Delaware Unclaimed Property: Search & Claim Money

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Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property · Search · Claims · MONEY MATCH · Estates

Trace the Money, Prove the Match, Recover the Property

Delaware’s Office of Unclaimed Property receives financial assets after businesses, banks, insurers and other holders lose contact with the owner. The state keeps the property available for the rightful owner or heirs and provides a free online search and claim system.

This guide goes beyond finding a name. It explains why Delaware hides exact property values from public search, how to test an address match, how to respond before money is transferred to the state, how to file and document a claim, how MONEY MATCH works, what heirs and businesses should prepare, what happens after a denial, and when another Delaware program—not the Office of Unclaimed Property—holds the money.

Start with quick answer Search correctly Build the claim
Use the official Delaware site before paying anyone. The state does not charge an owner to search its database or submit a normal owner claim. Private recovery companies are optional and are subject to Delaware’s locator-contract rules.

Quick answer: search the state database for free

Search your current name, former names and business names on Delaware’s official Unclaimed Property portal. Compare the last-known address shown with places where you actually lived or did business, select a plausible result, start the claim, save the claim information and submit only the identity or entitlement documents the state requests.

1 Search names Current, former, estate and business.
2 Match address Look for a real historical connection.
3 Start claim Identify your relationship to the owner.
4 Save claim data Use it for documents and status.

Delaware unclaimed property facts

Official claim cost $0
Owner claims 855-505-7520
Owner-claim mail PO Box 8931, Wilmington
Office 820 N. French St., 8th Floor
Latest published hours Mon–Fri · 8 a.m.–4 p.m. ET
Search updates State says new properties are added regularly/daily
Exact value public? No — claim data is protected
MONEY MATCH Automatic-return program
Locator maximum Lesser of 10% or $1,000
Real estate? Not part of OUP program

After reading the search steps below, open the state portal. Do not assume every same-name result belongs to you; the reported address is one of the strongest public clues available.

Search Delaware unclaimed property Open official Delaware OUP

Choose the problem you are trying to solve

Each section below moves the user toward a real result instead of simply listing government websites.

What can become unclaimed

Delaware holds far more than forgotten savings accounts

The Office of Unclaimed Property receives dormant financial and similar property from corporations, financial institutions, intermediaries, courts, insurers and other holders after the applicable abandonment rules are met.

$
Bank accounts Checking, savings and other dormant deposit accounts.
C
Uncashed checks Payroll, refunds, vendor checks and other unpaid instruments.
S
Stocks and dividends Securities and distributions that lost contact with the owner.
I
Insurance proceeds Insurance payments and uncashed death-benefit checks.
U
Utility deposits Old deposits and refunds left after service ended.
R
Refunds & credits Customer overpayments, credit balances and unapplied refunds.
G
Gift balances Certain unused gift-card or stored-value balances can fall under Delaware’s unclaimed property system.
M
Money orders & proceeds Money orders, travelers checks, mineral proceeds and other financial obligations can qualify.
Not real estate or vehicles. Delaware’s Department of Finance specifically distinguishes the Unclaimed Property program from ownership of real estate and vehicles.
Property remains claimable: Delaware describes the program as maintaining custody for the rightful owner or heirs rather than treating an old forgotten account as lost forever.
A Delaware-specific search limitation

Why the result does not show the exact dollar amount

The missing details are intentional

Delaware law protects detailed owner information in the state’s unclaimed property records. The exact amount and character of property held for a particular owner are treated as confidential rather than displayed openly to every searcher.

The public database is designed to help you identify a potential match using the owner name and last-known address information. The state then verifies entitlement through the claim.

Public clue

Owner name.

Public clue

Last-known address identifier associated with the owner.

Protected detail

Exact amount and character of the owner’s property are not simply published for everyone.

Do not let a missing dollar figure stop you from claiming. The point of the public result is to identify a possible ownership match—not to provide the full private claim record.
Prevent the property from becoming unclaimed

A letter from the bank or company can be more important than the state search

Delaware law requires qualifying holders to perform owner outreach before reporting many properties. If you receive a legitimate letter saying an account, refund or payment may be transferred as unclaimed property, respond to the company before its deadline whenever possible.

