How to claim unclaimed money in Maine
The Office of the Maine State Treasurer is holding more than $395 million in unclaimed property across over four million accounts — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. Roughly one in seven Maine residents is owed money. 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 the Maine Revised Unclaimed Property Act, dormancy periods vary by property type — wages and utility deposits are presumed abandoned after just one year, while most bank accounts, payroll cards, and safe deposit box contents turn over after three years. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Maine Office of the State Treasurer. From there, the state holds it under your name — free of charge, forever — waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Maine Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Maine search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Maine
You don’t need to still live in Maine 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, insurance payout, or matured CD
- Moved and forgot to alert a bank or stockbroker of a new address
- Inherited from a relative who held an account or safe deposit box in Maine
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Maine-based company
- Left a utility deposit or refund unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Maine
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official maineunclaimedproperty.gov search. 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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File the claim online
Submit your claim with a government-issued ID and documentation connecting you to the property. You can refine your search by name, city, or ZIP code, then click “Claim” next to any asset that’s yours.
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Wait for review and payment
Simple individual claims are typically processed in about eight weeks. Claims involving estates, businesses, or safe deposit box contents can take longer while ownership is verified.
Unclaimed property is filed under your address at the time — not where you live now. If you’ve ever moved to or from Maine, 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 Maine?
Yes. Searching the Maine State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property database at maineunclaimedproperty.gov is free, and the office never charges a fee to file a claim for money that is rightfully yours.
How much unclaimed property does Maine hold?
The Maine State Treasurer’s Office reports holding more than $395 million in unclaimed property across over four million accounts, with roughly one in seven Maine residents owed money.
Is Maine unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Maine’s case the Office of the State Treasurer. 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?
Maine holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs forever, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even years later.
Ready to check? Start with the Maine unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
