Search New Jersey Unclaimed Money
New Jersey holds more than $7 billion in unclaimed money and property. The state's Unclaimed Property Administration safeguards these missing funds until the rightful owners come forward. You can search for unclaimed money in New Jersey at no cost through official state databases. The process takes just a few minutes. Bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, stocks, and safe deposit box contents are all common types of unclaimed money in New Jersey. Searching is free, and the state has returned over $3.1 billion to owners since 1947.
New Jersey Unclaimed Money Quick Facts
How to Search for Unclaimed Money in New Jersey
The New Jersey Unclaimed Property Administration runs the official search portal. It is free to use. You type your last name or business name into the search bar. The system shows exact matches first, then close matches. You do not need an account to search. Results show your name, address, and a property ID for each item found.
You can also search through MissingMoney.com, the official search site of the National Association of State Treasurers. This tool lets you check multiple states at once. About 1 in 7 people have unclaimed money waiting for them. The average claim is worth $2,080. Search your current name and any past names you may have used. Try common misspellings too. Search for relatives who may have left unclaimed money behind. The service is free and endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
For a manual search, you can ask staff at the NJ Treasury Unclaimed Property Administration to look up records for you. Use the "Request a Property Search" link on their site. Allow up to two weeks for a response. If they find unclaimed money in your name, they will send you a claim form by email.
Types of Unclaimed Money in New Jersey
Unclaimed money comes in many forms. The state holds funds from banks, insurers, companies, and courts. Each type has a set dormancy period under N.J.S.A. 46:30B before the holder must turn it over. Most property becomes unclaimed after three years of no owner contact. Wages become unclaimed after just one year.
Common types of unclaimed money in New Jersey include:
- Savings and checking account balances
- Uncashed payroll and dividend checks
- Insurance policy payouts and refunds
- Stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares
- Utility deposits and overpayments
- Safe deposit box contents
Safe deposit boxes are a big source of unclaimed money in New Jersey. Banks sell the contents at auction after five years of inactivity. The state receives about $900,000 a year from these sales alone. Items range from gold coins and cash to personal keepsakes. The New Jersey Monitor reports that military medals, jewelry, and even a 1905 declaration signed by President Theodore Roosevelt are among items held by the state. The Unclaimed Property Administration stores these items in a secure location with cameras.
New Jersey Unclaimed Money Claim Process
Filing a claim is free. The claim process page explains each step. You start by finding your unclaimed money on the search portal. Then you fill out a form with your contact details and date of birth. The state reviews your claim and checks your identity.
You will need to provide identification documents. The Unclaimed Property Administration accepts a clear copy of a state driver's license, U.S. passport, military ID, state ID card, or naturalization papers. Your document must show both your name and full Social Security number. Claims typically take one to two months to process after all documents are submitted. You can check your claim status at any time through the claim status portal using your claim ID. Mail claims to the State of New Jersey, Unclaimed Property Administration, P.O. Box 214, Trenton, NJ 08625-0214, ATTN: Claim Section.
Note: The state never charges a fee to search or claim unclaimed money in New Jersey.
Claiming Unclaimed Money for a Deceased Person
You can claim unclaimed money on behalf of someone who has passed away. The process requires extra documents. You need probate paperwork from the Surrogate's Court in the county where the person lived at the time of death. Each of New Jersey's 21 counties has a Surrogate's Office that handles this. The claim documentation page lists all 21 county surrogate phone numbers.
The type of document you need depends on your role. An executor named in a will needs a surrogate certificate. An administrator appointed by the court when there is no will needs letters of administration. A next of kin claiming an intestate estate under $10,000 needs a next of kin letter. A surviving spouse listed on the death certificate can also file. All probate documents must be dated within one year of the claim date.
You also need a death certificate. Get one from the NJ State Department of Health at 609-292-4087. Proof of the deceased person's address is required too. Tax documents, bank statements, or utility bills work for this. These steps apply across all 21 counties in New Jersey when claiming unclaimed money for a deceased person.
Unclaimed Money Laws in New Jersey
New Jersey's unclaimed property statute is N.J.S.A. 46:30B-1 et seq. It sets the rules for when property is considered abandoned. Most types of unclaimed money become abandoned after three years of no contact between the holder and the owner. Unpaid wages become abandoned after one year under N.J.S.A. 46:30B-44.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:30B-20, a holder cannot charge dormancy fees unless there is a written contract, proper notice, and regular fee practices. This protects your unclaimed money from being reduced by charges. Holders must also perform due diligence before turning funds over. For amounts of $50 or more, the holder must send a certified letter to the last known address between 60 and 120 days before the reporting deadline. The Business FAQs page explains reporting rules in detail.
Holders file reports by November 1 each year for most property. Life insurance reports are due May 1. The state receives about 12,000 reports from holders each year. Failure to report and pay on time brings interest at 10% above the U.S. Treasury bill rate under N.J.S.A. 46:30B-103.
Unclaimed Money from Bankruptcy Cases
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey holds its own pool of unclaimed money. These funds come from bankruptcy cases where checks went uncashed or the person could not be reached. Bad addresses and deaths are common reasons.
To claim these funds, you must file an Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds using Local Form 1340. As of 2025, you must also submit Form AO213P with your application. The court will not review applications without it. You need proof of identity and must serve a copy on the United States Attorney. The filing instructions page lists all required documents. Successor claimants and estates of deceased persons need extra documentation.
Avoid Unclaimed Money Scams
The Unclaimed Property Administration warns about scam artists. Some companies charge a fee to find and claim unclaimed money for you. The state Treasury page says you should never pay a third party. The claim process is free and takes only a few minutes online.
Watch for letters or emails that ask for a fee to recover your unclaimed money. These are not from the state. The official search site is unclaimedfunds.nj.gov. The national search site is MissingMoney.com. Both are free. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators provides links to all 50 state programs. Use only these official resources to search for and claim unclaimed money in New Jersey.
New Jersey Unclaimed Money Program Results
New Jersey's Unclaimed Property Administration broke its own record three years in a row. In Fiscal Year 2024, the state returned $261.4 million in unclaimed money to owners. That topped the $202.95 million returned in FY2023 and $164.13 million in FY2022. The state paid out 109,181 claims in FY2024 alone. Since 1947, New Jersey has returned more than $3.1 billion in unclaimed money. The official press release from State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio highlights these results.
The UPA held or joined 40 outreach events in FY2024. It ran mass mailings and media campaigns. Each summer, the state publishes names of people with unclaimed money in newspapers. The 2024 list had over 231,000 names. Administrator Steve Harris has led the program since 2008. He encourages all residents to search at unclaimedfunds.nj.gov.
Contact the Unclaimed Money Office
Reach the New Jersey Unclaimed Property Administration by phone at 609-292-9200. The contact page also has a web form for questions. The mailing address is Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Administration, PO Box 214, Trenton, NJ 08625-0214. Director Steven Harris oversees the program.
Data requests must go through the Open Public Records Act. Under N.J.S.A. 46:30B-76.1, the state can only release the name and reported address of unclaimed money owners. Submit OPRA requests for this data.
Browse New Jersey Unclaimed Money by County
Each of New Jersey's 21 counties has a Surrogate's Court that handles probate for deceased unclaimed money claims. Pick a county below to find local resources and contact details.
Unclaimed Money in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities search for unclaimed money through the state database. Pick a city below to find local information and resources for that area.