Unclaimed Property Maryland – $2.65B Waiting, Search Free

Did you know the Maryland Comptroller’s Office is currently holding $2.65 billion in unclaimed property and last fiscal year alone reunited Marylanders with over $121 million that rightfully belonged to them? In October 2025, Maryland launched a brand-new, state-of-the-art digital system the Kelmar Abandoned Property System (KAPS) that allows residents to submit claims online for the first time ever and processes claims faster than ever before. If you have ever lived or worked in Maryland, unclaimed property in Maryland may be sitting in the official database right now with your name on it. Bank accounts, insurance proceeds, stock dividends, uncashed paychecks, utility deposits, and safe deposit box contents are all waiting to be reunited with their rightful owners. Searching is completely free, the process is fully online, and there is no time limit to claim ever. This guide walks you through everything directly from the official Maryland Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division.

What is Unclaimed Property in Maryland?

Unclaimed property in Maryland is any financial asset or physical property held by a business or organization where there has been no owner contact for a specified dormancy period. Once that period expires and the holder cannot reach the owner, Maryland’s Commercial Law Article, Title 17 requires the holder to report and turn over those assets to the Maryland Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Division for safekeeping.

Maryland is a custodial state meaning the Comptroller holds unclaimed property on behalf of the rightful owners forever. There is no statute of limitations on claiming your funds. Under Section 17-501 of Maryland law, property sold by the state including safe deposit box auction proceeds remains claimable indefinitely.

The standard dormancy period in Maryland is 3 years for most financial property types. This applies to bank accounts, insurance payments, uncashed checks, utility deposits, and security deposits. Important exceptions:

• Life insurance: Report due April 30 annually
• Most other holders: Annual reports due October 31
• Cryptocurrency: Remitted to the state after 5 years
• Virtual (cryptocurrency) IRAs: Now included under Maryland’s 2025 updated law

Common types of unclaimed property in Maryland include:

• Checking and savings accounts
• Certificates of deposit and money market accounts
• Uncashed payroll checks and commissions
• Insurance proceeds and annuity payments
• Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and dividends
• Utility deposits and credit balances
• Safe deposit box contents jewelry, coins, documents, collectibles
• Customer refunds and security deposits
• Virtual currency (cryptocurrency) newly included as of 2025

In 2025, Governor Moore signed a measure updating Maryland’s Abandoned Property Act expanding the program to include virtual currency individual retirement accounts and giving the Comptroller stronger enforcement tools over holders.

How Much Unclaimed Property Does Maryland Hold?

As of October 2025, Maryland is holding $2.65 billion in unclaimed property for current and former Maryland residents, businesses, and organizations.

Maryland’s program has been growing rapidly in recent years. In the last fiscal year, the Unclaimed Property Division reunited Marylanders with over $121 million and processed 70,670 individual claims, one of the highest annual claim volumes in the state’s history.

A major milestone came in October 2025 when Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman launched the new Kelmar Abandoned Property System (KAPS) a modern cloud-based platform replacing a decades-old mainframe system. The new system allows Marylanders to submit claims online for the first time, track their claims in real time, and upload documents securely. Comptroller Lierman described it as transforming how the agency operates processing claims faster, handling documents more securely, and returning funds more efficiently.

One especially notable feature of the new system is KAPS Quick Pay which, once fully launched, automatically issues payments for unclaimed property valued at less than $5,000 without requiring the owner to file a formal claim. This means some Marylanders will receive their money automatically once the feature is active.

Unclaimed money Maryland residents most commonly find includes dormant bank accounts from major institutions based in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, payroll checks from large employers like Johns Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, and Marriott International, uncollected insurance proceeds from companies that lost contact with beneficiaries, and old utility deposits from the state’s high residential turnover.

How to Search for Unclaimed Property in Maryland Free

The official search portal is claimitmd.gov Maryland’s Unclaimed Property website, launched in October 2025 as part of the KAPS modernization. This is the only legitimate official search portal. Searching is always completely free no registration required to search.

Here is exactly how to search:

1. Go to claimitmd.gov in your web browser
2. Click “Search for Property” or go directly to the search page at claimitmd.gov/app/claim-search
3. Enter your last name in the search field always start with last name only for the widest results; the system automatically checks for name variations and maiden names
4. Click Search and review all results
5. Narrow your results by adding your first name, city, or ZIP code if there are many entries
6. Review each result carefully results show the claim number (in MD-XXXXX-XXXXX format), property type, last known address, the company that reported the funds, and an approximate dollar amount
7. Search under every name you have used the system checks variations automatically, but manually searching maiden names and former married names is also recommended
8. Search for your business enter your company name or EIN to find property reported under a business entity
9. Search for deceased relatives you can search any name; heir claims are fully supported through the KAPS system
10. Check missingmoney.com Maryland also participates in NAUPA’s official multi-state database at missingmoney.com for cross-state coverage

You can also access the Maryland Comptroller’s unclaimed property resources through marylandcomptroller.gov and marylandtaxes.gov/unclaimed-property, which link to the live search database, claim submission system, FAQs, and field office locations.

For questions, contact the Maryland Unclaimed Property Division at their office: 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21202. Phone: (410) 767-1700 or toll-free (800) 782-7383.

How to File a Claim – Step by Step

Maryland’s new KAPS system launched in October 2025 allows online claim submission for the first time. Multiple properties can be added to a single claim submission.