01 Holder loses contact An account, check, refund or other obligation remains inactive.
02 Due-diligence notice The holder attempts to reach the owner before reporting qualifying property.
03 Owner responds Confirm ownership directly with the legitimate company and update contact information.
04 Property stays connected A timely response may prevent the asset from being transferred into the unclaimed-property process.
Verify the notice independently. Contact the bank, insurer, utility, employer or company using a phone number from its official website or existing account records—not a suspicious text-message link.
Why this matters: recovering money directly from the original company can be simpler because the account has not yet moved into the state custody and claim-verification process.
Claim workflow

Turn the search result into an ownership claim

SELECT Property match RELATIONSHIP Owner · heir · business IDENTITY Claimant information PROOF Requested documents REVIEW State determination
Select the result that appears to be yours Use name and address history to avoid claiming unrelated same-name property.
Start the claim Use the claim option attached to the property rather than sending a random email with personal information.
Choose the correct claimant relationship Identify whether you are the reported owner, estate representative, heir, business representative or another person with legal authority.
Enter current contact information Use information you can reliably access so the Office of Unclaimed Property can reach you if clarification is required.
Provide identity information through the secure claim process Delaware may use personal identifying information to validate that you are entitled to the property.
Read the generated documentation instructions Required evidence varies with the property and claimant relationship.
Upload requested documents securely Use Delaware’s claim-document upload portal and make sure the material is associated with the correct claim.
Save the claim information Keep the claim identifier, submission date and copies of documents.
Use the status portal for follow-up Check the existing claim before submitting another claim or repeatedly contacting the office.
Start from the official search Upload claim documents Check claim status
Proof strategy

Prepare documents that prove identity and entitlement—not a random stack of paperwork

Delaware’s claim system determines the exact evidence required for a particular property. The useful way to prepare is to understand the problem each document must solve.

Who are you?

Be prepared to establish the claimant’s identity through the secure state process.

Use clear, current documents and follow the claim-specific instructions.

Are you the reported owner?

Historical address records, old account records or related documents can help connect the claimant to the owner shown in the database.

Did your name change?

Marriage, divorce, court or other legal records may be useful when the property is under a former legal name.

Is the owner deceased?

Estate and heir claims can require death and estate-authority documents showing who is legally entitled to act or receive property.

Is the owner a business?

Prepare evidence identifying the entity and establishing the filer’s authority to act for it or its legal successor.

Are you acting for someone else?

Be prepared to show the legal authority that permits you to claim on behalf of the reported owner.

Document-quality checklist

Use the document requested for this claim
Scan the entire page
Keep all text readable
Use the correct claim reference
Keep copies of every submission
Do not send sensitive data to unofficial websites
Do not email a full SSN unnecessarily
Respond to follow-up requests with the missing item only
Do not send documents before you know what the claim needs. Estate, securities, business and representative claims can require evidence that is completely different from a straightforward claim by the listed individual owner.
Claimant routing

The correct relationship determines what you must prove

Reported individual owner You are the person whose name appears on the property.
Estate or heir The reported owner has died and you claim through an estate or inheritance right.
Business claimant The property belongs to a corporation, LLC, partnership, nonprofit or other entity.
Authorized representative You are acting for the owner under valid legal authority.

Common situations that need extra proof

Property uses a maiden name File as the owner but be ready to connect the old and current legal names.
Property shows an old home address Use historical records to establish the owner’s connection with that address.
Owner died Do not assume being a relative alone establishes the right to receive estate property.
Business changed its name Prepare documents connecting the old legal entity name with the current business.
Business merged or dissolved The state may need documents showing the legal successor or person entitled to the remaining assets.
Trust appears as owner Prepare trust or successor-trustee authority appropriate to the claim.
Multiple people appear on property Do not assume one person automatically owns every other owner’s interest.
You are assisting a living owner The state may need proof that you are legally authorized to act for that owner.
Estate shortcut to avoid: do not upload every probate document you possess before the claim tells you what is required. Identify the claimant’s legal role first, then build the smallest complete evidence package.
Delaware MONEY MATCH

Some Delaware taxpayers receive unclaimed property without filing a normal claim

DE PERSONAL INCOME TAX RECORD
MATCH
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY RETURN CHECK Eligible owner · no normal claim

Delaware’s MONEY MATCH program uses information from a taxpayer’s most recent Delaware personal income tax return to match certain owners with unclaimed property. Eligible recipients receive a check in the mail without filing the standard claim paperwork.

