, the heirs can file an affidavit signed by all heirs instead of a probate court order. The affidavit must say the heirs agree on how to split the money and that funeral costs, last-illness costs and other debts of the estate are paid. Attach the will if there was one. The law defines heirs as an adult surviving spouse, child, parent or sibling.

How long does a claim take in Georgia?

Most claims are paid within 30 days of receipt, but it can take up to 90 days.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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