How to claim unclaimed money in Vermont
The Vermont State Treasurer’s Office holds more than $130 million in unclaimed property — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. The office paid out a record $9.9 million across more than 31,000 claims in fiscal year 2025. 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 27, Chapter 18 of the Vermont Statutes, most types of property — including bank accounts, dividends, and securities — are presumed abandoned after about three years of no owner contact. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Vermont Unclaimed Property Division. From there, the state holds it under your name, waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Vermont Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Vermont search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Vermont
You don’t need to still live in Vermont 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 Vermont
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Vermont-based company
- Left a utility or rent deposit unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Vermont
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official Vermont Unclaimed Property 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. Smaller claims from the original owner are often approved with payment mailed within a couple of business days.
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Wait for review and payment
Most clean claims with full documentation are paid within 60 to 90 days. 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 Vermont, 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 Vermont?
Yes. Searching the Vermont State Treasurer’s unclaimed property database is free, and the office never charges a fee to file a claim for money that is rightfully yours.
How much unclaimed property does Vermont hold?
The Vermont State Treasurer’s Office holds more than $130 million in unclaimed property, and paid out a record $9.9 million across more than 31,000 claims in fiscal year 2025.
Is Vermont unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Vermont’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?
Vermont holds unclaimed funds for the rightful owner or their heirs, so there’s no rush to search — you can check at any point, even years later.
Ready to check? Start with the Vermont unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