Latest completed MONEY MATCH round

2025 Latest completed round as of August 8, 2026
≈2,800 Delaware taxpayers in the September 2025 round
≈$400K Property returned in that round
$5.6M+ Returned by MONEY MATCH since its 2021 launch through the 2025 round
What the recipient does: Delaware’s official 2025 announcement says qualifying MONEY MATCH recipients simply receive the check and cash it.
MONEY MATCH does not replace the search. Delaware says not every type of unclaimed property is included. You should still search the official database even if you have never received an automatic check.
Timing context: the latest official announcement says MONEY MATCH occurs annually in September. The 2026 September round had not yet occurred as of this article’s August 8, 2026 review date.
Read official MONEY MATCH information Search even if MONEY MATCH missed you
Search beyond Delaware

One move can send different accounts to different states

The correct state can depend on owner-address records and the type of holder. If you have lived, worked or held accounts outside Delaware, searching only Delaware can miss money held elsewhere.

Search Delaware first

Use the Delaware database for property currently held by the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property.

Search multiple states

Delaware participates in MissingMoney.com, a free multistate search sponsored by the national unclaimed-property administrator network.

Repeat annually

New property continues to be reported, so a no-result search today does not permanently settle the question.

First search Delaware directly. Then use the multistate service when you have lived or done business elsewhere.

Search Delaware Search participating states with MissingMoney
After submission

Track the existing claim instead of creating a duplicate

Save the claim information at submission Store it somewhere secure with the submission date.
Open Delaware’s claim-status search Use the existing claim rather than returning to the owner search and starting again.
Check whether documentation is outstanding A claim cannot be completed when the state still needs proof of identity or entitlement.
Upload additional documents through the claim portal Keep the files tied to the correct claim.
Keep proof of every submission Save screenshots, confirmation details and copies of uploaded documents.
Contact owner-claims support when the online status does not resolve the problem Have the claim information ready before calling.
Useful claim-support script “I am calling about Delaware unclaimed property claim [claim number] for [owner name]. I submitted the claim on [date] and provided [documents] on [date]. The current status shows [status]. Can you tell me whether any additional ownership or entitlement evidence is required?”
Check official claim status Upload additional documents Call owner claims: 855-505-7520
Why a payment can differ from expectations

Delaware law allows certain debts to be applied before property is paid

Delaware law gives the State Escheator discretion to apply an owner’s property or sale proceeds to certain enforceable debts owed in Delaware before the balance is delivered to the owner.

Child support

Qualifying child-support arrearages and collection costs can be included.

Court or agency debt

Certain final fines, penalties, court costs, surcharges or restitution can qualify.

Delinquent taxes

Qualifying state or local taxes, penalties and interest can be applied under the statute.

Do not confuse an offset with a denied ownership claim. A claimant can be recognized as the owner while some or all payable proceeds are applied to an enforceable debt under the law.
Finder and locator contracts

Delaware puts a dollar cap and a percentage cap on qualifying locator fees

The limit is whichever amount is smaller

Delaware’s locator statute limits total fees and costs under a qualifying recovery agreement to the lesser of:

  • $1,000, or
  • 10% of the value recovered.

The law also generally makes a locator agreement void and unenforceable when it is entered into during the period ending 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the state.

Understand the cap with examples

Illustration of Delaware’s lesser-of rule
Property recovered
10% calculation
Statutory ceiling under lesser-of rule
$2,000
$200
$200
$8,000
$800
$800
$15,000
$1,500
$1,000
$100,000
$10,000
$1,000
Best first action: search and file directly with Delaware before signing a locator agreement. Straightforward owner claims can be handled through the state for no claim fee.
When Delaware does not approve the claim

A claim determination has a formal appeal path

STEP 1 State Escheator determination

Read the determination and identify exactly why the claim was not paid or delivered as requested.

120 DAYS Tax Appeal Board

Delaware law permits a claimant to apply for a Tax Appeal Board hearing within 120 days after the State Escheator sends notice of the determination.

30 DAYS Court of Chancery

A claimant or State Escheator may generally appeal the Tax Appeal Board decision to the Court of Chancery within 30 days after notice of that decision.

Do not wait until the deadline to understand the denial. Preserve the determination letter, claim record, evidence submitted and every follow-up communication.

Before filing an appeal, identify the real dispute

Identity mismatch
Address connection not proven
Insufficient estate authority
Business successor not established
Wrong claimant relationship
Ownership interest disputed

Review the formal rules before filing. The Department of Finance publishes Tax Appeal Board procedures and an unclaimed-property petition form.

