Lee County Unclaimed Money

Unclaimed money in Lee County is held by the Alabama State Treasury. The probate court in Opelika provides estate documents for heir claims.

How to Search for Unclaimed Money

The state of Alabama holds over $1.3 billion in unclaimed property. All of it waits at the State Treasury for owners to claim it. Lee County residents search the same database as everyone else in the state. Part of that money could belong to you.

The search is free. No fees, no registration needed. The state wants to return money to its rightful owners. You can search from any device with internet access.

How to search the database:

• Visit alabama.findyourunclaimedproperty.com
• Enter your first and last name
• Add Auburn or Opelika to narrow results
• Look through any matches
• File a claim for your property

Search under all names you have used. Maiden names, former married names, and nicknames all matter. Check for deceased relatives too. Heirs can claim money from family members who passed away with proper documentation.

Finder services exist but charge fees. Code of Alabama Section 35-12-93 caps those fees at 10%. File directly and keep all your money.

Lee County Probate Court

The probate court handles estate matters for Lee County. This includes wills, guardianships, and administration of estates. The court provides documents for heir claims on unclaimed property. The money claims themselves go through the state treasury.

The probate office is in Opelika at the Lee County Justice Center. Staff can help explain what documents you need. The probate judge also handles marriage licenses and some property records.

Lee County is the sole county in the 37th Judicial Circuit. This means it does not share judges with neighboring counties. The Lee County Justice Center houses both probate and circuit court functions.

Getting Estate Documents for Heir Claims

When you claim money for a deceased relative, the state requires documentation. You need to prove the person died and that you have a legal right to their property. The probate court provides most of these documents.

Documents you may need:

• Certified death certificate
• Letters of administration or letters testamentary
• Copy of the will
• Birth certificate proving relationship
• Marriage certificate for surviving spouse

The court charges fees for copies. Certified copies cost more. Call ahead to check current prices. Some older records take extra time to locate in archives.

Request documents in person or by mail. Bring photo ID for in-person visits. Mail requests need a letter with specifics, payment for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Online Records Access

Lee County provides good online access to some records. The county website has office information and links to various search tools. For detailed probate searches, you may need to contact the office directly.

Online resources:

• Lee County Government - Official county website
• State Unclaimed Property - Search for money
• Alacourt ACCESS - Statewide court records

The state unclaimed property portal is the best tool for finding lost money. It covers all of Alabama and is free. Alacourt offers court records statewide but charges subscription fees.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed property comes from many sources. Banks, employers, insurers, and utilities all report dormant accounts. When owners cannot be found, the money goes to the state.

Common types:

• Dormant bank accounts
• Uncashed paychecks
• Insurance benefits
• Utility deposits
• Stock dividends
• Safe deposit box contents
• Refund checks

Lee County has high population turnover due to Auburn University. Students and staff come for a few years and then move on. This creates many opportunities for unclaimed property. Former students and university employees should definitely check the database for accounts they may have left behind.

About Lee County

Lee County sits in east-central Alabama on the Georgia border. About 180,000 people live here, making it one of the state's fastest-growing counties. The county was created in 1866 and named for General Robert E. Lee.

Opelika serves as the county seat. The city has about 32,000 residents. Auburn, home of Auburn University, is the larger city with about 84,000 people. The university drives much of the local economy and attracts people from around the world.

The county has grown rapidly in recent decades. Manufacturing, healthcare, and education provide jobs. Kia has a major plant in neighboring Georgia that employs many Lee County residents. All this growth and turnover creates accounts and payments that can become unclaimed when people move on.

Contact the State Treasury

Have questions about unclaimed property? Contact the Alabama State Treasury. Their Unclaimed Property Division handles all searches and claims. Lee County residents use this same office.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County has several communities. All residents use the same state portal to search for unclaimed money. Auburn qualifies for its own city page based on population.

Other communities in Lee County include Opelika, Smiths Station, Beauregard, Loachapoka, Notasulga, and Waverly.

Nearby Counties

Have ties to areas around Lee County? Check these neighboring counties for unclaimed property. Search under all addresses where you have lived.