Missouri
Missouri Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
The Missouri State Treasurer's Office is holding more than $1.5 billion in unclaimed money and property across millions of accounts, and roughly 1 in 10 Missourians has some of it sitting unclaimed with an average return near $300. It ranges from ordinary things, like a forgotten bank account or an uncashed paycheck, to safe deposit box contents such as jewelry, family heirlooms, and military medals. Here is how Missouri's unclaimed property program works, and how to search for your name and file a claim for free.
Information last verified on 2026-07-15. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How Missouri's Unclaimed Property Program Works
When a bank, employer, insurer, retailer, utility, or government agency owes you money and cannot reach you for long enough, Missouri law requires it to stop holding the funds itself. After making an effort to locate you, the holder must report and turn the property over to the Missouri State Treasurer's Office rather than keep it, a process known as escheatment. The Treasurer's Office describes itself as holding this property in trust, not taking ownership of it, and there is no deadline for you or your heirs to come forward and claim it back.
Missouri's program covers a wide range of property types: dormant bank and credit union accounts, uncashed payroll and government checks, unclaimed insurance proceeds, unredeemed stocks and bonds, utility deposits, and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.
How to Search for Your Missouri Unclaimed Property
The fastest way to check is the Treasurer's own branded portal, ShowMeMoney.com. Despite the catchy name, this is the Missouri State Treasurer's official database, not a commercial finder service, and it is free to search 24 hours a day. Search under every name you have used, including a maiden name or a former business name, and check any other state where you have lived, worked, or banked, since property is reported to the state tied to your address at the time of the report. For a broader look at how unclaimed property works nationwide, and how to check several states at once, see Unclaimed Money & Property by State.
How to File a Claim
Filing directly with the Treasurer's Office costs nothing. The office states that claims processing is a public service provided by the Missouri State Treasurer at no cost to the owner. More than half of all claimants can complete the entire process online through ShowMeMoney.com without mailing anything in. The claim form itself lists the documentation needed to establish rightful ownership, which commonly includes a government-issued photo ID and a document tying your name to the address on the unclaimed property record; larger or estate-related claims typically require more, such as a notarized signature or a death certificate. You can track a submitted claim's status through the "Track Your Claim" tool on the Treasurer's site.
Missouri's Dormancy Period, Explained
Missouri generally sets its dormancy period, the length of time a bank or business must wait with no owner contact before reporting property to the state, at five years. Once that period passes and the holder's search for the owner fails, the property is reported and remitted to the Treasurer's Office, where it remains available for you to claim with no deadline.
Safe Deposit Boxes, Auctions, and Military Medals
When a safe deposit box goes unpaid long enough, the bank drills it open, and the contents become part of Missouri's unclaimed property program the same way a dormant checking account would. The Treasurer's Office receives the contents of roughly 1,000 abandoned safe deposit boxes a year, and periodically auctions non-cash items like jewelry and collectibles that go unclaimed. The proceeds of any auction remain claimable by the rightful owner just like cash would be.
One category is treated differently. Military medals and insignia found in safe deposit boxes are never sold at auction. The Treasurer's Office instead keeps them and maintains a public list at Treasurer.mo.gov/Military, hoping to reunite Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, and other service medals with the veterans who earned them or their families. The office notes that the name attached to a medal in its records is not always the actual recipient, so it is worth checking the list even if your exact name is not on it.
Tip: You can register for free email alerts through ShowMeMoney.com so the Treasurer's Office notifies you automatically if new unclaimed property is ever reported under your name in the future, instead of you having to remember to check back.
Avoiding Unclaimed Money Scams
Two different things get lumped together here. Licensed "finder" or "asset recovery" services exist and are generally legal, searching for and filing a claim on your behalf for a cut of the money. They are not scams, but they are never necessary, since Missouri's own search and claim process is completely free and the Treasurer's Office will help you directly at no cost.
Outright fraud is different. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about unsolicited calls, texts, and emails claiming you have unclaimed funds waiting and pressuring you to act quickly. Red flags include being asked to pay an upfront "processing" or "release" fee, being asked for sensitive personal information out of the blue, or being told your claim expires soon. No legitimate Missouri agency asks for payment before releasing money that already belongs to you. Report suspected scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Related articles
- Unclaimed Money & Property by State
- Missouri Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Missouri Divorce Laws
- Missouri Power of Attorney Laws
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about how Missouri'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 details change over time, so verify current information directly with the Missouri State Treasurer's Office before relying on any figure here.
Last updated: 2026-07-15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free to search for and claim unclaimed property in Missouri?
Yes. The Missouri State Treasurer's Office states that it never charges to return unclaimed property, and claims processing is provided as a public service at no cost to the owner.
What is ShowMeMoney.com?
ShowMeMoney.com is the Missouri State Treasurer's own branded search portal for unclaimed property. It is an official state site, not a third-party finder service, and more than half of claimants can complete a claim entirely online there.
How long does a Missouri claim take to process?
The Treasurer's Office does not publish a fixed processing timeline and says it aims to return property as quickly as possible. You can check the status of a submitted claim using the Track Your Claim tool on the Treasurer's site.
What documents do I need to file a claim?
At minimum, expect to provide a government-issued photo ID and a document connecting your name to the address on the unclaimed property record. Larger or estate-related claims typically require additional documentation, such as a notarized signature or a death certificate.
What happens to unclaimed safe deposit box contents in Missouri?
After a box is drilled open for nonpayment, the contents become unclaimed property. Non-cash items like jewelry are periodically auctioned, with the proceeds still claimable by the rightful owner, while military medals and insignia are never sold and are instead listed publicly so they can be reunited with veterans or their families.
Is there a deadline to claim my property in Missouri?
No. Missouri holds unclaimed property in trust with no filing deadline, so you or your heirs can generally search and claim it at any time.
Is it a scam if someone contacts me offering to find unclaimed money for a fee?
Not necessarily. Licensed finder services are legal and simply take a cut of what they recover for you. It becomes a scam if you are asked to pay an upfront fee before any money is found, or if the contact impersonates a government agency and pressures you with a false deadline.
Sources and References
- Missouri State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property(treasurer.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property Frequently Asked Questions(treasurer.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri State Treasurer's Office, About Unclaimed Property(treasurer.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri State Treasurer's Office, Military Medals & Insignia(treasurer.mo.gov).gov
- FTC Consumer Advice, How to handle unexpected calls about unclaimed funds(consumer.ftc.gov).gov
- SEC Investor.gov, Escheatment (Financial Institutions) glossary entry(investor.gov).gov