How to Find Money You Did Not Know You Had

Unclaimed money and assets belonging to Americans add up to billions of dollars. When owners or the heirs do not claim their assets, including retirement plans, 401k, life insurance, mutual funds, bank accounts, etc. over a certain period of time, known as the dormancy period, it is considered forgotten. Which ever institution left holding the abandoned funds: banks, stock brokers, utilities, employers, life insurance companies and others will transfer custody of these assets to a government unclaimed property trust account in a process known as escheat. Now it is time to find your money or unclaimed assets.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer

1. Unclaimed money sources include assets from relatives and your own past financial accounts.--
   
   When relatives pass away, without leaving an updated financial statement for their heirs, millions of family members are unaware they’re entitled to collect that relative’s missing money owed to the deceased relatives. Life insurance policy benefits often go unclaimed, for example, because it's up to heirs to notify the insurance company when a policyholder dies, and virtually no effort is made to find lost beneficiaries.

2. 
   This is what the page will look like.

   Where to find unclaimed money and unclaimed assets.--
   
   Click on the link in the resource box of this article.--
   
   Click on your state.--

3. Unclaimed Money process continued.--
   
   *Scroll down to find information on how to contact the unclaimed asset division for that state.
   *I recommend right clicking on the web site and open it in a new window.

4. Unclaimed assets process continued.--
   
   *Follow the links or directions to look for unclaimed assets – usually by name is the best way to start.

5. How to find your unclaimed money from life insurance, mutual funds, retirement plans, bank loans, 401k, inheritance, etc.--
   
   *The system will let you know if there is unclaimed assets with that last name.
   
   Continue to follow the directions to sort the list down to you or someone in your relation.

Tips & Warnings

• When searching for your unclaimed assets ensure you look under your maiden name or any alias names for the deceased family.
• I found a retirement plan my Aunt took out at her first job (she's 83 now) and she received over $300. She totally forgot about it. This is real!

Resources

• Here's where you go to find money that may be owed to you.
• How to Cope With The Stress of Having A Job
• How to Get Better HDTV Reception

[CaseyCarlton]

on 9/30/2009 I followed the instructions and found some silver coins I left in a bank in Michigan when I moved to Arizona. I'll be getting those back, thanks to you! 5 stars on How to Find Money You Did Not Know You Had

[vintage]

on 9/4/2009 interesting, good article 5*

[africanlotus]

on 6/30/2009 Great article!!!! 5*****

[DrDanny]

on 6/29/2009 Great article

[jenicoe2001]

on 6/14/2009 great tips on finding money I didn't know I had!!! 5* and I could sure use it!!