Texas unclaimed property: search ClaimItTexas and know what a finder may charge.

What the Comptroller counts as unclaimed property

The Comptroller's FAQ says Texas has required institutions, businesses and governmental entities since 1963 to report personal property that has been unclaimed for up to five years, depending on the property. Examples it lists include dividend, payroll or cashier's checks, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, utility deposits and refunds, bank accounts and safe deposit box contents, insurance proceeds, mineral interest or royalty payments, court deposits, trust funds and escrow accounts. It says unclaimed property does not include real estate or vehicles.

No deadline, no charge

The FAQ says there is no statute of limitations for unclaimed property and that reported funds remain with the state indefinitely until returned to the rightful owner. Asked whether the office charges for the service, the FAQ answers simply: No.

The claim steps

The how-to page lists four steps: search for property, initiate a claim, complete the claim, and track progress. After finding property you can claim, click Claim, then Continue to File Claim. The site also has a status search that takes a claim ID and a claim documentation upload.

Companies that contact you about your property

The FAQ says you may contact the Comptroller's office to search for property in your name and that you do not have to sign a contract with a private company to claim your money. It adds that heir finders and asset recovery companies must be licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau, and that their fees cannot be more than 10 percent of the value of the abandoned property recovered, including all expenses.

Scam alert and how you are paid

The home page warns that the Comptroller's office will never text or call asking for online banking credentials, a secure access code or other personal information, and tells people to hang up on such calls. It also says unclaimed property payments are issued by physical check sent through standard USPS mail, and that direct deposits and wire transfers are not available.

A worked example (hypothetical)

Dana (made up) receives a call from a company saying it has found unclaimed property in her name and wants a contract and a share. This describes no real person.

She does not sign. She opens ClaimItTexas, searches her last and first name, and adds her city after a long list comes back. If she finds property, she clicks Claim, continues to file, and tracks the claim with the claim ID. Had she used a licensed heir finder instead, the Comptroller says the fee could not exceed 10 percent, so on a hypothetical $1,000 recovery the cap would be $100 including expenses. Her payment would arrive as a paper check by mail.

What this page does not cover

• It does not run the search or store what you type; there is no form on this page.
• It does not list or republish any owner or property record.
• It does not say how long a specific type of property takes to become reportable; the Comptroller's holder guidance covers dormancy periods.
• It does not cover claims for estates or businesses.