How to claim unclaimed money in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division is holding more than $1.2 billion in unclaimed funds — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. One in six Louisiana 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 Louisiana Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, dormancy periods vary by property type — wages and payroll checks are presumed abandoned after just one year, dividends after three years, and most bank accounts and matured deposits after five years. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Louisiana Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division. From there, the state holds it under your name — with claims averaging around $900 — waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Louisiana Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Louisiana search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Louisiana
You don’t need to still live in Louisiana 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 Louisiana
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Louisiana-based company
- Left a utility deposit or refund unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Louisiana
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official LaCashClaim.org 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. The state’s secure portal accepts documents electronically, and you can track an existing claim’s status using your claim ID.
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Wait for review and payment
Simple individual claims tend to move fastest, with the Treasury asking you to allow up to 90 days for processing. 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana?
Yes. Searching the Louisiana Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property database at lacashclaim.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 Louisiana hold?
The Louisiana Department of Treasury reports more than $1.2 billion in unclaimed property waiting to be claimed, with one in six Louisiana residents owed money and claims averaging around $900.
Is Louisiana unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Louisiana’s case the Department of Treasury’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?
Louisiana holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs in perpetuity, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even years later.
Ready to check? Start with the Louisiana unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
