How To Become A Registered Finder

Yes! It is free to search for and claim your missing coin!

There is no fee to search for and claim your unclaimed property—if you use your official state program. Each state has laws and unclaimed property programs that make this service available to its citizens.

Important: At that place are, however, third-party "finders" that may offer to locate and claim your unclaimed property for you. While not required to obtain your unclaimed belongings, these third-party services are in almost cases legal. More information is provided below.

Exist sure you are leveraging your state'southward official unclaimed property program

The NAUPA website provides a link to each state's official unclaimed property program.

To ensure yous are not paying a fee to search for and claim your missing coin, be sure to conduct your search with your state's official unclaimed holding program. In most cases, the state's programme is managed by the state treasury. You can acquit a gratis search on the program's website. States also offer outreach programs to aid reunite owners with their unclaimed holding.

Y'all can also conduct a free, online search of all states at once using MissingMoney.com, an official website of NAUPA. If at that place is a match in whatsoever state, MissingMoney.com will provide a link to that land's official program.

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Third-political party finder organizations

Have y'all received a letter of the alphabet maxim you owe a fee in order to search for or claim your missing coin?

Unclaimed belongings finders or "locators"

In that location are legitimate organizations that offer unclaimed belongings finder services for a fee

Many businesses, sometimes called finders or locators, offering to find legitimate lost belongings for owners and inform them of how to obtain it for a fee—usually a percentage of the total find. Some states limit the maximum fee.

Are finder organizations regulated?

Many states crave finders to register inside the state or regulate business activity or licensing in some way. There may even be a public listing of regulated finders inside the state. Exist sure to check your state's unclaimed property finder laws for information on finders practicing within your state.

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How did they get my information?

With the freedom of information act and other methods, finding unclaimed property possessor information is relatively easy

Third-party finders often use u.s.a.' freedom of information acts to obtain owner data. Many states do not provide complete records to these firms to protect your privacy.

Sometimes, the organization property your unclaimed property (ex., depository financial institution, utilities company) will hire a third-political party finder to locate you before the organization is required to turn the unclaimed belongings over to the land.

What to await and avoiding scams

Exist cautious earlier signing contracts with third-party organizations

The unclaimed holding locator volition likely ask you to sign a contract. The majority of firms that provide these services piece of work within the law, but there are as well many unclaimed property scams beyond the United States.

States typically require third-political party unclaimed property finders to register within the state, as well every bit become licensed every bit a finder. Exist sure to cheque with your state to ensure any tertiary-political party finder yous are because is registered and legitimate.

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The bottom line

You may pay 3rd-party organizations to search if yous wish—and for some, this is advantageous. However, recollect that all the data is attainable free of accuse past searching each state'south unclaimed holding database or MissingMoney.com, or by contacting the state'due south unclaimed property office.