Unclaimed Money

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated February 21, 2009)

I always find it thrilling when I find money I didn't know I had. Receiving any kind of money is always exciting, whether that be a birthday check in the mail, a forgotten $20 bill in your coat, or extra money in your savings account, discovering that you have money you didn't think you had is definitely a satisfying and exciting experience. Believe it or not, there may actually be more significant amounts of money out there you didn't even know about that you have the right to claim.

Unclaimed money can be found just about anywhere and there are multiple websites dedicated to helping you find your money. Unclaimed money can be found in just a few of the following places:

  • Forgotten bank accounts
  • Unclaimed tax returns
  • Stocks and bonds
  • Safe deposit boxes
  • Military and pension benefits
  • Uncashed checks

These are just a few of the places you can find money that actually is yours. Some of those sources like uncashed checks are really just up to you to find and a service can't help you find anything of that sort, but if you go online and check out an unclaimed money site for your state, you could end up discovering funds and assets that are yours, that have been waiting for you to come!

Unclaimed money usually happens when someone moves or changes name and the new information doesn't get everywhere it needs to be. The government will hold unclaimed money or property until the rightful owner comes to claim it. The websites you can check out to see if you have unclaimed money waiting for you search databases that pull the information that will best help you in your own search. If the website doesn't have a searchable database, write to the address on the site and begin a correspondence requesting that the state searches for you.

Claiming your unclaimed money isn't difficult but just takes a little bit of times, however that little bit of time could reap significant rewards and you could end up with significant amounts more money than you started with1 It's like finding a $20 bill in your pocket but way better!

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

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