Find Alabama Unclaimed Money
Alabama holds more than $1.3 billion in unclaimed funds right now. This money belongs to people who moved, forgot old accounts, or never cashed checks. The Alabama State Treasury keeps these funds safe until the rightful owners claim them. You can search for free and file a claim online in just a few minutes.
Alabama Unclaimed Money Quick Facts
What is Alabama Unclaimed Property?
Unclaimed property is any money or asset that has sat dormant for too long. Banks, insurance firms, employers, and other businesses must report these items to the state. The Alabama State Treasury then holds the funds until the rightful owner steps forward. This is not a tax. You do not owe the state anything. The money is yours.
Common types of unclaimed property in Alabama include:
- Bank accounts with no activity for three years
- Uncashed payroll checks or vendor payments
- Life insurance payouts and annuities
- Stock dividends and mutual fund shares
- Utility deposits and refund checks
- Safe deposit box contents
- Money orders and traveler's checks
The state returned over $50 million to owners in 2023 alone. More comes in each year as businesses file new reports. Your name could be on the list right now.
How to Search for Unclaimed Money
The search is free. It takes about two minutes. You do not need to create an account or pay any fees. The Alabama Unclaimed Property portal lets anyone search by name.
To search for unclaimed money in Alabama:
- Go to the official state portal
- Enter your first and last name
- Add a city to narrow results
- Check all matches that appear
- Start a claim if you find your property
Search under all name variations. Try maiden names and old spellings. Check for family members too. Many people find money for parents or grandparents who passed away.
The search page shown above is the official state portal. Enter your name and click search. Results show the property type, amount, and last known address.
How to File a Claim in Alabama
Found your name? Great. Filing a claim is simple. You do it online through the same portal. The state needs to verify your identity before releasing funds. This protects you from fraud.
The claim process works like this:
- Select the property you want to claim
- Click "Continue To File Claim"
- Fill out your contact details
- Upload proof of identity
- Submit and wait for review
Most claims take six to eight weeks to process. Simple claims with clear ownership go faster. Claims for deceased relatives take longer since you need extra documents. Under Code of Alabama Section 35-12-83, the Treasury must act on claims within 120 days.
The claim form asks for basic info: your name, address, social security number, and how you connect to the property. For amounts under $200, the process is even simpler under Code of Alabama Section 35-12-84.
When Does Property Become Unclaimed?
Each type of property has its own waiting period. This is called the dormancy period. Once the clock runs out, the holder must report the property to the state. The rules come from Code of Alabama Section 35-12-72.
Dormancy periods in Alabama:
- Bank accounts: 3 years of no activity
- Wages and payroll: 1 year unclaimed
- Stocks and dividends: 3 years
- Life insurance proceeds: 3 years
- Utility deposits: 1 year
- Safe deposit boxes: 3 years after lease ends
- Money orders: 5 years
- Traveler's checks: 15 years
The good news is that Alabama has no time limit on claims. You can claim property that was reported decades ago. The state holds funds forever. They never become state property through escheat like in some other states.
Are There Any Fees?
No. Searching is free. Filing a claim is free. The state charges nothing to return your money. This is your property. You should not pay to get it back.
Third-party finder services exist. They search for unclaimed money and take a cut if you hire them. Alabama law caps this at 10% under Code of Alabama Section 35-12-93. Any finder agreement made within 24 months of when the property was reported is void. You never need to pay someone to file a claim. You can do it yourself for free.
Key fee facts:
- Search: Free
- Claim: Free
- State fees: None
- Finder fee cap: 10% maximum
- Best option: File directly for free
Contact the Alabama Treasury
The Unclaimed Property Division handles all claims. Staff can answer questions about searches, claims, and required documents. They work Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
| Office | Alabama State Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division |
|---|---|
| Address | RSA Union Building 100 North Union Street, Suite 636 Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Toll-Free | (888) 844-8400 |
| Local | (334) 242-9614 |
| unclaimed@treasury.alabama.gov | |
| Website | alabama.findyourunclaimedproperty.com |
For court records related to estates and heir claims, contact your county probate court. The Treasury handles unclaimed money. County courts handle the legal documents you may need to prove your right to claim.
Claiming Money for a Deceased Relative
Heirs can claim property that belonged to someone who died. This takes more paperwork. You need to prove both that the person owned the property and that you have a legal right to it.
Documents you may need for heir claims:
- Death certificate of the owner
- Proof of your relationship (birth certificate, marriage record)
- Letters of administration from probate court
- Copy of the will if there is one
- Your own photo ID
County probate courts issue these legal documents. Each of Alabama's 67 counties has a probate office. They handle wills, estates, and letters of administration. If you need these papers to file an heir claim, start at your county probate court.
The Alabama Judicial System website can help you find your county court. Each county page on this site also lists local probate office contact info.
Lived in Other States?
Unclaimed property is reported to the state of your last known address. If you moved around, you may have money waiting in other states too.
MissingMoney.com is a free multi-state search tool. It covers most U.S. states and territories. Run one search to check everywhere you have lived. The site is run by NAUPA, the national association of unclaimed property administrators.
The Unclaimed.org website links to every state program. You can search each state directly if you prefer. For former Alabama residents who moved away, other states may hold property under your old address.
Browse Alabama Counties
All unclaimed money goes through the state. But county probate courts help with heir claims and estate documents. Pick a county below for local probate office contact info.
Search by Alabama City
These major cities have detailed pages with local resources. All residents search the same state portal. City pages cover local court contacts for heir claims.