How to claim unclaimed money in Maryland
The Comptroller of Maryland’s Unclaimed Property Division is holding more than $2.76 billion in unclaimed funds across over 1.3 million accounts — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. Roughly one in seven Marylanders 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 Maryland Commercial Law §17-102, most property types — including checking and savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, insurance payments, and security deposits — are presumed abandoned after three years of no owner activity. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Comptroller of Maryland’s Unclaimed Property Division. From there, the state holds it under your name — with claims averaging around $2,080 — waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Maryland Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Maryland search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Maryland
You don’t need to still live in Maryland 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 Maryland
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Maryland-based company
- Left a utility deposit or security deposit unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Maryland
-
Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official Maryland Unclaimed Property search. Property is often filed exactly as it was reported years ago.
-
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.
-
File the claim online
The fastest route is through the Maryland OneStop portal — create a free account, enter your claim number, complete the required fields, and upload your supporting documentation. As of 2025, small claims under $5,000 may be delivered automatically without a formal claim.
-
Wait for review and payment
Simple individual claims tend to move fastest. 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland?
Yes. Searching the Maryland Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property database at marylandtaxes.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 Maryland hold?
The Maryland Comptroller’s office reports a total balance exceeding $2.76 billion across more than 1.3 million accounts, with roughly one in seven Marylanders owed money.
Is Maryland unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Maryland’s case the Comptroller’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?
Maryland 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 Maryland unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
