Nevada
Nevada Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Nevada's State Treasurer's Office is holding unclaimed money and property for people who lost track of it. Between a huge tourism and gaming economy and generations of people moving in and out of Las Vegas, Reno, and beyond, there is a real chance the state is holding something with your name on it, and finding out is free.
Information last verified on 2026-07-15. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How Nevada's unclaimed property program works
Unclaimed property is not something the government seizes. It is money or property a bank, employer, casino, insurer, or other business could not deliver to you, often because you moved, changed your name, or simply forgot about an old account. Nevada law requires those businesses, called holders, to try to locate you first.
If a holder cannot reach you after a set waiting period, called a dormancy period, state law requires it to report and hand the property to the Nevada State Treasurer's Office rather than keep it. This process is sometimes called escheatment, but it is custodial, not permanent. Nevada takes legal custody of the asset, not ownership, so it still belongs to you or your heirs, and you can claim it whenever you're ready.
The rules are set out in Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 120A, the Unclaimed Property Uniform Act, administered by the Unclaimed Property Division inside the State Treasurer's Office. The division's job is to hold the money safely and help reunite it with its rightful owner.
How to search for unclaimed property that might be yours
Start at the state's own official database, NVUP.gov, and search your full name. Try variations too, such as a maiden name, a nickname, a former address, or the name of a business you owned, since property can be reported under any of those.
If you have lived in other states, it is also worth searching the free multi-state portal MissingMoney.com, sponsored by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). It can surface property other states may be holding in your name, though Nevada's own site remains the authoritative source for anything the state itself is holding.
The Nevada State Treasurer's Office can also be reached by phone, toll-free at (800) 521-0019 or locally at (702) 486-4140, for help with a search or an existing claim. Searching is unlimited and free, and there is no obligation to file a claim just because you looked.
How to file a claim, and what it costs
Filing is free. If a search turns up a match, Nevada's online portal walks you through starting a claim electronically rather than requiring a mailed paper form for most property types.
You will typically need to verify your identity with a government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number, plus documentation tying you to the property, such as an old address, a former employer's name, or a bank statement. Larger claims, and claims filed by an heir or estate rather than the original owner, commonly require additional paperwork, such as a notarized signature or a death certificate.
Tip: If you worked in Nevada's hospitality or gaming industry, even briefly, search under every employer name and location you can remember. Payroll and vendor checks from casinos and resorts are a common source of unclaimed property in the state.
Nevada's dormancy period, explained
Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 120A sets different waiting periods depending on the type of property. Most categories, including dormant bank deposits and stock or other equity holdings, become reportable to the state after 3 years of inactivity.
A handful of categories move faster or slower. Unpaid wages, utility deposits, and property distributed after a business dissolves are turned over to the state after just 1 year. At the other end, traveler's checks have the longest wait of any category, at 15 years from the date of issuance.
None of this is a deadline for you personally. The dormancy period only controls when a holder must hand property to the state; it does not extinguish your ownership. Once Nevada has custody of money, you or your heirs can file a claim at any time, with no statute of limitations cutting it off.
Property other than money works differently, and this is the part people miss. NRS 120A.610(1) directs the Administrator to sell non-money property at public sale within 2 years after it is delivered to the state, and a purchaser at that sale takes the property free of all claims of the owner (NRS 120A.610(4)). Property whose probable sale cost would exceed the proceeds can instead be destroyed, otherwise disposed of, or transferred to a state museum, the Nevada Historical Society, a genealogical library, or the Department of Veterans Services (NRS 120A.610(5) and (6)). Once an item has been sold, what you can claim is the net proceeds of the sale (NRS 120A.640(3)), not the item. So if a search turns up something physical, such as the contents of an old safe-deposit box, do not sit on it.
A Nevada quirk: unredeemed casino vouchers are not unclaimed property
Nevada's casino-driven economy raises a question most states never have to answer: what happens to an unredeemed slot machine TITO, or ticket-in, ticket-out, voucher? Modern slot machines print a paper voucher instead of paying out coins, and plenty of visitors walk out of a casino with one still in a pocket.
The answer is that the value does not become claimable unclaimed property. Under NRS 463.369(2), the casino's obligation to pay you whatever is left on a wagering voucher expires on the expiration date printed on the voucher or 180 days after the wager is placed, whichever period is less. The licensee then reports expired vouchers to the Nevada Gaming Commission each quarter and remits 75 percent of their value, and the Commission pays that money to the State Treasurer to be deposited for credit to the State General Fund (NRS 463.369(3) and (4)). It never reaches the unclaimed property program, and no record is created under your name.
Gaming chips and tokens are a separate matter again. NRS 120A.135(1)(a) puts unredeemed chips and tokens outside the unclaimed property chapter entirely, and the statute expressly defines a chip or token to exclude a wagering voucher.
Watch out: An expired TITO voucher is not money waiting for you at the Treasurer's Office, and no amount of searching will surface one. Search NVUP.gov for the things that do escheat, such as old bank accounts, payroll checks, and insurance proceeds.
