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Michigan · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in Michigan: how to find and claim it

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

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

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

Search Michigan'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 $150 millionreturned in the last fiscal year (stated May 2025)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches Michigan's list

How to claim in Michigan

  1. Search the Michigan Unclaimed Property site by name. Add a city or ZIP code to narrow the results.

  2. Click CLAIM on each item. Pick your 'Claimant Relationship' (owner, heir and so on) and click FILE CLAIM.

  3. Enter your current mailing address and submit to get a claim number.

  4. Watch for an email from [email protected] with your claim form attached. Check your spam folder. If it never arrives, call and they will mail it.

  5. Sign the claim form (get it notarized if the form asks). Attach the listed documents and upload them online or mail them to the PO Box.

  6. Track your claim online with your claim number.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • Signed claim form.
  • Copy of photo ID.
  • Legal document showing your Social Security number.
  • Proof of past addresses if asked: utility bill, bank statement, tax record or credit report.
  • Proof of a name change: marriage certificate, divorce decree or court document.
  • If the report has no identifying details: proof of ownership, such as the original uncashed check or an account statement.

Money owed to a relative who died

If the owner has died, a biological heir, a devisee under the will, a beneficiary, or the personal representative (if the estate is in probate) can claim. The claim form emailed to you lists the documents you need.

Contact the program

Program
Michigan Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division
Phone
517-636-5320 (claims)
Claims by mail
Michigan Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property, PO Box 30756, Lansing, MI 48909
Processing time
Claims are handled in the order received. Allow 90 days for processing, and about 6 weeks from the start of approval to get paid.

Finder fees in Michigan

Any agreement to pay someone to recover your property is unenforceable if it was made within 24 months after the property was delivered to the state. This applies to written agreements with locators too. The statute sets no percentage cap.

Law: MCL 567.256 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 1995 PA 29, sec. 36)

Watch out: Treasury says you never have to pay a finder's fee. The state charges nothing to search or claim, and it does not endorse any finders or locators.

Good to know

  • The site says more than $675 million has been returned in the last 5 years.
  • Investment accounts are sold when the state receives them, and you claim the cash.
  • Safe deposit box items held at least two years may be sold at auction. The proceeds are held for the owner or heirs, with no time limit to claim.

Also check outside Michigan

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 Michigan

How do I find unclaimed money in Michigan?

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

Does it cost anything to claim money in Michigan?

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 delivered to the state. This applies to written agreements with locators too. The statute sets no percentage cap.

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

If the owner has died, a biological heir, a devisee under the will, a beneficiary, or the personal representative (if the estate is in probate) can claim. The claim form emailed to you lists the documents you need.

How long does a claim take in Michigan?

Claims are handled in the order received. Allow 90 days for processing, and about 6 weeks from the start of approval to get paid.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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