BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Nearly 33 million people in the United States – 1 in every 10 – has what the industry calls unclaimed property: financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for a number of years. When that happens, and the company cannot locate the owner, the money or properties are submitted to the state. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and uncashed checks.

“States are required to return unclaimed property to its owner no matter how long it takes,” said Joseph Heringer, administrator of the North Dakota Unclaimed Property Division at the Department of Trust Lands. “It is your money and should be returned to you.”

In 2021, to increase awareness of unclaimed property, the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) launched the first National Unclaimed Property Day on Feb. 1. Unclaimed property administrators encourage everyone to search ucpday.com to determine if any state is holding their property. Individuals are encouraged to search their name, a maiden name, or the name of a business or nonprofit. Every search is free. Search for your cash at unclaimedproperty.nd.gov

NAUPA leads and facilitates collaboration among states, businesses, and the public in their efforts to reunite unclaimed property with its rightful owner. More than $2.87 billion dollars in unclaimed property was returned to its rightful owners by state unclaimed property offices in FY 2020, according to the latest NAUPA Annual Report. If you have lived in any other state, search for your unclaimed property today at ucpday.com. For North Dakota property, visit our website: unclaimedproperty.nd.gov