⚠️ Unclaimed property — free at your state office (NAUPA / MissingMoney)

What this actually is

Searching for unclaimed property is free, and NAUPA says so on its own front page: "Search for your unclaimed property (it’s free)," through MissingMoney.com, "a free website, managed by NAUPA." ⚠️ Finder and heir-finder firms charge a percentage to tell you what that free search would have told you in two minutes, and most states cap what a finder may lawfully charge. Search your own state’s official office first and then every state you have ever lived or worked in — old deposits, final paychecks, insurance refunds and forgotten accounts are the usual finds. Filing the claim is free too.

Who qualifies, and what trips people up

No eligibility test. You will need identification and proof of your connection to the address or account on file, which is why old addresses matter — search every variation of your name and every former address. Claims for a deceased relative’s property require estate documentation. If a letter arrives offering to recover money "you may be owed" for a share, search the state site yourself before signing.