Watch out for unclaimed money scams
There are two very different things to watch for. The first is paid "unclaimed money finder" or "asset recovery" companies. These are generally legitimate businesses, not scams, that search public unclaimed property databases and file a claim on your behalf for a percentage fee. They are legal but never necessary in Nevada, since the state's own search and claim process is already free.
The second, more serious problem is outright phishing. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about scammers who call, text, or email pretending to represent a government agency, claiming you have unclaimed funds waiting and pressuring you to act fast.
Watch out: If anyone asks you to pay an upfront fee, buy gift cards, or wire money to release funds that are supposedly yours, hang up. Nevada's Treasurer's Office never charges to search for or return your own property.
Red flags include being asked for sensitive personal or banking information out of nowhere, being pressured to pay a "processing" or "release" fee before the money can be sent, or being told your claim is expiring on a tight deadline. Search directly at NVUP.gov, and report anything suspicious at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you already gave one of these callers a bank login, card number or Social Security number, our guide to phishing, smishing and vishing lays out the next steps for each kind of information you handed over.
Related articles
- Unclaimed Money & Property by State
- Nevada Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Nevada Divorce Laws
- Nevada Power of Attorney Laws
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about Nevada's unclaimed property program as verified on 2026-07-15. It is intended to help residents understand how the process works and is not legal, financial, or tax advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individual situations, especially estate or heir claims, vary. Consult the Nevada State Treasurer's Office directly, or a licensed professional, for guidance on your specific claim.
Last updated: 2026-07-15.
More Nevada Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free to search and claim unclaimed property in Nevada?
Yes. Searching NVUP.gov and filing a claim through the Nevada State Treasurer's Office costs nothing. You never need to pay a third-party company to do this for you.
How do I know if Nevada is holding money in my name?
Search your name, including past names and spellings, directly at NVUP.gov. If you have lived elsewhere, the free multi-state MissingMoney.com portal can help you check other states too.
What documents do I need to file a claim?
Most claims need a government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. Larger or more complex claims, including claims filed by an heir or estate, may require notarized signatures or estate paperwork like a death certificate.
How long does it take Nevada to pay a claim?
Timing depends on the claim's size and complexity. Simple, well-documented claims tend to move through Nevada's online system faster, while larger or more complicated claims, including estate claims, take longer to review.
What are TITO vouchers, and can I claim an old one as unclaimed property?
TITO stands for ticket-in, ticket-out, the printed vouchers modern slot machines issue instead of coins. You cannot claim one as unclaimed property. Under NRS 463.369, the casino's obligation to pay any remaining value expires on the voucher's expiration date or 180 days after the wager, whichever is less. The licensee then remits 75 percent of the expired value to the Nevada Gaming Commission, which pays it to the State Treasurer for deposit in the State General Fund, not to the unclaimed property program. Unredeemed gaming chips and tokens sit outside the unclaimed property chapter altogether under NRS 120A.135.
Does unclaimed property ever expire in Nevada?
There is no statute of limitations on an owner's claim, so money the state holds can be claimed at any time by you or your heirs. Property other than money is different. NRS 120A.610 has the Administrator sell it at public sale within 2 years after delivery, and the buyer takes it free of the owner's claims, so after a sale you can claim the net proceeds rather than the property itself.
Is a paid unclaimed-property finder service a scam?
Not usually. Many finder companies are legitimate businesses that charge a fee to do a search and paperwork you could do yourself for free. They are unnecessary rather than illegal, since Nevada's own process costs nothing.
How can I tell a real unclaimed-money notice from a scam?
Nevada's Treasurer's Office will never call, text, or email demanding an upfront fee, gift cards, or a wire transfer to release funds that are supposedly yours. If you're asked to pay before you can get your own money, it's a scam. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Updates
Corrected the section on unredeemed casino TITO vouchers, which wrongly told readers the money goes to the unclaimed property program and may be waiting to be claimed, when NRS 463.369 extinguishes the casino's obligation and sends 75 percent of the expired value to the State General Fund; added the NRS 120A.610 caveat that non-money property is sold at public sale within 2 years, and removed an unverified statewide dollar total.
