New Mexico · Unclaimed property
Unclaimed money in New Mexico: how to find and claim it
New Mexico holds about $390 million in unclaimed money. Searching and claiming are free.
Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026
Search New Mexico's official list of unclaimed property by name.
Search New Mexico'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
How to claim in New Mexico
Search your name for free at nmclaims.unclaimedproperty.com. Create a claimant account so you can track your claim.
If the property has one owner and is worth $500 or less, enter your name, date of birth and SSN online and answer a security question. If it matches, your claim is processed electronically.
For more than one owner, businesses, deceased owners, or property over $500, fill out the PDF claim form.
Sign the claim form in front of a notary. Upload it with your proof of identity, SSN and address.
The state does not release property until it has all the proof it needs.
Yes. Single-owner property of $500 or less can be claimed online without paperwork. You verify your identity with your name, date of birth, SSN and a security question.
Documents you may need
- Signed and notarized claim form
- Clear copy of your government-issued photo ID
- Proof of your Social Security number
- Proof you lived or got mail at the listed address (bank or utility statement, driver's license, credit report, postmarked envelope, school transcript, etc.)
- If you claim for someone else: legal papers showing power of attorney, guardianship, custody or trusteeship, plus photo ID for both of you
Money owed to a relative who died
Send a copy of the death certificate, proof that you are entitled to the money under heirship law, and proof the owner lived or got mail at the listed address. These steps are for estates that were never probated or where probate is already closed.
Contact the program
- Program
- New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Unclaimed Property Office
- Phone
- 505-827-0668
- Claims by mail
- Taxation and Revenue Department, Attn: Unclaimed Property Office, P.O. Box 25123, Santa Fe, NM 87504-5123
- Processing time
- The department has 90 days from filing to approve or deny a claim, and another 30 days to pay it. Most claims are processed faster.
Finder fees in New Mexico
New Mexico law sets no percentage cap. A finder agreement is void if it is made any time from when the property is presumed abandoned until 48 months after it is turned over to the state. Later agreements must be in writing and signed by you, and must show the property's value before and after the fee. A court can cut an unfair (unconscionable) fee. Finders must file form RPD-41343 with a copy of their agreement.
Law: NMSA 1978 § 7-8A-25
Watch out: The state says searching and claiming are free, and locators are not affiliated with the Taxation and Revenue Department.
Good to know
- The average claim is about $500, according to the department.
- Until it is claimed, the money is used by the state's General Fund. You can still claim it at any time.
Also check outside New Mexico
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 siteU.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 siteIRS 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 siteQuestions about New Mexico
How do I find unclaimed money in New Mexico?
Search the official database run by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Unclaimed Property Office. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in New Mexico.
Does it cost anything to claim money in New Mexico?
No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. New Mexico law sets no percentage cap. A finder agreement is void if it is made any time from when the property is presumed abandoned until 48 months after it is turned over to the state. Later agreements must be in writing and signed by you, and must show the property's value before and after the fee. A court can cut an unfair (unconscionable) fee. Finders must file form RPD-41343 with a copy of their agreement.
How do I claim money for a relative who died in New Mexico?
Send a copy of the death certificate, proof that you are entitled to the money under heirship law, and proof the owner lived or got mail at the listed address. These steps are for estates that were never probated or where probate is already closed.
How long does a claim take in New Mexico?
The department has 90 days from filing to approve or deny a claim, and another 30 days to pay it. Most claims are processed faster.
Sources
- NM TRD: What is Unclaimed Property?
- NM TRD: File a Claim
- NM TRD: Search Unclaimed Property
- NM TRD: Locators
- NM TRD press release, Nov. 25, 2025: $390M awaiting claim
- NM unclaimed property claims site
- NM Legislature, HB 386 (2006), text of § 7-8A-25 as amended
- NM TRD Holder's Filing Kit RPD-41200 (office address and phone)
- MissingMoney.com: State Index (states searchable on MissingMoney)
Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.