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North Carolina · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in North Carolina: how to find and claim it

North Carolina holds nearly $1.7 billion in unclaimed money. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

Search North Carolina's official list of unclaimed property by name.

Search North Carolina'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

Nearly $1.7 billionwaiting to be claimed (as of October 2026)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches North Carolina's list

How to claim in North Carolina

  1. Search your name on NCCash.gov. You must search before you can fill out the online claim form.

  2. Start a claim online. Some claims qualify for E-Claim Processing, which matches your information electronically.

  3. If your claim doesn't qualify, print and sign the claim form. Upload it with your proof through Claim Document Upload, or mail it to P.O. Box 20431, Raleigh.

  4. A claims processor will contact you if more documents are needed. You get an email when your claim is approved.

  5. You can also call 866-622-2741 (weekdays, 8 am-5 pm). Staff can search for you and mail a claim form.

Yes. Through NCCash Match, the state finds qualifying property of $5,000 or less and mails a letter. A check follows in 6-8 weeks with no claim needed. Some online claims also qualify for faster E-Claim Processing.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • Proof of your Social Security number (SSN card, W-2, tax form, pay stub)
  • Proof of your name at the listed address (driver's license, W-2, tax form, bank statement, utility bill, deed, school records, postmarked envelope, DMV address history, etc.)
  • For a business: proof of its federal EIN (IRS letter, 1098 or 1099 form)

Money owed to a relative who died

Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your relative lived. The clerk can help you get documents showing you have legal authority to claim. Then file the claim on NCCash.gov.

Contact the program

Program
North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division
Phone
1-866-622-2741 (866-NCCASH-1)
Claims by mail
NC Department of State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 20431, Raleigh, NC 27619-0431
Processing time
Normally about 90 days, processed in the order received. The site says high claim volume is currently making it take longer than 90 days.

Finder fees in North Carolina

A finder agreement is void if it is made any time from when the property became payable to you until 24 months after it is turned over to the Treasurer. After that, total fees and costs can be no more than $1,000 or 20% of the property's value, whichever is less (20% for certain heir and estate agreements). The agreement must be in writing, signed by you with your signature notarized, and also signed (and notarized) by a licensed private investigator for the finder. Finders must register with the Treasurer each year.

Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116B-78 (PI license: § 116B-78.1)

Claiming is free. Your state never charges a fee to search or to claim. Be careful with letters, calls or texts that ask for a fee, a percentage or your bank login to release money. Search the official state site yourself.

Good to know

  • There is no time limit. The state holds your property forever.
  • The exact amount is shown online only if it is $100 or less. Call to learn larger amounts.
  • The fund holds almost 27 million properties linked to more than 30 million owners.

Also check outside North Carolina

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 North Carolina

How do I find unclaimed money in North Carolina?

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

Does it cost anything to claim money in North Carolina?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder agreement is void if it is made any time from when the property became payable to you until 24 months after it is turned over to the Treasurer. After that, total fees and costs can be no more than $1,000 or 20% of the property's value, whichever is less (20% for certain heir and estate agreements). The agreement must be in writing, signed by you with your signature notarized, and also signed (and notarized) by a licensed private investigator for the finder. Finders must register with the Treasurer each year.

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

Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where your relative lived. The clerk can help you get documents showing you have legal authority to claim. Then file the claim on NCCash.gov.

How long does a claim take in North Carolina?

Normally about 90 days, processed in the order received. The site says high claim volume is currently making it take longer than 90 days.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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