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Maryland · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in Maryland: how to find and claim it

Maryland may be holding money that belongs to you. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

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

Search Maryland'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

Over $121 millionreturned in fiscal year 2025
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches Maryland's list

How to claim in Maryland

  1. Search ClaimItMD.gov by your last name or business name. Add a city or ZIP code if you get too many results.

  2. Click CLAIM next to each item that is yours, then CONTINUE TO FILE CLAIM.

  3. Enter your details, including your current mailing address. Your check goes there. Submit to get a claim number.

  4. Send a signed claim form, a copy of your photo ID, and proof of your Social Security number. Upload them on the site's Upload Claim Documentation page.

  5. For a joint account, both owners must sign the claim form and send ID and proof of SSN.

  6. If you have no decision after 60 to 90 business days, check your claim status online with your claim ID.

A 2025 law lets Marylanders get unclaimed property worth less than $5,000 without filing a claim. In October 2025 the Comptroller said automatic 'Quick Pay' payments would start in November 2025. We could not confirm the launch, so if you find property, you can still file a claim yourself.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • Copy of government photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID). The name must match the claim.
  • Document showing your full Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, 1099 or tax return).
  • Proof you own the property, such as a bank statement, canceled check, insurance policy, stock certificate or pay record.
  • For a cashier's check, money order or check: the original or a true copy.
  • Businesses: an updated W-9, IDs and signatures of two officers, and proof of authority.

Money owed to a relative who died

A court-appointed estate representative can claim. If there is none, or the estate is closed, the surviving spouse or a person appointed by the court can claim. Send the death certificate plus letters of administration, small estate papers or a court order.

Contact the program

Program
Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division
Phone
410-767-1700 (Baltimore area) or toll-free 1-800-782-7383
Claims by mail
Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21202
Processing time
The site says to check your claim status if you have no decision within 60 to 90 business days.

Finder fees in Maryland

Any agreement to pay someone to recover your property is unenforceable if it was made within 24 months after the property was turned over to the state. The statute sets no percentage cap.

Law: Md. Code, Com. Law § 17-325

Watch out: The Comptroller says all of its claim services are free, so you never have to pay the state to get your money.

Good to know

  • There is no deadline. Maryland holds the property for the owner's lifetime, and heirs can claim it after that.
  • Maryland's new KAPS system launched in October 2025. It lets you file claims and upload documents online for the first time.
  • From October 2025 to January 30, 2026, the Comptroller paid 18,273 claims worth $33 million.

Also check outside Maryland

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 Maryland

How do I find unclaimed money in Maryland?

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

Does it cost anything to claim money in Maryland?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. Any agreement to pay someone to recover your property is unenforceable if it was made within 24 months after the property was turned over to the state. The statute sets no percentage cap.

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

A court-appointed estate representative can claim. If there is none, or the estate is closed, the surviving spouse or a person appointed by the court can claim. Send the death certificate plus letters of administration, small estate papers or a court order.

How long does a claim take in Maryland?

The site says to check your claim status if you have no decision within 60 to 90 business days.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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