Louisiana Unclaimed Property: How to Search LaCashClaim and Get Paid

How Louisiana unclaimed property works

Louisiana's rules are in the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 1997, which begins at Revised Statutes 9:151. The idea is simple. When a bank, employer, insurer, utility, or other holder cannot reach the person it owes, it must report the money and send it to the Treasury after a set time. The state holds it as a custodian. It does not keep your money, and your right to it does not run out.

The program is large for a state of Louisiana's size. In a July 2026 report, the Treasurer's office said it returned a record $70.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and still held about $1.2 billion. State Treasurer John Fleming has said roughly one in six Louisianans has unclaimed property, with claims averaging about $900. Many accounts are small refunds or deposits, while a few run to thousands of dollars.

Common sources include forgotten checking and savings accounts, uncashed payroll and refund checks, utility deposits, insurance proceeds, securities, safe deposit box contents, and oil and gas royalties.

Waiting periods by type of property

Each type of property has its own waiting period, called a dormancy period, before the holder must turn it over. These come from La. R.S. 9:154:

The short one-year periods matter. If you moved out of an apartment or left a job last year and never got a deposit or final check, it may already be with the state.

Using LaCashClaim.org

The official search is LaCashClaim.org, linked from the Treasury's unclaimed property page. Searching is free and needs no account. To get the most out of it:

• Enter only a last name at first. Add a first name or city only if the list is too long.
• Try past names, such as a maiden name, and common misspellings.
• Search each parish and city you lived in to spot records tied to old addresses.
• Look up a business, church, or club you managed, and relatives who have died.
• Check back each year, since holders file new reports every year.

If you are not comfortable online, call 1-888-925-4127. The Treasury's staff can run the search for you and mail a claim form.

Property reported in another state will not appear on LaCashClaim. If you have lived in Texas, Mississippi, or elsewhere, use unclaimed.org to reach those states' official sites. Our Texas unclaimed property guide covers the largest neighbor.

Proving the money is yours

When you find a match, add it to your claim online. The site asks how you are related to the owner, for example self, heir, or business officer. Then the Treasury needs proof. In its public guidance, the office says you must show ownership by verifying your Social Security number, a current or previous address, or your connection to the business that reported the money. Expect to provide:

• A clear copy of a current photo ID.
• Something that shows your Social Security number, such as a W-2 or tax form.
• If the record lists an old address, a document that ties you to it, such as an old bill or lease.
• A notarized claim form if the claim is worth $5,000 or more.

The Treasury asks people to upload personal documents through the claim site rather than email them. If you cannot print a form, call the office and ask for one by mail. Our documents checklist has tips for replacing lost papers.

How long does a Louisiana claim take?

The Treasury says claims can take about 90 days to process, depending on how many claims it is handling. Simple claims are often faster. Claims with missing documents, several heirs, or securities take longer.

The law also gives you a remedy if things stall. Under La. R.S. 9:168:

Most people never need court. A phone call asking what is missing usually gets a stuck claim moving.

Old state tax refunds

Uncashed Louisiana income tax refunds can also end up as unclaimed property. In July 2025, the Louisiana Department of Revenue mailed notices to 17,976 taxpayers about $16.9 million in refunds. Refunds not claimed through the Department by September 6, 2025 were moved to the Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division. The Department said the money still belongs to the taxpayers and can be claimed there.

So if you remember a state refund that never arrived, search LaCashClaim under your name. A federal refund is a separate matter handled by the IRS, not the state.

Mineral royalties, stocks, and interest

Oil and gas money. Louisiana gives mineral proceeds a two-year waiting period, and royalty checks from old family land are a common find. If your parents or grandparents owned mineral rights, search their names and the names of any family companies.

Stocks. Under La. R.S. 9:164, shares in a company are generally held at least three years before the state sells them; other securities at least one year. If the state sells shares early and you claim within that three-year window, you get the larger of the sale price or the market value when you claim, plus dividends, minus sale costs. After that, you get the shares if the state still has them, or the sale proceeds.

Interest. La. R.S. 9:163 provides interest of up to 5% a year on certain property that was earning interest when it was turned over, for no more than 10 years. The section's wording is narrow, so ask the Treasury whether interest applies to your claim.

Collecting for someone who died

Legal heirs can claim a deceased person's property, but the Treasury requires court-recognized estate documents that prove who the heirs are. In Louisiana that usually means one of these:

• Letters of administration or letters testamentary, if a succession is open and an administrator or executor has been named.
• A judgment of possession, if the succession has been completed in court.
• A small succession affidavit, for smaller estates that qualify under state law, filed and recorded as the law requires.

Search under the person's full legal name and any nicknames, and keep a certified death certificate on hand. Successions can be confusing, so contact a legal aid office or the Treasury before you file papers you may not need.

Who may charge a fee

Louisiana tightened its rules on paid recovery in 2023. La. R.S. 9:177 now works like this:

• Early deals are void. Any agreement to pay someone to find or recover property is void if made from the date it was presumed abandoned until 24 months after the holder delivered it to the state.
• Fiduciary agents only. The 2023 law (Act 351) limited paid "fiduciary agents" to Louisiana-licensed attorneys, certified public accountants, and financial advisors.
• A 10% cap. A fiduciary agent's pay may not exceed 10% of the total claim value.
• Full disclosure. The agent must file a sworn, notarized payment request with your signed acknowledgment, and any agreement must be written, describe the property, and show its value before and after the fee.
• Royalty protection. A deal that pays the helper a share of your minerals or a royalty interest is void.
• A way to fight back. You, or the Treasury for you, can ask a court to cut an unconscionable fee, and you may challenge an agreement at any time.

Because the Treasury helps owners for free, there is rarely a reason to pay anyone. Be wary of calls or letters that ask for an upfront payment, bank logins, or a quick signature. Read our scam warnings for more signs.

Your plan from start to finish

1. Search LaCashClaim.org for yourself, your family, and any business, or call 1-888-925-4127.
2. Add each match to a claim and choose the right relationship (self, heir, or business).
3. Upload photo ID, Social Security proof, and an address link; notarize if the claim is $5,000 or more.
4. For a relative's property, gather succession papers before filing.
5. Allow about 90 days, then call if you have not heard anything.
6. Search again next year, since new property is reported every year.

Related guides

• Unclaimed money Louisiana
• Texas unclaimed property
• Unclaimed money Arkansas
• Scam warnings

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Claim rules and forms are set by the Louisiana Department of the Treasury. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Louisiana or any government agency.