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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

  • What is unclaimed property?
    Unclaimed property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned - that is, for which there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owners in five or more years. Other types of unclaimed property include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. The Unclaimed Property Division does not handle real property such as land, houses, cars and boats.
  • How does the state get the property?
    State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies, and businesses to turn over unclaimed property to the state if they have had no contact with the owners for five or more years. The state's Abandoned Fund Account holds cash property in trust forever. Occasionally, the state auctions off abandoned non-monetary assets of value (jewelry, coins, etc.) from safe deposit boxes, and records the proceeds from their sale in the owner's names so that they or their heirs can claim the proceeds.

  • Do I have unclaimed property?
    The fastest and most efficient way to check to see if you have unclaimed property is to visit our web site at www.showmemoney.com. If you don’t have access to the Internet, simply write to State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 1004, Jefferson City, MO 65102, with a list of owners' names, addresses, and previous addresses, if known. We will let you know if the names are associated with any unclaimed property in the custody of the state. To recover unclaimed property, claimants must be either the original owner of the property or a legal heir if the original owner is deceased.

  • How do I claim my property?
    You can download a claim form from our web site at www.showmemoney.com.Or if you write to us, we will send you a claim form with instructions regarding the necessary documentation to establish rightful ownership in order to claim the property. Claims processing is a public service provided by the State Treasurer’s Office, and claimants unable to produce the exact documentation requested are encouraged to work with the division in verifying ownership at no cost to the owner.
  • How long do I have to file a claim?
    There is no time limit for filing claims. The state maintains unclaimed assets in trust for the rightful owners forever. If the property was reported to the state as an interest-bearing account, the state will even pay the owner up to seven years interest on the cash property.
  • How long does it take?
    Our goal is to expedite all claims and return property to the rightful owners as quickly as possible. The Unclaimed Property Division offers assistance to claimants to avoid unnecessary delays in documentation and payment of unclaimed assets. All services of the Unclaimed Property Division are free of charge.
  • How do I check for unclaimed property in other states?
    All states have an unclaimed property program. If you would like more information about other sites, please visit the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators site at www.unclaimed.org .