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

New Hampshire is currently listing more than $220 million in unclaimed money and property that belongs to current and former residents, from forgotten bank accounts to uncashed paychecks. The state holds property longer than its New England neighbors before it becomes eligible to claim, but once it does, getting it back is free and there is no deadline.

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

How New Hampshire's unclaimed property program works

Unclaimed property is not something the government seizes. It is money or property a bank, employer, insurer, utility, or other business could not deliver to you, often because you moved, changed your name, or simply forgot about an old account. New Hampshire 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 remit the property to the New Hampshire State Treasury's Abandoned Property Division rather than keep it. This process is called escheatment, and New Hampshire handles it differently from most states. The Treasury holds the property for you at first, but under RSA 471-C:30, I, if no claim has been made and established within 36 months after the close of the fiscal year in which the property was turned over, the administrator must pay it out and it formally escheats. Most of it goes to the treasurer of the county where the holder was located; property received from out-of-state holders escheats to the state general fund instead (RSA 471-C:31). Before that transfer, the state retains 15 percent of the amount to cover its own costs and service charges (RSA 471-C:30, II).

That formal escheat does not end your right to the money. RSA 471-C:31-a, titled Subsequent Claims, says an owner who comes forward after assets have escheated to the state or the counties may petition for payment, and that once the administrator has sufficient proof the claim is valid, the administrator shall pay it. It sets no filing deadline. The 15 percent deduction comes out of what the state hands to the counties, not out of what a claimant is paid, and RSA 471-C:31, II directs the administrator to reduce later payments to the counties to cover claims made under RSA 471-C:31-a.

The rules are set out in New Hampshire RSA Chapter 471-C, Custody and Escheat of Unclaimed and Abandoned Property. The Abandoned Property Division receives and deposits the funds, maintains a searchable database, attempts to notify reported owners, and processes claims, essentially acting as a permanent lost-and-found for money.

How to search for unclaimed property that might be yours

Start at the state's own official database, FindNHmoney.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 or nonprofit 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 New Hampshire's own site remains the authoritative source for anything the state itself is holding.

The Abandoned Property Division can also be reached at (603) 271-2619 or by email at unclaimedproperty@treasury.nh.gov 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, the state's online system walks you through starting a claim 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.

New Hampshire does not publish one fixed processing timeline. The Treasury describes a review-and-verification process that can range from a few weeks for a simple, well-documented claim to several months for a larger or more complicated one.

Tip: If you've moved between New Hampshire and Massachusetts or Maine, search all three states. Property can end up reported to whichever state a holder had your last known address in, not necessarily where you live now.

New Hampshire's dormancy period is longer than its neighbors'

Under RSA 471-C:2, most intangible property in New Hampshire, including dormant bank accounts and matured certificates of deposit, becomes reportable to the state after 5 years of inactivity. That is notably longer than the 3-year general standard used just across the border in Massachusetts and Maine.

Other categories move faster. Securities such as stocks and dividends have a 3-year dormancy period, while wages and utility deposits become reportable after just 1 year.

New Hampshire also sets specific reporting deadlines for the businesses holding your property: most holders must report and remit unclaimed property to the state by October 31 each year, while insurance companies get a later deadline of April 30. None of these dates are deadlines for you as the owner. They only govern when a holder must hand property over; your right to claim it afterward does not expire.

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 New Hampshire, 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. These messages are phishing when they arrive by email, smishing by text and vishing by phone, and our guide to phishing, smishing and vishing covers the tells for each and what to do if you already responded.

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. New Hampshire's Treasury 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 FindNHmoney.gov, and report anything suspicious at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related articles

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

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about New Hampshire'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 New Hampshire State Treasury directly, or a licensed professional, for guidance on your specific claim.

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Last updated: 2026-07-15.

More New Hampshire Laws

• New Hampshire Divorce Laws
• New Hampshire Landlord-Tenant Laws
• New Hampshire Property Records

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to search and claim unclaimed property in New Hampshire?

Yes. Searching FindNHmoney.gov and filing a claim through the New Hampshire State Treasury's Abandoned Property Division costs nothing. You never need to pay a third-party company to do this for you.

How do I know if New Hampshire is holding money in my name?

Search your name, including past names and spellings, directly at FindNHmoney.gov. If you have lived in other states, the free multi-state MissingMoney.com portal can help you check those 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 New Hampshire to pay a claim?

New Hampshire does not publish one fixed processing time. The Abandoned Property Division describes a review-and-verification process that can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on how much documentation a claim needs.

Why does New Hampshire hold property longer than Massachusetts or Maine before it becomes unclaimed?

New Hampshire's general dormancy period under RSA 471-C:2 is 5 years, compared with the 3-year standard most property types use in Massachusetts and Maine. It simply means an inactive New Hampshire account or check takes longer to become reportable to the state; the underlying claim rights work the same way.

Does unclaimed property ever expire in New Hampshire?

No, though New Hampshire's mechanics are unusual. Under RSA 471-C:30, property still unclaimed 36 months after the close of the fiscal year it was remitted formally escheats, going to the county treasurer or, for property from out-of-state holders, to the state general fund. That is not a forfeiture of your rights: RSA 471-C:31-a lets an owner or an heir petition for escheated assets with no deadline, and directs the administrator to pay the claim once it is proven valid.

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 New Hampshire's own process costs nothing.

How can I tell a real unclaimed-money notice from a scam?

New Hampshire's Treasury 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.