How to claim unclaimed money in Virginia
Since the program began in 1961, the Virginia Department of the Treasury has returned more than $1.3 billion in unclaimed property to Virginians — old bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance payouts, all sitting with the state until someone comes looking. 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 Virginia’s Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, most types of property — including bank accounts, CDs, and investment accounts — are presumed abandoned after about five years of no owner contact, while wages turn over after just one year and life insurance proceeds after two. Once that period passes, the holder must report and remit the property to the Virginia Department of the Treasury. From there, the state holds it under your name indefinitely, waiting for you to claim it.
Search the official Virginia Unclaimed Property database with your current and past names.
Open Virginia search guide →Common ways people end up owed money in Virginia
You don’t need to still live in Virginia 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 Virginia
- Owned stock, dividends, or bonds tied to a Virginia-based company
- Left a school lunch account balance or utility deposit unclaimed after moving
Step-by-step: claiming your money in Virginia
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Search every name you’ve used
Try your current legal name, maiden name, nicknames, and past spellings on the official vaMoneySearch.gov “Click and Claim” search. Start with just your last name for the widest results, then narrow with your first name.
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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
Create a free account, submit your claim with a government-issued ID, and upload documentation connecting you to the property. Most claims can be completed fully online without mailing anything.
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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 Virginia, 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 Virginia?
Yes. Searching the Virginia Department of the Treasury’s unclaimed property database at vaMoneySearch.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 Virginia hold?
Since the program began in 1961, the Virginia Department of the Treasury has returned more than $1.3 billion in unclaimed property to Virginians, with new funds continually flowing into the program.
Is Virginia unclaimed money a scam?
No — unclaimed property programs are run directly by state government, in Virginia’s case the Department of the Treasury. 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?
Virginia 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 Virginia unclaimed money search guide, then use the full 50-state checklist to cover every place you’ve ever lived.
