How to Claim Unclaimed Money in Alaska
Unclaimed money, often referred to as unclaimed property or abandoned assets, consists of financial resources that have been left idle, have not been claimed, or have been forgotten by their rightful owners. These assets typically emerge from various sources, such as dormant bank accounts, uncollected insurance policy proceeds, uncashed dividend or payroll checks, customer overpayments or refunds, and securities like stocks or bonds.
In the legal and financial sense, these resources remain the property of their owners despite the lack of activity or contact over an extended period. Consequently, institutions holding these assets – such as banks, insurance companies, and state agencies – are required by law to report them to the government after a state-determined period, typically referred to as the dormancy period.
Alaska, like all states, faces the issue of unclaimed money—financial assets that have become separated from their rightful owners due to a variety of circumstances such as loss of contact due to unreported address changes, moving away, or death. This separation creates a pool of funds that the state safeguards until claimed.
While the exact amount of unclaimed money available in Alaska can fluctuate, there were billions of dollars in unclaimed assets spread across the nation between 2022 and 2023, waiting to be reunited with their rightful owners or heirs.
Your assets might be a part of this! Here’s how to try to find and claim them.
Looking for Unclaimed
Check to see how you can claim lost cash and property.
Looking for Unclaimed
Check to see how you can claim lost cash and property.
How to find unclaimed money and property
You can try to find your assets through MoneyBot5000, which can help you track property that belongs to you.
MoneyBot5000 is designed to help put financial power back into your hands by identifying any unclaimed funds or properties you may have forgotten or not even realized were owed to you.
The process is simple.
- Visit the website: Go to MoneyBot5000.
- Enter your details: Enter your name, address(es) and other relevant information in the search bar.
- Select the State: Choose the state where you want to conduct the search. Remember to search in every state where you’ve lived or conducted business.
- Use your account: Log in or sign up on the platform to use the required features.
- Analyze results: MoneyBot5000 will scan through Alaska’s unclaimed fund records to identify any properties that might be associated with the details you’ve provided.
Once you discover unclaimed funds or property through MoneyBot5000, you can claim it through the Alaska Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program.
Alaska Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program
The Unclaimed Property Program is a public service free of charge. This vital state-run initiative plays a crucial role in ensuring that forgotten or misplaced financial assets find their way back to their rightful owners.
When a business or entity possesses assets that have gone unclaimed, typically after a dormancy period where the rightful owner has not been active, these funds or securities are turned over to the state. This transfer of custody to the Unclaimed Property Program prevents the assets from effectively becoming “lost” and provides a centralized point where the original owners can claim their property.
Featuring an online portal, the Unclaimed Property Program allows Alaskans to conduct searches for their unclaimed property simply by entering their name or the name of a business. Should residents find a match, the portal guides them through the process of verifying and reclaiming their assets, which often entails submitting a claim form accompanied by supporting documents that confirm their identity and ownership of the assets.
When you discover that there’s unclaimed money with your name on it in Alaska, the next step is to stake your claim. The process is straightforward, but it’s important to follow each step carefully to ensure a smooth experience and successful claim:
Claiming your property in Alaska
Initiate your claim - First, you’ll need to initiate your claim through the official route. The Alaska Department of Revenue provides an online searchable database, where you can find unclaimed property. If you locate a property that you believe is yours, you can click the claim button associated with the listing.
Verify your identity - To proceed, you will need to verify your identity. This typically involves providing at least one form of picture identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or military ID. You may also be asked for secondary identification, like a social security card, birth certificate, or pay stub.
Provide proof of ownership - In addition to providing personal identification, you may need to submit proof of ownership for the unclaimed property. This could include documents like old bank statements, insurance policies, stock certificates, or any relevant documentation that establishes your connection to the property.
Complete the required documentation - Once you have gathered all necessary proof, you must fill out the claim form provided by the Unclaimed Property Program. It’s crucial to complete all required fields accurately and attach the proof of ownership.
After submitting a claim
The Alaska Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property Program is tasked with the verification and processing of all claims received.
Here’s a breakdown of what occurs after you submit your claim.
Verification phase
The unclaimed property department will review your submitted claim to verify your entitlement to the property. This includes checking the provided documentation against the records of unclaimed funds.
Response time
According to the Unclaimed Property Program, claims are generally reviewed and processed within 60 days from the receipt of a completed claim package. However, more complex cases may extend beyond the typical response time.
Resolution process
If additional information is needed or discrepancies are found during the verification phase, the department may reach out to you. Ensure that you respond promptly to any inquiries or requests for further documentation to avoid delays in the resolution of your claim.
Follow-up actions
If your claim is confirmed, the department will proceed with the necessary steps to reunite you with the unclaimed property. However, if your claim is denied or requires an appeal, Alaska law dictates that you must file an appeal within 30 days from the date shown in the clerk’s certificate of distribution of judgment.
Processing time
After approval, the actual processing of the claim may take longer than 90 days.
For the average person, understanding the concept of unclaimed money is vital since it represents assets that are rightfully theirs but have languished unutilized, often without their knowledge. Vigilance is the key to trying to ensure that your rightful assets do not slip through the cracks into the vault of forgotten funds.
In a world where we are inundated with information and responsibilities, it’s easy to overlook the importance of monitoring our financial assets proactively. It is not enough to assume that all is well with your finances or to believe that you would automatically be notified if money was owed to you. Financial institutions and state agencies make efforts to locate the rightful owners of unclaimed money, but these efforts may not always lead to a successful reunion. It falls upon each individual to take the initiative to search and claim what is rightfully theirs.
Need to learn more about finding unclaimed money in a neighboring state? See our guides for California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico!
Alaska Department of Revenue - Unclaimed Property Division
Address
State of Alaska Treasury Division, PO Box 110405, Juneau AK 99811-0405
Phone Number
844-252-2741
Office Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday excluding holidays.
Start Your Unclaimed Money Search
You may qualify to claim missing money. Search now.
Looking for Unclaimed Money?
Check to see how you can claim lost cash and property.