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Washington · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in Washington: how to find and claim it

Washington holds over $2.8 billion in unclaimed money. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

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

Search Washington'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 $2.8 billionwaiting to be claimed
$182 millionreturned on 389,759 approved claims in fiscal 2025 (a record)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches Washington's list

How to claim in Washington

  1. Search your name for free at ucp.dor.wa.gov (also reached at claimyourcash.org).

  2. Select the items that are yours and file a claim online.

  3. Use the Department of Revenue's interactive claim tool to get a checklist of the documents your type of claim needs.

  4. Send the signed claim form and your documents as instructed. The documents your claim needs are listed on the claim form emailed to you.

  5. If you live outside the US and have no SSN or tax ID, call 360-534-1502, Option 1 to claim.

Yes. Under the Money Match Program, the Department of Revenue matches property to owners, confirms addresses by mail and sends checks directly, with no claim or paperwork needed; in fiscal 2025 it sent out $5.2 million. A separate Fast Track process pays some claims within five days or less. Not all property qualifies, so you should still search.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • A completed and signed claim form
  • A copy of photo ID
  • A legal document showing your Social Security number
  • Other documents depending on your situation, as listed on your claim form and the state's interactive claim tool

Money owed to a relative who died

Heirs of a deceased owner can claim; the Department of Revenue's interactive claim tool builds a checklist of the documents you need based on who you are and the type of claim.

Contact the program

Program
Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program
Phone
360-534-1502, Option 1 (claims)
Claims by mail
Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property, PO Box 47477, Olympia, WA 98504-7477
Processing time
The Department says claims are processed in the order received and review can take up to 90 days. Once approved, funds are mailed in 2-3 weeks. By law (RCW 63.30.540-.550) it must decide within 90 days and pay within 30 days after approval.

Finder fees in Washington

A finder (locator or heir finder) cannot charge more than 5% of the value of the property expected to be recovered; an agreement for more is unenforceable. The agreement must be in writing, describe the property and the services, be signed by you, and state the value before and after the fee. The current statute sets no waiting period, but the Department's finder instructions still say a finder's affidavit must state that no fee may be taken on property within 24 months of it being turned over to the state. Finders must be registered to do business in Washington. The cap does not apply to an attorney you hire to pursue a specific claim.

Law: RCW 63.30.780 and RCW 63.30.790 (as amended 2025, c 29 s 24)

Watch out: The state says you never need to pay a finder's fee: searching and filing a claim is free. In fiscal 2025 it denied $7.2 million in claims flagged as potentially fraudulent.

Good to know

  • Washington holds unclaimed property with no time limit, but property reported by the FDIC is held only 10 years and then sent back to the FDIC.
  • Safe deposit box items are held at least two years, then auctioned; you can still claim the sale money at any time.
  • Before paying you, the state must first use your money to pay certain debts you owe in Washington, such as back child support, court fines or delinquent state or local taxes.

Also check outside Washington

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 Washington

How do I find unclaimed money in Washington?

Search the official database run by the Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in Washington.

Does it cost anything to claim money in Washington?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder (locator or heir finder) cannot charge more than 5% of the value of the property expected to be recovered; an agreement for more is unenforceable. The agreement must be in writing, describe the property and the services, be signed by you, and state the value before and after the fee. The current statute sets no waiting period, but the Department's finder instructions still say a finder's affidavit must state that no fee may be taken on property within 24 months of it being turned over to the state. Finders must be registered to do business in Washington. The cap does not apply to an attorney you hire to pursue a specific claim.

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

Heirs of a deceased owner can claim; the Department of Revenue's interactive claim tool builds a checklist of the documents you need based on who you are and the type of claim.

How long does a claim take in Washington?

The Department says claims are processed in the order received and review can take up to 90 days. Once approved, funds are mailed in 2-3 weeks. By law (RCW 63.30.540-.550) it must decide within 90 days and pay within 30 days after approval.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

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