Review Tax Appeal Board rules Read Delaware unclaimed property law
Money outside the OUP database

Not every Delaware “unclaimed fund” belongs in the state search

Office of Unclaimed Property

Use for abandoned financial property reported to the Delaware State Escheator.

Sheriff’s sale excess proceeds

Delaware Superior Court’s Project Rightful Owner handles certain excess proceeds left after a sheriff’s sale pays applicable liens and mortgages.

Real estate and vehicles

These are not the type of unclaimed assets administered through the Department of Finance OUP program.

Project Rightful Owner micro-guide

Use this route only for sheriff’s sale excess proceeds Do not confuse foreclosure-sale proceeds with a forgotten bank account or ordinary unclaimed-property claim.
Search the Superior Court’s owner information Review the New Castle, Kent or Sussex County sheriff-sale material tied to the property.
Read the petition requirements before filing The Court notes that proving entitlement can be legally complicated.
Review attorney-help information when needed The Court publishes attorney information and notes that qualifying people may have access to pro bono assistance.
Why this section matters: repeatedly searching the Office of Unclaimed Property will not solve a claim that is actually being held through a court process.
Open Project Rightful Owner
Owner claim support

Contact Delaware with the claim information already in front of you

Owner-claims phone

855-505-7520

Use for owner-claim assistance.

Owner-claims mailing address
Delaware Department of Finance
Office of Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 8931
Wilmington, DE 19899
Office location
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
8th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
Latest published assistance hours: Delaware’s January 2025 Unclaimed Property Day announcement described normal phone and in-person assistance as Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Verify current holiday or office access before traveling.

Have these details ready

Claim number or claim reference
Owner name shown in database
Reported address or address clue
Submission date
Current status wording
Date documents were uploaded
Claim-support call script “I am calling about Delaware unclaimed property claim [claim number] for [owner name]. The public result is associated with [address]. I filed on [date] and submitted [documents] on [date]. The current status is [status]. What, if anything, does the Office still need to determine my entitlement?”
Call 855-505-7520 Review Department of Finance contacts
10 practical answers

Delaware unclaimed property FAQs

How do I search Delaware unclaimed property?

Use the official Delaware Unclaimed Property search. Search current and former names, review the last-known address with each result, select a plausible match and start the claim from the state portal.

Does Delaware charge a fee to claim unclaimed property?

No. Delaware’s state search and normal owner-claim process are free. You can work directly with the Office of Unclaimed Property rather than paying a recovery service.

Why does Delaware not show the exact amount of the property?

Delaware law protects the exact amount and character of an owner’s unclaimed property as confidential information. Public search is primarily intended to identify possible owners through name and last-known address information.

What documents can Delaware request?

Requirements depend on the property and claimant relationship. Be prepared to establish identity, connection to the reported owner or address and legal entitlement. Estate, trust, business and representative claims commonly require additional authority documents. Follow the exact request generated for your claim.

How do I claim property for someone who died?

Start with the deceased owner’s property and identify your legal relationship to that owner. Be prepared to provide proof of death and estate, fiduciary or heirship documents sufficient to show why you are legally entitled to act or receive the property.

How do I check my Delaware claim status?

Use Delaware’s official claim-status portal. Keep the claim information generated at submission so you can track the existing claim instead of filing a duplicate.

What is Delaware MONEY MATCH?

MONEY MATCH uses recent Delaware personal income tax information to match certain taxpayers with unclaimed property. Eligible recipients can receive a mailed check without filing a normal claim. Not all property qualifies, so regular searches are still recommended.

How much can a Delaware finder or locator charge?

Delaware law caps total fees and costs under qualifying locator agreements at the lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the property recovered. The law also generally makes an agreement unenforceable during the first 24 months after property is delivered to the state.

What can I do if Delaware denies my claim?

Delaware law generally allows a claimant to apply to the Tax Appeal Board within 120 days after the State Escheator sends notice of the determination. A Tax Appeal Board decision may generally be appealed to the Court of Chancery within 30 days after notice of that decision.

Does Delaware unclaimed property include houses or vehicles?

No. Delaware’s Office of Unclaimed Property handles financial and similar abandoned property such as accounts, checks, securities, insurance proceeds and deposits. Real estate and vehicles are outside this program.

