North Dakota · Unclaimed property
Unclaimed money in North Dakota: how to find and claim it
North Dakota may be holding money that belongs to you. Searching and claiming are free.
Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026
Search North Dakota's official list of unclaimed property by name.
Search North Dakota'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 North Dakota
Search your name on the state's unclaimed property site.
Start a claim online. Enter your current mailing address (your check goes there) and your relationship to the owner.
Check your email. It lists exactly what your claim needs.
Most claims need a signed claim form, a copy of your photo ID, and a document showing your Social Security number. Upload them or mail them to the division.
If your form needs a notary, banks often do it free, libraries often have one, and the Trust Lands office in Bismarck can notarize too.
Yes. Since late 2025 the state automatically returns verified single-owner property worth up to $1,000. If you get a letter, you don't need to do anything. A check comes in about 45 days.
Documents you may need
- Completed and signed claim form
- Copy of your photo ID
- Document showing your Social Security number (tax return, insurance card, etc. if you lack the card)
- Proof of the listed address (old utility bill, tax return, mortgage or lease papers, postmarked letter)
- Proof of name change if needed (marriage certificate or court document)
- If more than one owner is listed, every claimant signs and sends ID
Money owed to a relative who died
Send court papers showing you are the personal representative or executor (will, court appointment or letters testamentary) and a certified death certificate. If no representative was appointed or there is no will, the state points you to the ND Legal Self Help Center (701-328-1852) for informal probate. The site also links an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent.
Contact the program
- Program
- North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, Unclaimed Property Division
- Phone
- 701-328-2800
- Claims by mail
- North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, Unclaimed Property Division, 1707 N 9th St, Bismarck, ND 58501-1853
Finder fees in North Dakota
A finder can charge no more than 10% of the amount recovered. Any agreement made from the time the property is presumed abandoned until 24 months after it is turned over to the state is void. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, and say that you could get the property from the state for free. Heir finders generally need a North Dakota private investigator license. The state pays the full amount to you, not the finder.
Law: N.D.C.C. §§ 47-30.2-68, 47-30.2-69
Watch out: The state warns that some websites ask for payment to get your money back. You should never have to pay to get your money, and ND Unclaimed Property will never ask you for money.
Good to know
- Unclaimed property is kept in the Common Schools Trust Fund until claimed, and there is no deadline to claim.
- To protect privacy, the state shows the amount only after you file a claim.
Also check outside North Dakota
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 North Dakota
How do I find unclaimed money in North Dakota?
Search the official database run by the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, Unclaimed Property Division. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in North Dakota.
Does it cost anything to claim money in North Dakota?
No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder can charge no more than 10% of the amount recovered. Any agreement made from the time the property is presumed abandoned until 24 months after it is turned over to the state is void. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, and say that you could get the property from the state for free. Heir finders generally need a North Dakota private investigator license. The state pays the full amount to you, not the finder.
How do I claim money for a relative who died in North Dakota?
Send court papers showing you are the personal representative or executor (will, court appointment or letters testamentary) and a certified death certificate. If no representative was appointed or there is no will, the state points you to the ND Legal Self Help Center (701-328-1852) for informal probate. The site also links an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of the Decedent.
Sources
- ND Unclaimed Property official site
- ND Unclaimed Property: Claim FAQ
- ND Trust Lands press release, Nov. 7, 2025: automatic returns up to $1,000
- ND Trust Lands 2023-25 Biennial Report
- N.D. Century Code ch. 47-30.2 (Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)
- ND Department of Trust Lands home page
- MissingMoney.com: State Index (states searchable on MissingMoney)
Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.