District of Columbia · Unclaimed property · Updated Oct 2026
DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Finance and Treasury, Unclaimed Property Unit holds money that businesses could not return to its owners. Here is how to search, what proof you need and how long it takes.
Search District of Columbia's official list of unclaimed property by name.
Search in District of ColumbiaSearch the official DC site by last name and first initial. Only claim property tied to an address you are connected to.
Select your property, click "Claim", and enter your information, including your current mailing address.
Read the email the District sends you. The claim form attachment lists the documents you need.
Upload the signed claim form and documents through the secure link, or mail them to the Unclaimed Property Unit.
Track your claim online with your claim ID.
A court-appointed estate representative can file. Send the death certificate, Letters of Administration or small estate papers, a copy of your photo ID, and proof connecting the owner to the money. To get Letters of Administration for a small estate, contact the DC Superior Court Probate Division at (202) 879-9448.
A finder agreement signed within 24 months after the property was turned over to the District is void. DC sets no fixed percentage cap. If you think the fee is unconscionable, you can sue in DC Superior Court to cut it down. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, describe the property and services, and show the amount you can expect before and after the fee.
Law: D.C. Code §§ 41-163.01 and 41-163.02
Watch out: The District never charges a fee to return your property. Finder agreements can carry big fees, so call the Unclaimed Property Unit at 202-442-8181 or search the site yourself first.
Search every other state where you lived or worked. Some money, like old savings bonds and IRS refunds, is held by federal agencies.
Money that businesses could not return to you and had to hand over to a state, such as old bank accounts and insurance policies. USA.gov says state governments hold most unclaimed money.
Official siteOld paper or electronic U.S. savings bonds that were never cashed, including bonds that have matured and stopped earning interest (EE and I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years), plus lost, stolen or destroyed bonds.
Official siteTax refunds owed to people who never filed a federal tax return for a year, often because they earned little and were not required to file. The IRS says taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim a refund; after that the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
Official siteSearch the official database run by the DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Finance and Treasury, Unclaimed Property Unit. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in District of Columbia.
No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. A finder agreement signed within 24 months after the property was turned over to the District is void. DC sets no fixed percentage cap. If you think the fee is unconscionable, you can sue in DC Superior Court to cut it down. The agreement must be in writing, signed by you, describe the property and services, and show the amount you can expect before and after the fee.
A court-appointed estate representative can file. Send the death certificate, Letters of Administration or small estate papers, a copy of your photo ID, and proof connecting the owner to the money. To get Letters of Administration for a small estate, contact the DC Superior Court Probate Division at (202) 879-9448.
Last checked: Oct 2026.