How to claim unclaimed money in Connecticut
Connecticut’s Office of the Treasurer has returned over a billion dollars in forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, and old insurance payouts through CT Big List. Here’s exactly how to find out if any of it belongs to you — and how to get it back for free.
Unclaimed property ends up with the state when a bank, employer, insurer, or utility loses touch with the rightful owner. Under Connecticut law, most bank accounts are considered abandoned after three years of no owner contact — wages and utility deposits after just one year, safe deposit boxes after five — before holders must turn the funds over to the Office of the Treasurer for safekeeping. From there, the state holds it under your name with no deadline, waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official CT Big List database with your current and past names.
Open Connecticut search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Connecticut
You don’t need a dramatic story for the state to be holding something in your name. Most claims trace back to something ordinary:
- Closed a bank account and left a small balance behind
- Moved out of Connecticut without leaving a forwarding address
- Inherited from a relative who lived or banked in Connecticut
- Had a payroll check, tax refund, or utility deposit returned undelivered
- Left a safe deposit box unrenewed after a bank closed or merged
- Held stock, dividends, or a matured life insurance policy tied to a Connecticut company
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Connecticut
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and any past spellings or typos on CT Big List. Search by last name, first name, city, or property ID.
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Confirm the listing is yours
Match the last known address, employer, or bank named in the record to somewhere you’ve actually lived or worked before you start a claim.
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File the claim online
Submit your claim through the secure portal with a photo ID and your Social Security number. Claim forms no longer need to be notarized.
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Wait for review and payment
The Treasurer’s Office generally has 90 days to review a submitted claim. Some smaller amounts under $2,500 are now matched and mailed automatically without a claim.
Unclaimed property is filed under your address at the time — not where you live now. If you’ve ever moved to or from Connecticut, held a job elsewhere, or gone to college out of state, that state may owe you too.
Check every state you’ve lived in →Frequently asked questions
Is it free to search for unclaimed money in Connecticut?
Yes. Searching the CT Big List database is free, and there is no fee to file a claim for money that is rightfully yours. Claim forms no longer need to be notarized.
How long does Connecticut take to pay out a claim?
The Treasurer’s Office generally has 90 days to review a submitted claim under state law, though simple claims can be resolved sooner.
Is Connecticut unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Connecticut’s case the Office of the Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division. The only real risk is third-party “finder” services that charge a fee for a search you can do yourself for free.
What happens if I never claim my money?
There’s no deadline — Connecticut holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs indefinitely. Even property from decades ago is still waiting to be claimed.
Ready to check? Start with the Connecticut unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
