Unclaimed funds are money owed to you that a bank, insurer, utility or other business couldn’t return, so it was turned over to New York State. The Office of the State Comptroller keeps it until the owner claims it, and searching is free [1].
At a glance
- Who holds it
- Office of the State Comptroller, Office of Unclaimed Funds [1]
- Cost to claim
- None from the state; finder fees capped at 15% [3]
- Deadline
- None set by law [2]
- Online claims
- A check could arrive within a few weeks [1]
- Phone
- 1-800-221-9311, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [1]
- Interest
- Generally none once the state holds it [11]
What counts as unclaimed funds
New York requires organizations to report accounts that have gone quiet to the State Comptroller [1]. Common examples are forgotten savings accounts, lost paychecks, and stocks or bonds [1]. Each type of property becomes “abandoned” after its own waiting period with no contact from the owner, called the dormancy period .
| Type of property | Unclaimed for | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Bank deposits (savings and other accounts) | 3 years | ABP § 300 |
| Bank official and certified checks | 3 years | ABP § 300 |
| Safe deposit box contents (after the box is opened) | 3 years | ABP § 300 |
| Utility deposits and refunds | 2 years | ABP § 400 |
| Stock dividends, interest and securities | 3 years | ABP § 501 |
| Life insurance death benefits | 3 years | ABP § 700 |
| Customer credit balances at retailers | 3 years | ABP § 1314 |
| Uncashed business checks for goods or services | 3 years | ABP § 1315 |
| Gift certificates | 5 years | ABP § 1315 |
| Uncashed New York State checks | 1 year | ABP § 1315 |
Sources for each row: bank property [5], utilities [6], securities [7], life insurance [8], store credit balances [10], checks and gift certificates [9].
How to search
Use the Comptroller’s free Search for Lost Money tool at ouf.osc.ny.gov [1]. Enter the name of the person, business or organization you’re looking for and click Search; any matching names appear in the results [1].
A few tips:
- Search every name you’ve used, including maiden names, and any business you’ve owned.
- Search for family members, including relatives who have died (see below).
If you’d rather not search online, call the Office of Unclaimed Funds at 1-800-221-9311, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [1].
How to file a claim
- Find the account in the Search for Lost Money tool and follow the claim instructions for that account [1].
- File online if you can. Some accounts can be claimed online, and a check could arrive within a few weeks [1].
- Mail it in if you’re asked to. Some accounts must be claimed by mail because you need to send documents proving you’re the rightful owner [1]. The address is Office of the State Comptroller, Office of Unclaimed Funds, 110 State Street, Albany, NY 12236 [1].
- Send what’s asked for. The Comptroller decides each claim and sends you a written decision [2]. The proof needed depends on the account, so follow the instructions for your claim exactly.
- Track your claim on the Comptroller’s claim status page at ouf.osc.ny.gov. Have your claim reference number, confirmation number or OUF code handy if you call or write [1].
Claims can be filed for amounts over $3 [2].
If your claim is denied, you can ask for a hearing within 4 months of the written decision. After a final decision, you have another 4 months to ask State Supreme Court in Albany County to review it [2].
No fee from the state, limits on finders
The Comptroller doesn’t charge to return your money. Private companies called locators or finders may contact you and offer to recover it for a cut. New York law limits these deals [3]:
- Fee cap: The agreement isn’t valid if the fee is more than 15% of the property’s value.
- Written and notarized: It must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed and notarized, and must describe the property and give the Comptroller’s name and address.
- Required notice: It must say, in bold type, that you can get the money directly from the Office of the State Comptroller without paying a fee.
- You can challenge it: You can go to court at any time to challenge a fee as excessive or unjust.
Some attorney and accountant agreements are exempt, such as when you already worked with them or you hired them yourself [3]. If you can find the money in the state’s free search, you don’t need to pay anyone to claim it.
Claiming for a relative who died
You can file a claim to recover money the state holds for someone who has died [13]. The Comptroller handles these as claims for deceased owners and estates, with its own instructions [13]. Search for the person under every name they used.
Who can sign for the estate depends on the estate. If no one has been appointed, Surrogate’s Court can do it. For small estates, where the person left $50,000 or less in personal property, the court has a simpler process called voluntary administration [12].
Claiming for a business
The Search for Lost Money tool works with business and organization names, not just people’s names [1]. Search for the legal name and any trade names, old and new. If the business has closed or changed owners, call the Office of Unclaimed Funds before you file to ask who can sign the claim and what proof it needs [1].
Sources
- NY.gov: Find Lost Money (Office of the State Comptroller search service)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1406 (claims for abandoned property paid to the state)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1416 (restriction on agreements to locate abandoned property)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1407 (payment by comptroller; expedited payment program)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 300 (property held by banking organizations)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 400 (utility deposits and refunds)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 501 (property owed to security holders)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 700 (unclaimed life insurance funds)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1315 (miscellaneous unclaimed property)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1314 (unclaimed consumer credit balances)
- NY Abandoned Property Law § 1405 (interest after payment to the comptroller)
- NY Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 1301 (small estates)
- NY.gov: Navigating the death of a family member
- Federal Trade Commission: How to handle unexpected calls about unclaimed funds (March 30, 2026)
Common questions
Does it cost anything to claim unclaimed funds in New York?
No. The Office of the State Comptroller doesn't charge to search or to return your money. A private finder can charge you, but New York law caps that fee at 15% and requires the agreement to say you can get the money directly from the Comptroller without paying a fee.
Is there a deadline to claim unclaimed funds in New York?
No. The Abandoned Property Law sets no deadline for filing a claim with the Comptroller. Money held for an owner stays available to claim.
How long does a New York unclaimed funds claim take?
If your claim can be filed online, a check could arrive within a few weeks. Claims that must be mailed with proof of ownership have no published timeline. You can check a claim's progress on the Comptroller's claim status page.