Honestly, it feels like finding a twenty-dollar bill in an old pair of jeans, except sometimes it's thousands of dollars. Right now, the Maryland Comptroller’s Office—which handles what people often call maryland state treasury unclaimed money—is sitting on roughly $2.65 billion in assets. That is billion with a "B."
It isn't just dusty coins. We’re talking about forgotten utility deposits, uncashed paychecks from three jobs ago, and even the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.
If you’ve lived in Maryland, or even just worked a summer job in Ocean City a decade ago, there is a legitimate chance some of that cash belongs to you. The state doesn't want to keep it. In fact, they’ve recently spent over a million dollars upgrading their systems just to get it back to you faster.
What Exactly is Maryland State Treasury Unclaimed Money?
Most people think "unclaimed money" means a secret inheritance from a long-lost great-uncle. While that happens, the reality is much more boring—and much more common.
Essentially, if a business holds your money (like a bank account, an insurance payout, or a security deposit) and they haven't been able to contact you for a set period—usually three years—they are legally required to hand that money over to the state. This process is called "escheatment."
Common types of property held by the state:
- Dormant bank accounts where the mail started bouncing.
- Uncashed checks (payroll, dividends, or refunds).
- Insurance benefits that never reached the beneficiary.
- Stock shares and unredeemed dividends.
- Court deposits or bail bonds that were never returned.
- Virtual Currency (Maryland recently updated laws to include Bitcoin and other crypto).
Wait, crypto? Yeah, as of 2025, if you have digital assets on a platform that considers them abandoned, those are now liquidated and sent to the Comptroller as cash.
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How to Search for Your Name (The Right Way)
You don't need to pay anyone to do this. Seriously. If you get a letter from a "finder" offering to recover your money for a 20% fee, throw it away. You can do this yourself in five minutes for free.
The official portal is the Maryland Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property website. You just type in your last name. But here is the pro tip: search every variation of your name. If your name is "Jonathan," search for "Jon." Search for common misspellings of your last name.
Also, search for your parents or grandparents. If they passed away and didn't leave a perfect paper trail, their final utility refund or life insurance check might be sitting in the state's vault. As a legal heir, you can claim that money, though the paperwork is a bit more intense than a standard claim.
Why the 2026 System is Different
In late 2025, Maryland migrated to a new "state-of-the-art" system. If you tried to claim money a few years ago and gave up because the website looked like it was from 1998, it’s time to try again. The new system, integrated with Maryland OneStop, is designed to cut processing times in half.
Historically, claims took 60 to 90 business days. Now, for simple cash claims where your current address matches the state’s records, it can be significantly faster.
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The Step-by-Step Claim Process
Once you find a match, you’ll click "Claim." It feels like online shopping, but the total at the end is money coming to you.
- File the Claim: You’ll fill out a form (COT-ST912) digitally via the OneStop hub.
- Prove You’re You: This is where people usually get stuck. You need to upload a scan of your ID and something showing your Social Security number. Why? Because there are probably twelve "Chris Smiths" in Baltimore, and the Comptroller needs to make sure the right one gets the check.
- Establish the Connection: If the money is from an old address, you might need an old utility bill or a tax return that proves you actually lived there.
- Wait for the Check: Once approved, the state mails you a physical check or issues an electronic payment.
If you are claiming for a deceased relative, you’ll need the death certificate and proof that you are the personal representative of the estate. It’s a hassle, but for a $5,000 life insurance policy, it’s worth the afternoon of scanning documents.
Why Does This Money Exist in the First Place?
Life happens. People move. They forget to update their address with their old 401(k) provider. A check for a $40 overpayment on a Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) bill gets sent to an apartment you left three years ago. The post office doesn't forward it forever.
Eventually, BGE says, "We can't find this person," and they send the $40 to the Comptroller.
Maryland is a "Report-and-Remit" state. This means businesses have to report this stuff every year. Financial institutions usually report by October 31st, while insurance companies report by April 30th. This means the database is constantly being updated. If you checked last year and found nothing, check again this morning.
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A Note on Safe Deposit Boxes
Maryland doesn't just hold cash. They hold "tangible" property too. If a safe deposit box is abandoned, the contents are eventually sent to the state. Usually, the state will auction off the items (like jewelry or coins) and hold the cash value for the owner. However, they often keep "sentimental" items like military medals or old photos to try and find the families.
Common Misconceptions About Unclaimed Funds
"The state will eventually keep the money if I don't claim it."
Actually, no. In Maryland, unclaimed property laws are "custodial." This means the state acts as a permanent caretaker. They never legally take ownership of the money; they just hold it until you—or your heirs—show up. There is no time limit.
"It's probably just a few cents."
Sometimes, sure. But the average claim in Maryland is often several hundred dollars. People have discovered entire forgotten pensions or stock portfolios worth six figures.
"The process is a scam."
While there are scammers who pretend to be the government to get your SSN, the maryland state treasury unclaimed money process through the official marylandtaxes.gov or unclaimed-property.marylandcomptroller.gov sites is 100% legitimate and safe. Just make sure you are on a .gov website.
What to Do Right Now
Don't wait until you're "bored" to do this. Take ten minutes today and follow these steps:
- Visit the official Maryland Unclaimed Property search tool. * Search your name, your spouse's name, and your maiden name.
- Check for deceased parents or grandparents. * Check other states. If you lived in Virginia or DC, go to MissingMoney.com, which is a national database that Maryland participates in.
- Gather your docs. Have a PDF of your driver’s license and Social Security card ready on your phone or computer to make the upload process seamless.
If you hit a snag, you can actually talk to a human. The Unclaimed Property Division in Baltimore is reachable at 410-767-1700. They handle thousands of these, and honestly, they’re usually pretty helpful because their entire job is to give money away.
Next Steps for You:
Head over to the Maryland Comptroller's website and run a search for your name and any previous addresses. If you find a match, start the OneStop filing process immediately while you have your ID handy. If you find property for a family member who has passed away, locate the estate's letters of administration first, as you'll need those to move forward with the claim.