delaware unclaimed property

Delaware Unclaimed Property

OVER $300 MILLION HAS BEEN RETURNED TO
RIGHTFUL OWNERS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS

Delaware Unclaimed PropertyTo search for property, enter an individual name or business name; no specific order is required when entering the information (last name, first name, business name, etc.). To help narrow your search results, enter a city or zip code.

Select (or remove) all properties you wish to claim by clicking the appropriate choice under the “Select an Action” area. Once all properties you wish to claim have been selected, click on “View Claimed Properties” to continue initiating your claim.

Please note, you will receive an actual claim number upon completing the claims initiating process. If you do not receive a claim number, you have not completed the online process necessary for our agency to review your request.

You may also initiate a new search for property reported under a different name that may be owed to you.

Click HERE if you are attempting to claim Gift Cards, Gift Certificates, Money Orders, Cashier’s Checks, or if your name search results are not what you expected.

Delaware Unclaimed Property Begin your search Now!

Delaware Unclaimed Property Document Submission Requirements:

  • Uploads must be either a standard PDF, TIF, PNG or JPG file type
  • Individual files must not exceed 10MB
  • Individual files must be greater than 1 byte
  • Uploaded file names must not exceed 100 characters and must only contain letters, numbers, dashes and underscores.
  • Documents must not be password protected
  • Before uploading your image, please make sure the image is cropped to fit the document. Any non-essential portion of the image such as a white background from a scanner should be trimmed away.
  • All claims require legible, high resolution, color images of any documents provided. Providing low resolution, illegible, or non-color images can result in delayed processing of your claim as they will have to be resubmitted in high resolution. Please refer to the “Documentation Required” area of your Claim Form to determine which documents are necessary for processing your claim. If you are unsure or have questions, please contact us.

Fact and Questions

How do I find out if I have unclaimed property?

The easiest way is to search our online database. It will provide you with the most up-to-date listing of properties available for claiming. You may also receive a direct outreach letter from our Office advising you of your rights and responsibilities for filing a claim on property reported.

How long do I have to claim my property?

The State acts only as custodian for the missing owners, holding the property in trust until it is claimed and returned to its rightful owner. There is no statute of limitations regarding claim requests. You may submit a claim at any time.

How can I prevent my accounts from becoming unclaimed property?

Maintain accurate records of all financial accounts, ensure all applicable contact information is updated on each account, and keep accounts active through regular communication with each organization with which you hold an account at least every 3 years. This may include cashing checks issued by the financial organization, corresponding with the organization via phone, email or other written communications, logging into the organization’s website, and a variety of other methods.

If you receive a letter (sometimes called a “due diligence” letter) from a company notifying you that your property is about to be reported and remitted to a state (“escheatment”), you should respond immediately to the letter to avoid escheatment of your property

Once my claim is approved, can the cash payment be sent via wire or ACH?

The Office of Unclaimed Property does not send funds via wire or ACH payments. A check will be sent to the address provided during the claims process. The check will be sent via United States Postal Service, first class mail or via courier service as determined by the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property.

Where can I go to search for unclaimed property held by other states?

Delaware’s online search tool only searches the property reported to Delaware. You can search for unclaimed property held by other states through the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) website: http://www.unclaimed.org/; however this does not include of all other states. You may wish to search each state’s website individually.

What type of property does Delaware receive?

Common types of unclaimed property include: checking and savings accounts, uncashed wage and payroll checks, uncashed stock dividends, stock certificates, insurance payments, utility deposits, customer deposits, accounts payable, credit balances, refund checks, money orders, traveler’s checks, mineral proceeds, court deposits, uncashed death benefit checks, unused gift cards, and life insurance proceeds. Unclaimed property does not include real estate or vehicles.

Why did I receive an IRS Form 1099?

The Office of Unclaimed Property (OUP) reports certain types of payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If a payment is issued for an unclaimed property claim that includes:

  • The cash value of securities liquidated by the OUP: the claimant will receive an IRS Form 1099-B listing the stock name, CUSIP, number of shares, and amount of the proceeds for each security payment.
    • If a claimant had stock in more than one company, a separate Form 1099-B will be issued for each separate stock payment.
  • Cash dividends of $10.00 or more, for securities liquidated by the OUP: the claimant will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV.

The OUP may contact you to validate your social security number or taxpayer identification number and backup withholding status.

The OUP does not issue or reissue 1099-B’s or 1099-R’s. Please contact an appropriate tax specialist regarding any issues.

If you have any questions regarding your tax reporting requirements, please consult with an appropriate tax specialist. All IRS information tax reports are mailed to the respective claimant on record during the month of January, for the preceding calendar year.

How to Get Information about Form 1099s

For any questions regarding your 1099-B or 1099-DIV information return, contact the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property.

Note: You will need to provide your Taxpayer Identification Number (FEIN or SSN), and the information in the “Account” box on your Form 1099 to allow us to identify your return.

When does the Office of Unclaimed Property plan to mail Notices of Examination to holders?

During calendar year 2021, the Office of Unclaimed Property plans to issue Notices of Examination during the weeks of April 26, July 26, and October 25, 2021. Please note these are approximate dates, and the schedule is subject to change.