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 120A: UNCLAIMED PROPERTY (UNIFORM ACT)
§ 120A.500Presumption of abandonment.In force
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 6, 7 and 8, property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner during the time set forth below for the particular property: (a) A traveler’s check, 15 years after issuance; (b) A money order, 7 years after issuance; (c) Any stock or other equity interest in a business association or financial organization, including a security entitlement under NRS 104.8101 to 104.8511, inclusive, 3 years after the date of the last indication by the owner of interest in the property; (d) Any debt of a business association or financial organization, other than a bearer bond or an original issue discount bond, 3 years after the date of the most recent interest payment unclaimed by the apparent owner; (e) A demand or savings deposit, 3 years after the date of the last indication by the owner of interest in the property; (f) Time deposits, 3 years after: (1) The date of maturity for time deposits that are not automatically renewable; or (2) The date of maturity, after the first renewal of the time deposit, for time deposits that are automatically renewable, unless the owner has consented to a subsequent renewal at…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at leg.state.nv.us
§ 120A.640Filing claim with Administrator; handling of claims by Administrator; confidentiality.In force
1. A person, excluding another state, claiming property paid or delivered to the Administrator may file a claim on a form prescribed by the Administrator and verified by the claimant. 2. Within 90 days after a claim is filed, the Administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give written notice of the decision to the claimant. If the claim is denied, the Administrator shall inform the claimant of the reasons for the denial and specify what additional evidence is required before the claim will be allowed. The claimant may then file a new claim with the Administrator or maintain an action under NRS 120A.650. 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, within 30 days after a claim is allowed, the property or the net proceeds of a sale of the property must be delivered or paid by the Administrator to the claimant, together with any dividend, interest or other increment to which the claimant is entitled under NRS 120A.600 and 120A.610.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at leg.state.nv.us
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Unit Petroleum Co. v. Veitch (District Court, N.D. Oklahoma 2015, 79 F. Supp. 3d 1234)“…easurer will determine ownership of the abandoned property. Nev.Rev.Stat. § 120A.640. In states that have adopted the Unif…”
- Raymond v. Conine (District Court, D. Nevada 2025)“…abandoned or transferred to the NUUPA’s 12 Administrator. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 120A.640. NUUPA also sets forth notice requireme…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 120A.610Public sale, destruction, disposition or transfer of abandoned property; proceeds of abandoned gift certificates transferred to State Education Fund.In force
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 5 to 9, inclusive, all abandoned property other than money delivered to the Administrator under this chapter must, within 2 years after the delivery, be sold by the Administrator to the highest bidder at public sale in whatever manner affords, in his or her judgment, the most favorable market for the property. The Administrator may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if the Administrator considers the bid to be insufficient. 2. At least 21 days before a sale held under this section, the Administrator shall provide notice to the public of the sale by posting notice of the sale: (a) At the principal office of the Administrator; (b) At not less than three other prominent places within this State; (c) On the website of the Administrator; and (d) By press release. 3. The Administrator may provide additional notice of a sale held under this section at any time and in any manner that the Administrator selects.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at leg.state.nv.us
§ 120A.135Inapplicability of chapter to unredeemed gaming chips or tokens and intersection improvement project proceeds.In force
1. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to: (a) Gaming chips or tokens which are not redeemed at an establishment. (b) Intersection improvement project proceeds. 2. As used in this section: (a) “Establishment” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 463.0148. (b) “Gaming chip or token” means any object which may be redeemed at an establishment for cash or any other representative of value other than a wagering voucher as defined in NRS 463.369. (c) “Intersection improvement project” means construction or improvements relating to intersections, including, without limitation, the construction, installation or upgrade of traffic control devices, turn lanes and appurtenances. (d) “Intersection improvement project proceeds” means amounts held by this State or an agency or political subdivision of this State that were paid to the State or the agency or political subdivision for the purpose of providing security for, or to fund the construction of, an intersection improvement project.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at leg.state.nv.us
Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 463: LICENSING AND CONTROL OF GAMING
§ 463.369Records to be maintained; expiration of obligation to pay patron; quarterly report; payment of percentage of value to Commission; regulations; “wagering voucher” defined.In force
1. Whenever a nonrestricted licensee owes a patron a specific amount of money as the result of a wagering voucher which remains unpaid because of the failure of the patron to claim the value, regardless of whether the identity of the patron is known, the nonrestricted licensee shall maintain a record of the obligation in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Commission. 2. Unless the Commission specifies by regulation a shorter period in which a wagering voucher must be redeemed, upon the expiration date assigned to a wagering voucher issued in this State or 180 days after a wager is placed, whichever period is less, the obligation of the nonrestricted licensee to pay the patron any value remaining on a wagering voucher expires. 3. Each nonrestricted licensee shall, for the previous calendar quarter, report to the Commission on or before the 15th day of the month following that calendar quarter any wagering voucher that expires pursuant to this section. The licensee shall remit to the Commission with each report payment equal to 75 percent of the value of the expired wagering vouchers included on the report.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at leg.state.nv.us
Explore the law
This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 120A: UNCLAIMED PROPERTY (UNIFORM ACT) § 120A.010 (Short title.)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →
Sources and References
- Nevada State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property Division, official search and claim portal(nvup.gov).gov
- Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 120A, Unclaimed Property (Uniform Act)(leg.state.nv.us).gov
- Nevada State Treasurer's Office, Unclaimed Property program overview(nevadatreasurer.gov).gov
- Nevada Legislature, Assembly Bill 219 (2011 session), unclaimed gaming property exhibit(archive.leg.state.nv.us).gov
- Federal Trade Commission, "How To Handle Unexpected Calls About Unclaimed Funds"(consumer.ftc.gov).gov
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor.gov, "Escheatment (Financial Institutions)" glossary(investor.gov).gov
- Nevada Revised Statutes 463.369, expiration of obligation to pay patron on a wagering voucher; quarterly report and payment of 75 percent of value to the Gaming Commission(leg.state.nv.us)
- Nevada Revised Statutes 120A.610, public sale, destruction, disposition or transfer of abandoned property(leg.state.nv.us)
- Nevada Revised Statutes 120A.135, inapplicability of the unclaimed property chapter to unredeemed gaming chips or tokens(leg.state.nv.us)