North Dakota Unclaimed Money

What is Unclaimed Money in North Dakota?

According to North Dakota law, unclaimed money is defined as any money that has been abandoned by its rightful owner. This can include money that is left in a bank account, safe deposit box, or other financial institution; money that is owed to someone but never claimed; or property that has been abandoned.

North Dakota statutes outline the provisions for unclaimed money, including how the money is to be reported and what must be done in order to claim it. The statutes also provide for a three-year dormancy period on accounts, after which time, the money will be escheated to the state through the Unclaimed Property Division of the Department of Trust Lands.

Following escheatment to the North Dakota Unclaimed Property Division, the office will hold the unclaimed money in a special fund and make efforts to locate the rightful owners. For unclaimed property, the state might auction the property off after the required period has elapsed and will maintain the unclaimed funds until its owner comes forward to redeem it.

How to Find Unclaimed Money in North Dakota

Interested members of the public may find unclaimed money in North Dakota through the state's official Unclaimed money database maintained by the Unclaimed Property division. In North Dakota, Unclaimed Property operates as a division of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, and is responsible for reuniting unclaimed property with its owners in North Dakota. The types of unclaimed property that may be held by the office include, but are not limited to: abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten utility deposits, and undelivered tax refunds.

To start a search for unclaimed money in North Dakota, interested individuals may visit the website of the North Dakota Unclaimed Money Division. To search the database, the requesting party will be required to provide the following:

• The last or business name of the unclaimed money owner
• Their first name
• City of where the unclaimed funds is held by the holder
• Zip code
• Property ID

Once a searcher has found a matching claim, they may begin the process of filing a claim. The Unclaimed Money Division will require some personal information and documentation to verify the identity of the claimant. Once a claim is approved, the money will be paid out to the rightful owner.

The North Dakota Office of the State Treasurer may be contacted as follows:

North Dakota Office of the State Treasurer
600 E Boulevard Ave,
Dept 120
Bismarck, ND 58505-0600
(701) 328-2643

How Do I Find North Dakota Unclaimed Money for Free?

The official North Dakota unclaimed money database maintained by the state Unclaimed Money Division is accessible for free. Claimants are only required to provide the information needed to facilitate an unclaimed property search for their requests to be processed.

North Dakota state residents can also access unclaimed money through federal agencies and databases such as:

• The Treasury Hunt
• The National Association of Unclaimed Money Property Administrators
• Credit Union of Unclaimed Shares

How to Claim Unclaimed Money in North Dakota

After finding the unclaimed property of interest on the Official North Dakota Unclaimed Property Division Database, requestors may proceed to Submit their claim in the following steps:

Review the Claimed Property and Specify Ownership:

Upon selecting the unclaimed property, users must confirm the chosen item(s) and then specify the nature of their relationship to the owner of the property. Claimants who are the owner of the property may select ‘owner’. However, select others will be required to indicate whether they are a direct heir, representative or relative depending on the applicable situation.

Enter Personal Information and Address:

Subsequently, users will be required to provide their personal information as well as a verifiable mailing address. They will then be required to verify the address following the onscreen prompt.

Submit the Claim:

After verifying the information provided for accuracy and completeness, claimants can submit the claim. A claim ID will be automatically generated and provided to the claimant to be used for tracking the status of the claim.

The following documents are typically required for a claim to be processed.

• Signed, and notarized claim form
• Government issued photo identification
• Proof of mailing address
• Proof of connection to the property being claimed

The documentation may be submitted via the secure link or to the following address:

Unclaimed Property Division
1707 N 9th St
Bismarck, ND 58501-1853
Phone: (701) 328-2800
E-mail: unclaimed@nd.gov

How Long Does It Take to Get Unclaimed Money in North Dakota?

The amount of time it takes to process an unclaimed money or property claim in North Dakota depends on the type of claim, the amount of money or property involved, and the provision of the documents required in processing the claim.

The average time to process a small unclaimed property claim is six to eight weeks from the date the completed claim form and required documentation is received. Large or complex claims may take longer to process.

Interested persons may check on the status of their claim by contacting the Unclaimed Property Division. They will be required to have their claim number on hand for their request to be processed.

Who Can Claim Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, unclaimed money from deceased relatives can be claimed by certain eligible individuals. In order to claim the money, the individual must be the surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or sibling of the decedent. If there is no surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or sibling, then the money may be claimed by any other heir of the deceased.

In order to claim unclaimed money from deceased relatives in North Dakota, the claimant must submit a written request to the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands and Investments. The request must include proof of identity and relationship to the decedent, as well as a copy of the death certificate. The death certificate must be certified by the state in which the death occurred.

Once the request is received, the Department of Trust Lands and Investments will investigate to determine if the claimant is eligible to receive the unclaimed money. If the claimant is determined to be eligible, a check will be issued for the amount of the unclaimed money.

What Happens to North Dakota Unclaimed Money if No One Claims It?

There is no deadline for claiming North Dakota unclaimed money. The state’s unclaimed money division is required to hold on to the money until it is claimed.