Wrapping up a person’s life with one document is difficult and sometimes doesn’t go as planned. Even using a Last Will and creating extensive estate plans doesn’t always cover all your bases.

In some instances, assets get missed and left out or are purchased after a Last Will is created. Other times, beneficiaries fail to claim their portion of their estate or don’t even know they’re entitled to an inheritance. When this occurs, portions of a person’s assets can end up unclaimed.

Below, we go over how money goes unclaimed, what happens to an inheritance when it is not claimed, and how you can find out if any inheritances are owed to you.

How Does Money Go Unclaimed?

Money can go unclaimed in all sorts of ways. It doesn’t just happen when someone fails to collect their inheritance after a relative passes away.

Unclaimed money can come from past wages, life insurances, pensions, tax refunds, and more. Money can be abandoned by a person and then defined as “unclaimed.”

As an example, in 2013, nearly 60 million dollars was left unclaimed by Americans.

In terms of unclaimed inheritances, there are a variety of reasons as to why someone’s estate goes unclaimed.

For instance, it could mean:

  • A beneficiary in the deceased’s Last Will did not accept their gift (or passed away before it was gifted).
  • The asset was left out of the Last Will (perhaps due to error or because that asset wasn’t owned when the Last Will was drafted).
  • The deceased didn’t have a Last Will before passing away (i.e. they died “intestate”).

What Happens to Unclaimed Inheritances?

When you pass away without a Last Will, your property is divided between your heirs in a pre-determined order. Typically, the division of assets starts with your spouse and then your children. If you have no immediate family, your property is given to your next closest relatives. If you have no living relatives, your estate becomes state property.

So, if you have a relative who passed away without a Last Will, you could be entitled to an inheritance. Claiming your inheritance could be as simple as identifying yourself as a rightful heir to their estate with the proper authorities.

How Do I Search for Unclaimed Inheritances?

If you think you might have an inheritance waiting to be claimed, it’s time to put on your detective hat to find it.

The US Government recommends to first check your state, which you can do using National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA).

There are also a few other organizations that could help such as missingmoney.com and Bureau of The Fiscal Service.

With the assistance of one of these services, you may be able to find the information—or money—you were looking for.

There isn’t just one service to use, so use your judgment when contacting an agency who specializes in unclaimed inheritances. Most importantly, be careful of scams.

tips-for-finding-unclaimed-money-unclaimed-inheritance

Finding Your Unclaimed Inheritances

The easiest way to claim your inheritance is to do so during the reading of your relative’s Last Will and Testament. However, attending the reading—or even knowing about it—isn’t possible for everyone. Knowing how to find unclaimed inheritances is important.

Posted by LawDepot

The LawDepot Team consists of professional writers and editors with years of experience researching and writing about a variety of legal topics. LawDepot’s in-house legal team reviews all law-related content to ensure the information we provide is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.