Find Unclaimed Money in Birmingham
Unclaimed money for Birmingham residents is held by the Alabama State Treasury. Thousands of people in the Magic City have funds waiting to be claimed. You can search for free and file a claim in just minutes.
Birmingham Quick Facts
How to Search for Unclaimed Money in Birmingham
The State Treasury runs Alabama's unclaimed property program. Birmingham has no local office for this. All searches and claims go through the state portal. It is free and easy to use.
Steps to search:
- Visit alabama.findyourunclaimedproperty.com
- Type in your first and last name
- Enter "Birmingham" as the city
- Review any matches
- Start a claim if you find your money
Birmingham has a large population and a long history. Many businesses have come and gone. Banks have merged. Insurance companies have changed names. All of this creates unclaimed money. Former residents who moved away may still have funds here under old addresses.
Check maiden names and old spellings. The database holds records going back many years. A name search is free. So is filing a claim. You never pay the state to get your own money back.
Jefferson County Probate Court for Heir Claims
Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County. The probate court here handles estate documents. If you need to claim money for someone who died, you will need papers from this office.
The Jefferson County Probate Court does not process unclaimed money claims. That goes through the state. But the probate court issues documents you may need. Death certificates, letters of administration, and certified copies of wills all come from here.
| Court | Jefferson County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Judge | Yashiba Blanchard |
| Address | Jefferson County Courthouse 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Room 120 Birmingham, AL 35203 |
| Phone | (205) 325-5420 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | jeffcoprobatecourt.com |
Jefferson County has satellite offices in Bessemer, Center Point, and Hoover. The main courthouse is downtown near city hall. Parking meters line the streets. Garages are nearby for longer visits. Bring valid photo ID when you visit.
Estate Documents for Birmingham Residents
Heir claims need more paperwork than claims for your own money. You have to prove two things: that the person owned the property and that you have the right to claim it. The exact papers depend on your situation.
Documents you might need:
- Certified death certificate
- Your valid photo ID
- Proof you are related (birth certificate, marriage record)
- Letters of administration from probate
- Copy of the will if one exists
- Small estate affidavit for smaller amounts
Jefferson County has online records at landmarkweb.jccal.org. You can search some probate filings there. For certified copies, you still need to visit or mail a request. Recording fees are about $3.00 per page. Call ahead to confirm current costs.
Claims under $200 may qualify for simpler rules under Code of Alabama Section 35-12-84. The state has more flexibility on what proof it needs for small amounts.
About Birmingham
Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro area. The city proper has about 196,000 people. The metro area is much bigger. People call it the Magic City because of how fast it grew in the late 1800s. Iron and steel made this place boom.
The city played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing happened that same year. Today, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute tells this history.
UAB Hospital is now a major employer. So are Regions Financial, Alabama Power, and other big companies. The economy shifted from steel to healthcare, banking, and tech. With all that change comes unclaimed property. Companies close. People move. Money gets left behind.
Birmingham was founded in 1871 after the Civil War. It sits at the crossing of two railroad lines. The Vulcan statue on Red Mountain is the world's largest cast iron statue. It stands as a symbol of the city's iron heritage.
Contact the Alabama Treasury
The Unclaimed Property Division handles all claims. Staff can answer questions about your search or claim status. They work Monday through Friday from the Montgomery office.
| 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 | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Simple claims take six to eight weeks. Heir claims with many documents take longer. Alabama has no deadline to claim. The money waits forever until you step forward. The state returned over $50 million to owners in 2023 alone.
Jefferson County Unclaimed Money
Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County. The county includes over 35 cities and towns. For full details on the probate court, fees, and local resources, see the county page.
Other Major Alabama Cities
Check other cities if you lived elsewhere in Alabama. Money is reported based on your last known address. You may have funds waiting in places you used to call home.