Information reviewed August 8, 2026: Delaware’s official search, document-upload and claim-status portals; Department of Finance contacts; public-database confidentiality rules; owner-notice requirements; MONEY MATCH program; finder-fee limits; owner-claim appeal rights; debt-offset rules; property categories; MissingMoney participation; and Superior Court Project Rightful Owner information were reviewed against Delaware government sources.
Independent guide: This page is not the Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property, State Escheator, Tax Appeal Board or Delaware Superior Court. Ownership, estate authority, claim documentation, offsets, appeal deadlines and payment decisions should be confirmed through the responsible official Delaware program.
Ohio Auditor Tools · Tax Year 2026

10 Ohio Property Tax Calculators & Auditor Tools

Built specifically for Ohio's 35% assessment ratio, current DTE forms, and 2026 Homestead, Owner-Occupancy, CAUV, Conveyance Fee, and Board of Revision rules. Every number reflects verified Ohio Department of Taxation amounts.

Homestead: $29,000 Enhanced Vet: $58,000 OAGI limit: $41,000 Assessment: 35% of market BOR filing: Free · DTE 1

Annual Tax Bill Estimator

OHIO

Applies Ohio's 35% assessment ratio plus your county's effective millage tier — the actual math your auditor uses.

Pick a county tier and enter your market value.

Homestead Reduction Calculator

DTE 105A

2026 Ohio Homestead: $29,000 general or $58,000 enhanced (100% disabled vet, KIA spouse). OAGI under $41,000 required for non-veteran applicants.

Pick your situation and enter your home value.

Owner-Occupancy & Non-Business Credits

DTE 105C

Every Ohio owner-occupied home qualifies for the 2.5% Owner-Occupancy Credit plus the automatic 10% Non-Business Credit. Most owners don't realize these stack.

Enter your annual tax to see both credit amounts.

Conveyance Fee Calculator

ORC 322

When you sell or transfer Ohio property, the auditor collects $1 state + up to $3 county per $1,000, plus $0.50 per parcel. Counties choose their rate.

Enter sale price and pick your county rate.

CAUV Agricultural Savings

DTE 109

Ohio's Current Agricultural Use Value cuts taxable value dramatically for farmland (10+ acres, or smaller with $2,500+ annual gross income).

Enter both market and CAUV values to see savings.

Mill Rate Converter

Ohio tax rates appear three ways on auditor sites: mills, percent, or dollars per $1,000. Convert between them instantly.

Enter a rate to see all three forms.

Parcel Number Cleaner

Ohio's 88 counties each format parcels differently — Franklin uses 010-123456-00, Cuyahoga uses 001-23-456, Hamilton uses 100-0001-0001-00. Auto-detects.

Paste any Ohio county parcel to format it.

35% Ratio Sanity Check

Ohio law sets taxable value at 35% of market value. If yours is significantly higher, you're a strong BOR appeal candidate.

Enter both values to compare against Ohio's 35% target.

BOR Appeal Savings

DTE 1

A successful Board of Revision complaint typically cuts your value 10–20%. Filing is free and stays in effect until the next reappraisal.

Enter your tax bill and reduction estimate.

BOR Deadline Countdown

MAR 31

Ohio's statutory Board of Revision filing deadline is March 31 for the prior tax year. Miss it and you wait until next year — no extensions.

Set your deadline to start the countdown.

Verify with the official Ohio source

These calculators use the verified 2026 Ohio Department of Taxation amounts and statutory rules. For your exact bill, exemption status, and county-specific deadlines, always confirm with your county auditor and the Ohio Revised Code:

Ohio Dept. of Taxation — Real Property DTE Forms (105A, 105C, 1, 109) ORC 5715 — Board of Revision ORC 5713 — Taxable Real Property ORC 322.02 — Conveyance Fee ORC 319.54(F)(3) — State Fee ORC 5713.30 — CAUV tax.ohio.gov — Main Portal

Estimates use Ohio's 35% statutory assessment ratio and effective tax rate tiers averaged across major Ohio counties. Your actual bill depends on local school levies, voted millage, inside vs. outside millage splits, House Bill 920 reduction factors (HB 920), and special assessments. The 2026 Homestead general amount ($29,000) and enhanced amount ($58,000) reflect HB 187 inflation indexing — your county auditor's office may show slightly different transitional figures. Nothing here is legal or tax advice. CountyAuditors.org is an independent informational directory, not affiliated with any county government.

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