How Do You Claim Unclaimed Property in Washington?

The Washington rule in one table

| Official portal | Washington State Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property, search at claimyourcash.org | | Fee to claim | Free. The program is a free public service | | Review time | Not stated on the Department pages read for this guide | | Holder dormancy | Usually 3 years for most businesses, 1 year for government entities | | Holder reporting | Most firms report each year on October 31. Insurers report on April 30 | | Excluded property | Land, cars, and most other real things are left out |

What makes Washington different

Washington is the automatic return state. Its Money Match Program, started in 2023, sends checked property back to people in Washington with no claim and no papers to send. In fiscal year 2024 it sent 42,198 checks worth 6 million dollars in total. A claim search is still how you get property Money Match has not yet sent back.

The second Washington difference is the report dates. Most firms report once a year, on October 31. Insurers report on April 30. So the database grows in waves, not bit by bit. Firms must wait 3 years with no contact in most cases, and 1 year for government bodies, before they hand property over. Land, cars, and most other real things are not in the program at all.

The process, step by step

1. Search the Unclaimed Property system for your name.
2. If funds show up, file a claim with the state claim tool. It lists the proof that claim needs.
3. Watch for the Department check step. Money Match sends back property with no claim where ownership is already checked.

Claiming in the other states

Unclaimed property rules follow the same shape in every state, but the portal, the proof, and the wait change at the state line. See How to Claim Unclaimed Property in Oregon and How to Claim Unclaimed Property in Colorado. For all seven states side by side, see the Unclaimed Property by State directory.

Source

Steps, fees, and program rules on this page come from the Washington State Department of Revenue: the Unclaimed Property program page and Department releases. Facts verified 2026-10-26.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state agency.