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New Jersey · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in New Jersey: how to find and claim it

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

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

Search New Jersey's official list of unclaimed property by name.

Search New Jersey'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

$253.3 millionreturned in fiscal 2025 (record $261.4 million in fiscal 2024)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches New Jersey's list

How to claim in New Jersey

  1. Search your name on the state's search site. Check that the address shown is one where you lived.

  2. File your claim online from the search results. The state says this is the fastest way.

  3. Watch your email. The UPA sends a claim form that lists the property and any proof it needs.

  4. Upload the requested documents online. Only send documents the UPA asks for.

  5. If you can't find your property, use 'Request a Property Search'. Staff search by hand and reply within about 2 weeks.

  6. Check your claim status online with your claim ID.

There is no automatic-payment program listed. But some online claims are pre-approved from the information you enter, and you won't be asked for any documents.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • Clear copy of a photo ID that shows your signature (driver's license, passport, military or state ID)
  • Proof of your full Social Security number (SSN card, SSA letter, tax form, or pay stub showing the full number)
  • Proof you lived or did business at the reported address (tax document, utility bill, bank statement, school or medical record)
  • Proof of name change if your name is different (marriage certificate, court order, divorce decree)
  • Originals for some property types, such as bearer bonds, stock certificates, or gift cards

Money owed to a relative who died

You need proof from the county Surrogate's Court that you have the legal right to claim, dated within one year, plus a copy of the death certificate and the deceased person's SSN. If there was no will, no surviving spouse, and the estate is $10,000 or less, one next of kin can file an Affidavit of Next of Kin with the Surrogate instead of full administration. The other next of kin of the same degree must consent in writing.

Contact the program

Program
New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Administration (UPA)
Phone
609-292-9200
Claims by mail
State of New Jersey, Unclaimed Property Administration, P.O. Box 214, Trenton, NJ 08625-0214, ATTN: Claim Section

Finder fees in New Jersey

A finder agreement made within 24 months after the property was turned over to the state is void. After that, the fee can be no more than 20% of the property's value. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, and show the property's value and what you keep after the fee.

Law: N.J.S.A. 46:30B-106

Watch out: The UPA never charges a fee to search for or claim your property.

Good to know

  • New Jersey pays interest on your property from the date the state received it until your claim is approved.
  • The search site shows only the owner's name and address, not the amount or the company that sent it.
  • Each summer the UPA publishes a newspaper list of everyone whose property was turned over in the past year.

Also check outside New Jersey

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 New Jersey

How do I find unclaimed money in New Jersey?

Search the official database run by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Administration (UPA). Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in New Jersey.

Does it cost anything to claim money in New Jersey?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder agreement made within 24 months after the property was turned over to the state is void. After that, the fee can be no more than 20% of the property's value. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, and show the property's value and what you keep after the fee.

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

You need proof from the county Surrogate's Court that you have the legal right to claim, dated within one year, plus a copy of the death certificate and the deceased person's SSN. If there was no will, no surviving spouse, and the estate is $10,000 or less, one next of kin can file an Affidavit of Next of Kin with the Surrogate instead of full administration. The other next of kin of the same degree must consent in writing.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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