1. Go to claimitmd.gov and locate your property in the search results
2. Note your Claim Number each property has a unique claim number in the format MD-XXXXX-XXXXX; you will need this when filing
3. Create a free account on the KAPS portal or log in if you already have one
4. Enter your Claim Number in the claim submission form to link it to your property
5. Complete all required fields full legal name, current mailing address, date of birth, and Social Security Number
6. Select your relationship to the property Original Owner, Heir, Executor, Power of Attorney, Business Representative, or other appropriate type
7. Upload all required supporting documents securely through the KAPS portal at claimitmd.gov/app/claim-doc-upload
8. Submit your claim electronically you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number
9. Track your claim status at any time at claimitmd.gov/app/claim-status-search by logging into your account and checking “My Records”
10. Receive payment once approved, payment is issued by check or, in some cases, electronically to your verified account

Alternative Mail: If you prefer to mail your claim, download Form COT-ST912 from the Comptroller’s website, complete all sections, attach required documents, and mail to: Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property Division, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Documents You Need to Claim Unclaimed Property in Maryland

The exact documents required depend on your claim type. The KAPS system will specify exactly what is needed after you begin your claim. Here is a general breakdown:

If you are the original owner:

• A current, valid government-issued photo ID driver’s license, state ID, or US passport
• Your Social Security Number entered during the online claim process
• Documentation connecting you to the property an old bank statement, pay stub, utility bill, insurance document, or any record showing your name and the address listed on the property
• Name change documentation if applicable marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order

If you are claiming for a deceased owner (heir/estate):

• A certified copy of the death certificate
• Legal documentation proving your authority Letters Testamentary (if the deceased had a will, issued by a Maryland Circuit Court) or Letters of Administration (if there was no will)
• Your own valid government-issued photo ID
• Your own Social Security Number
• Proof of your relationship to the deceased birth certificate or marriage certificate

If you hold Power of Attorney for a living owner:

• A copy of the valid Power of Attorney document
• Your own valid government-issued photo ID

If you are claiming on behalf of a business:

• Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN/FEIN)
• Business registration or incorporation documents
• Corporate Affidavit available for download from marylandtaxes.gov/unclaimed-property
• Proof of your authority to act on behalf of the company

For finder agreements: Under Maryland law Section 17-404, finder agreements where a third party charges you a fee to locate your property are not enforceable if the property has been in state custody for less than two years. Always search at claimitmd.gov first.

How Long Does Maryland Take to Process Claims?

Maryland’s new KAPS system was specifically designed to reduce processing times. Here is what to expect:

• Online claims through KAPS: Typically processed in 6 to 12 weeks, depending on claim complexity and time of year the new system aims to cut this to approximately half the previous time
• KAPS Quick Pay (for property under $5,000): Once fully launched, these claims will be paid automatically without requiring a formal submission among the fastest processing in the country
• Mail-in claims: Allow additional time for mail transit on top of the 6 to 12 week review period
• Complex claims involving estates, multiple claimants, or securities may take longer depending on documentation verification

After submitting online, log back into your KAPS account at claimitmd.gov and go to “My Records” to track your claim status at any time. You can also check status directly at claimitmd.gov/app/claim-status-search. The new system provides real-time status updates that were not previously available under the old system.

If you have questions about a pending claim, contact the Division at (410) 767-1700 or toll-free (800) 782-7383.

Unclaimed Property for Deceased Relatives in Maryland

A significant portion of unclaimed money Maryland holds belongs to residents who have already passed away. If a family member died without informing loved ones about old accounts, insurance policies, or investment assets, those funds may have been transferred to the state and as an heir or legal representative, you may claim them.

Here is what you need to know:

• There is no time limit ever. Maryland is a custodial state with no statute of limitations. Whether your relative passed away last year or thirty years ago, the property remains searchable and claimable at any time.
• Search using the deceased’s full name. Go to claimitmd.gov and try all name variations legal name, maiden name, middle name used as first name, and any nicknames.
• Legal authority documentation is required. Maryland requires proof of your right to act for the estate typically Letters Testamentary from a Maryland Circuit Court if the deceased had a will, or Letters of Administration if there was no will.
• KAPS Quick Pay does not apply to estate claims. The automatic payment feature for properties under $5,000 is for verified original owners only. Heir and estate claims require the standard documentation process.
• Safe deposit box contents. Physical items from abandoned safe deposit boxes are held and may be auctioned. Cash proceeds from any auction are held forever under Section 17-501 and can be claimed at any time.
• Cryptocurrency and virtual assets. Maryland’s updated 2025 law now includes virtual currency IRAs in the unclaimed property program if a deceased relative held crypto IRAs that were dormant, they may now be in the Maryland database after the applicable dormancy period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Unclaimed property in Maryland is a fully modernized, government-run consumer protection program and right now, $2.65 billion is sitting safely in the state’s KAPS system, waiting to be returned to Maryland residents and their families. With over $121 million returned last fiscal year and a brand-new digital system that processes claims faster than ever, Maryland has never made it easier to search for and claim what is rightfully yours.

The search is completely free at claimitmd.gov. The claim process is now fully online for the first time. There is no deadline ever. And the new Quick Pay feature means some residents will receive their money automatically without even filing a claim.

Take a few minutes today to search. Your name might be in the database right now.

Search for unclaimed property in Maryland for free at https://www.claimitmd.gov/