How to claim unclaimed money in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program holds uncashed checks, forgotten bank accounts, security deposits, and even the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes on behalf of Georgians who never came back to claim them. 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. When an owner doesn’t act on wages, savings and checking accounts, dividends, or other assets within a set dormancy period, the business or institution holding them — called a “holder” — is required to turn them over to the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program. From there, the state holds it under your name, waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Georgia Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Georgia search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Georgia
You don’t need to still live in Georgia 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
- Never cashed a payroll check, refund, or insurance payment
- Moved and left a security deposit or utility refund unclaimed
- Inherited from a relative who held an account or safe deposit box in Georgia
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Georgia-based company
- Had a business dissolve or liquidate while still holding money in your name
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Georgia
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and any past spellings on the Georgia Department of Revenue’s official search tool. Property is often filed exactly as it was reported years ago.
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Confirm the listing is yours
Match the last known address, employer, bank, or company name in the record to somewhere you’ve actually lived, worked, or banked before you move on to filing.
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Register an account and file your claim
Registration is free. Individual owners can typically claim online; claims filed on behalf of an estate or business require a printed claim form and supporting documentation.
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Wait for review and payment
Most claims are paid within 30 days, though the state notes the process can take up to 90 days. Payment arrives as a mailed paper check — Georgia does not pay claims electronically.
Unclaimed property is filed under your address at the time — not where you live now. If you’ve ever moved to or from Georgia, worked elsewhere, or banked in another 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 Georgia?
Yes. Searching the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property database is free, and there is no cost to register an account or file a claim for money that is rightfully yours.
How long does it take to get paid after filing a claim in Georgia?
Most claims are paid within 30 days of being received, though the Georgia Department of Revenue notes the process can take up to 90 days for claims that require additional documentation or verification.
Is Georgia unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Georgia’s case the Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program. Georgia does allow registered “Claimant Designated Representatives” to charge a fee for locating property on your behalf, but you can always search and file for free yourself.
What happens if I never claim my money?
Georgia holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs with no time limit in most cases, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even years later.
Ready to check? Start with the Georgia unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
