Missouri Unclaimed Property: How to Search, Claim, and Avoid Finder Fees

What counts as Missouri unclaimed property

The Treasurer's office describes unclaimed property as cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and safe deposit box contents that have been abandoned. In practice, the most common items are small and ordinary:

• Forgotten checking and savings accounts, and certificates of deposit.
• Uncashed paychecks, refund checks, and vendor payments.
• Utility and rental deposits that were never returned.
• Insurance payouts and premium refunds, including life insurance benefits a family did not know about.
• Stocks, dividends, and mutual fund shares.
• Safe deposit box contents, such as jewelry, coins, papers, and family keepsakes.

Businesses must turn property over after a set period with no activity or contact from the owner, called the dormancy period. For most property, that period is five years. The Treasurer's office says it does not handle real property, such as land, houses, cars, or boats.

Property usually ends up at the state for simple reasons: a move without a forwarding address, a name change after marriage or divorce, a job that ended with one last paycheck, or a relative who died without anyone knowing about an account.

How much the Treasurer holds

The numbers are large, but most individual amounts are modest. These figures come from the Treasurer's office as reported in Missouri news coverage.

KBIA reported in January 2026 that the number of traceable properties had grown 7% and the dollar amount 12% since December 2024, so new names are added all the time. Search again once or twice a year, even if you came up empty before.

Searching the state database

The official search is on the Missouri State Treasurer's website, treasurer.mo.gov, under Unclaimed Property. For years the search was promoted as ShowMeMoney.com, and that name still appears in news stories and on older mailers; it leads to the same official search. Note: the Treasurer's site blocked our automated checks, so we could not open its pages directly. Type the address yourself instead of clicking links in emails or texts.

Search tips that turn up more results:

• Search your last name only first, then add a first name. Records are often misspelled or use initials.
• Try every name you have used, including maiden and married names.
• Search relatives, neighbors, and businesses. The Treasurer's office encourages people to look up family members and friends.
• Check each state you have lived in. Property is sent to the state of the owner's last known address. The national association of unclaimed property administrators lists every state program at unclaimed.org.

The Treasurer's office also publishes lists of owner names each year, which local newspapers and stations often share. If you see your name in a printed list, go to the official site to claim it rather than calling a number in an ad.

Filing a claim step by step

1. Find your property in the official search and select each item that is yours.
2. Start the claim online. The Treasurer's office says many claims can be filed online. Simple claims may need little or no extra paperwork; others will ask for uploads.
3. Provide proof if asked, such as a copy of your ID and something that ties you to the address on the record.
4. Sign and submit. If the office sends a paper claim form, return it by mail. Missouri's rule says delivering a claim in person does not speed it up.
5. Track your claim with the claim status tool on the Treasurer's site, using the claim number you receive.

If several items belong to you, claim them together. If an item belongs to more than one person, such as a joint account, the office may need information from each owner.

Proof the Treasurer may ask for

Missouri's claim rule (15 CSR 50-3.090) says a claimant must prove by clear and convincing evidence that they are entitled to the funds. What that takes depends on the claim:

• Your own property: your contact details, a copy of your photo ID, and proof you lived at or were connected to the address on the record, such as an old bill, lease, pay stub, or tax form.
• A name change: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order linking your names.
• Heir claims: a death certificate, probate papers if there was an estate, and a list of potential heirs with a sworn statement.
• Others with an equal right: the office may ask for releases from other people who could also claim the property.

Older records, large amounts, and stock usually need more proof. If you cannot find a document, explain what you have; the office can tell you what else will work. Our general documents checklist has tips on replacing lost papers.

Claiming for a relative who died

Unclaimed property does not disappear when the owner dies. It can be claimed by the estate or by the legal heirs, and there is still no deadline.

• If an estate was opened in probate court, the personal representative (executor or administrator) usually files, using letters testamentary or letters of administration.
• If no estate was opened, heirs can often claim by filing the claim form with a death certificate and a sworn list of heirs. If several heirs share the property, each may need to sign or release their share.
• For larger amounts, the office may require probate. Ask before you pay a lawyer to open one.

Military medals and insignia found in safe deposit boxes are held for families rather than sold, according to the Treasurer's past statements. If you are searching for a veteran's medals, ask the office directly.

Businesses, churches, and nonprofits

Organizations have unclaimed property too, often vendor refunds, deposits, or overpayments. A business claim usually needs proof the person filing is authorized (such as a letter on company letterhead or corporate records), the business's tax ID, and proof the business is the owner shown, or its successor if it merged or changed names. If your business is a holder that owes property to others, Missouri has separate annual reporting duties; the Treasurer's holder section explains them.

Finder fees and Missouri's limits

Finders, also called heir locators or asset recovery firms, contact owners and offer to recover their money for a percentage. Using one is legal, but you never need one: the same claim is free when you file it yourself.

Missouri's rule 15 CSR 50-3.090 sets these protections:

The rule also says the agreement must be in writing, signed by the owner, and notarized, and must disclose the nature and value of the property. Finders who want to be paid must register with the Treasurer, renew each year, and have their standard fee agreement approved; claims filed by an unregistered finder are treated as invalid. Owners can still argue an agreement is excessive or unjust. We read the rule on Cornell's Legal Information Institute because the state statute site did not load for us; confirm current text with the Treasurer before you sign anything.

Timing, tracking, and denials

The Treasurer does not publish a fixed processing time. Simple online claims can be paid quickly, while heir claims and stock take longer because more people and records are involved. Use the claim status tool rather than calling repeatedly, and answer any request for documents promptly so the claim does not stall.

If a claim is denied, Missouri's rule gives you 30 days to request a hearing, and the hearing must be held within 90 days after the Treasurer receives the request. Keep copies of everything you submit.

Scams that use unclaimed property

Real unclaimed property programs are free. Watch for these warning signs:

• A call, text, or email saying you must pay a "processing" or "release" fee to get your money. The state never charges one.
• Messages with links to sites that look official but are not treasurer.mo.gov.
• Requests for your full Social Security number, bank login, or payment by gift card or wire before you have seen what is owed.
• Pressure to sign today, or a finder agreement with no notary and no description of the property.

Report suspected scams to the Missouri Attorney General's consumer protection office or to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Money the Treasurer does not hold

Not every lost dollar sits with the State Treasurer. Check these too:

• County tax sale surplus. Extra money left after a county sells land for back taxes is handled by the county collector, not the state, and may have its own deadline. Call the county where the property was.
• U.S. savings bonds. The Treasury's old Treasury Hunt search tool was retired on September 30, 2025. TreasuryDirect now points owners to its savings bond claim forms instead.
• Other states. If you lived or worked elsewhere, search those states as well. Our guide to finding unclaimed money from the government covers federal sources like IRS refunds and pensions.

For a national overview of where to look, see our unclaimed money guide.

Related guides

• NAUPA unclaimed property
• California unclaimed property
• Missouri assistance programs
• Missouri hardship relief

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Claim rules are set by the Missouri State Treasurer and state law. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the Missouri State Treasurer or any government agency.