Maryland Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)

Maryland is holding an estimated $2.7 billion in unclaimed property across more than 14 million accounts, and the Comptroller's office now automatically mails checks for some smaller claims without residents having to file anything. Here is how Maryland's program works, how to search for your name for free, and what to know about the state's new automatic payment feature.

Information last verified on 2026-07-15. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

How Maryland's Unclaimed Property Program Works

Maryland's program is run by the Unclaimed Property Division of the Comptroller of Maryland. When a bank, employer, insurer, or other business (a "holder") loses contact with someone it owes money to and can't locate them after a set period of inactivity, state law requires the holder to report and turn that property over to the Comptroller rather than keep it. This handoff is called escheatment.

As in nearly every other state, Maryland's escheatment is custodial, not permanent. The Comptroller holds the property in trust, not as state money, and you or your heirs can file a claim to recover it at essentially any time. More than a billion dollars has been returned to Maryland owners since 2007, and the state's new claims system is designed to speed that up further.

Maryland's New KAPS System and Quick Pay

In October 2025 the Comptroller's office retired a decades-old mainframe system that had struggled with a well-documented processing backlog, some claims reportedly took six months or longer, and replaced it with KAPS, the Kelmar Abandoned Property System. KAPS lets residents search, submit documentation electronically, and track a claim's status online 24/7, something the old system never supported.

The most useful change for most residents is Quick Pay. Once Maryland's system can verify who owns a smaller unclaimed balance, it now mails a check automatically, without requiring the owner to file a claim form at all. The dollar line comes from Md. Code, Com. Law § 17-318(b), which lets the Comptroller waive the claim-filing requirement when the property or payment "has a value of $5,000 or less," so a balance of exactly $5,000 still qualifies. Before sending payment, the Comptroller's office typically mails a verification letter roughly 45 days in advance to confirm the address is current. Since the new system and Quick Pay rolled out, Maryland has already paid out tens of thousands of claims worth tens of millions of dollars this way.

Tip: Even with Quick Pay running, it's still worth actively searching claimitmd.gov yourself. Quick Pay only covers claims Maryland can verify and match automatically; larger balances, older addresses, and claims requiring more documentation still need you to search and file directly.

How to Search for Your Unclaimed Property in Maryland

Start at the state's official database, claimitmd.gov, and search by your name, including any past names or addresses. If you've lived, worked, or banked in other states, it's also worth checking MissingMoney.com, the free multi-state search tool run on behalf of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), since it can surface property tied to a former out-of-state address. Maryland's own claimitmd.gov portal remains the authoritative, complete source for Maryland-held property either way.

How to File a Claim

Filing a claim directly with the Comptroller's office is free. For property Quick Pay doesn't automatically match, the general process looks like this:

1. Search claimitmd.gov and find your match.
2. Start the claim through the KAPS online portal.
3. Verify your identity, typically with a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number.
4. Upload documentation connecting you to the property, such as an old bank statement, W-2, or address history, if requested.
5. Submit the claim and wait for the Comptroller's office to review it and issue payment.

Simple, complete claims have historically been processed in roughly 60 to 90 days, though the KAPS rollout is intended to shorten that going forward for many claimants. Claims involving a deceased owner's estate, a business entity, or securities commonly require more documentation, such as a death certificate or estate paperwork, and take longer as a result.

Dormancy Period in Maryland

Maryland's general dormancy period is 3 years of owner inactivity for most common property types, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, uncashed checks, insurance payments, and utility or security deposits. Once that period passes and the holder can't locate the owner, the property gets reported and turned over to the Comptroller.

Avoiding Unclaimed Property Scams

Two different things get lumped together under "unclaimed money scams," and it's worth telling them apart. Paid "finder" or "asset recovery" services, which search for and file claims on your behalf for a cut of the money, are not illegal as such. Maryland does, however, put a hard limit on them: under Md. Code, Com. Law § 17-325, "[a]ll agreements to pay compensation to recover or assist in the recovery of property made within 24 months of the date the property is paid or delivered to the abandoned property office are unenforceable." In plain terms, if a finder signs you up during the first two years after your money reaches the state, that fee agreement cannot be enforced against you. Finders are never necessary in Maryland in any case, because the state's own search and claim process at claimitmd.gov is completely free, and Quick Pay now sends some checks out with no claim required at all.

The real danger is outright fraud: unsolicited calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from a government agency, telling you that you have unclaimed funds waiting and asking you to pay an upfront "processing" or "release" fee, or to hand over sensitive personal information to claim it. The Federal Trade Commission warns this is a classic scam pattern and that no legitimate agency demands payment before releasing money it already owes you. If you get a message like this, go directly to claimitmd.gov yourself rather than clicking any link, and report the attempt at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related articles

• Unclaimed Money & Property by State
• Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws
• Maryland Divorce Laws
• Maryland Power of Attorney Laws

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about how Maryland's unclaimed property program works as of the verification date above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Program rules, dormancy periods, and processing times can change; verify current details directly with the Comptroller of Maryland's Unclaimed Property Division before relying on any figure here.

---

Last updated: 2026-07-15.

More Maryland Laws

• Maryland Divorce Laws
• Maryland Landlord-Tenant Laws
• Maryland Property Records

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to search for unclaimed property in Maryland?

Yes. Searching claimitmd.gov and filing a claim directly with the Comptroller of Maryland costs nothing. You should never need to pay anyone to search for or release money that's already legally yours.

What is Quick Pay and do I need to apply for it?

Quick Pay is a Maryland feature that automatically mails a check for verified unclaimed property claims of $5,000 or less, with no claim form required. You don't apply for it; if your property qualifies and the state can confirm your address, it's simply mailed to you after a verification letter is sent in advance.

What is KAPS?

KAPS, the Kelmar Abandoned Property System, is the modern cloud-based claims platform the Comptroller of Maryland launched in October 2025 to replace an older mainframe system. It lets residents search, submit documents electronically, and track claim status online.

How much unclaimed property is Maryland currently holding?

The Comptroller's office reports holding an estimated $2.7 billion in unclaimed property across more than 14 million accounts, with roughly 1 in 7 Marylanders estimated to have a claim waiting.

Is there a deadline to claim my property once Maryland has it?

No. Maryland's unclaimed property program is custodial, meaning the Comptroller holds property in trust indefinitely. You or your heirs can generally file a claim at any time, even years or decades later.

How long does Maryland take to process a claim?

Simple, complete claims have historically taken roughly 60 to 90 days. The state's new KAPS system, launched in October 2025, is intended to speed this up, and some smaller claims are now paid automatically through Quick Pay with no processing wait for a claim form at all.

What documents do I need to file a claim?

At minimum, expect to verify your identity with a government-issued photo ID and Social Security number. Larger or more complex claims, including those involving a deceased owner's estate, commonly require additional documents such as a death certificate or estate paperwork.

Is paying a company to find my unclaimed money in Maryland a scam?

Not necessarily. Paid finder services are not illegal as such, but they are never required, since Maryland's own process is free. Maryland law also limits them: under Com. Law 17-325, any agreement to pay a finder for recovering property is unenforceable if it was made within 24 months of the date the property was turned over to the state. It becomes a scam if you're asked to pay an upfront fee before any money is found, or if the contact impersonates a government agency and pressures you with a fake deadline.