How to claim unclaimed money in Texas
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts currently holds more than $9 billion in unclaimed property — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, mineral royalties, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. The Comptroller has already returned over $5 billion to rightful owners since the program began in 1962. 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 Title 6 of the Texas Property Code, most types of property — including bank accounts, uncashed checks, and stock dividends — are presumed abandoned after one to five years of no owner contact, depending on the property type. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Texas Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division. From there, the state holds it under your name, waiting for you to claim it — with no deadline to file.
Search the official Texas Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Texas search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Texas
You don’t need to still live in Texas 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 Texas
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Texas-based company
- Held mineral rights or oil and gas royalty payments that went unclaimed
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Texas
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official ClaimItTexas.org search. Property is often filed exactly as it was reported years ago, so try common misspellings too.
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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, proof of your current address, and any financial records tying you to the asset. Heirs claiming for a deceased relative will need a will, probate order, or other legal documentation.
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Wait for review and payment
Processing generally takes several weeks. Simple individual claims tend to move fastest, while estate claims or property needing extra documentation 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 Texas, 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 Texas?
Yes. Searching the Texas Comptroller’s unclaimed property database at ClaimItTexas.org is free, and the office never charges a fee to file a claim for money that is rightfully yours.
How much unclaimed property does Texas hold?
The Texas Comptroller currently holds more than $9 billion in unclaimed property, and has already returned over $5 billion to rightful owners since the program began in 1962.
Is Texas unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Texas’s case the Comptroller of Public Accounts. 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?
Texas holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs indefinitely, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even years later.
Ready to check? Start with the Texas unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
