Official processing times for unclaimed money claims in all 50 states and DC.
How long a claim takes depends on the state, the amount and how complete your documents are. Claims for a relative who died, or with missing proof, take longer. The times below are what each official program says.
| State | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The Treasury says claims usually take 6 to 8 weeks on average. By law it must approve or deny a claim within 120 days and pay within 30 days after approval. |
| Alaska | The state asks you to allow several weeks. It says the team is small and there is a backlog; answering document requests quickly speeds things up. |
| Arizona | The state's FAQ says claims are processed within 90 days of receipt, and stock or mutual fund claims can take up to 120 days. Its heir-finder page says money claims can take up to 120 days. |
| Arkansas | Up to 90 days, depending on how complex the claim is and how many claims the office has. Checks are mailed weekly, usually on Fridays. There is no direct deposit. |
| California | Simple cash claims by the owner may take as little as 30 to 60 days. Heir, multiple-owner and business claims generally take up to 180 days, which is the time the law allows after a complete claim is received. |
| Colorado | The Treasury says the average claim takes about 10 days to process after verification, well under the 90 days the law allows. Claims with no extra paperwork are paid by check within a few weeks. |
| Connecticut | Not published |
| Delaware | Not published |
| District of Columbia | Not published |
| Florida | Claims are processed in the order received, and the Division says it cannot give an exact timeframe. Missing documents are the most common cause of delay. |
| Georgia | Most claims are paid within 30 days of receipt, but it can take up to 90 days. |
| Hawaii | The program says claims are handled in the order received; incomplete forms or missing documents delay them. No time frame is given. |
| Idaho | Not published |
| Illinois | The Treasurer says the first review of claim paperwork may take up to 90 days after it arrives, depending on how many claims come in. Claims that need more documents can take longer. |
| Indiana | By law, the Attorney General must approve or deny your claim within 90 days of filing and tell you in writing. A claim with no decision after 90 days counts as denied, and you can file an amended claim. Approved claims must be paid within 30 days. |
| Iowa | Allow up to 90 days for review. Heir, business and stock claims can take longer. |
| Kansas | Claims are handled in the order received and can take up to 90 days. Heir and business claims take longer. |
| Kentucky | Claims are reviewed in the order received. The state's claim instructions say most claims are evaluated within 90 days. State law requires a decision within 90 days of filing and payment within 30 days after approval (KRS 393A.520, 393A.530). |
| Louisiana | Processing time depends on volume and may take up to 90 days. |
| Maine | Claims are processed in the order received. Most are done within a few weeks. Estate and stock claims can take longer. |
| Maryland | The site says to check your claim status if you have no decision within 60 to 90 business days. |
| Massachusetts | The site gives no general time. Stock and mutual fund claims can take up to 45 extra days after approval to transfer the shares into your name. |
| Michigan | Claims are handled in the order received. Allow 90 days for processing, and about 6 weeks from the start of approval to get paid. |
| Minnesota | Not published |
| Mississippi | The claims site says the time to process a claim varies. |
| Missouri | Not published |
| Montana | Claims are handled in the order received. The department has 90 days to finish your claim once it has all your documents. |
| Nebraska | It may take several weeks to process the paperwork and send your money, especially during the spring advertising season. |
| Nevada | Claims can take up to 120 days to review and pay. Uploaded documents can take up to 48 hours to appear on your claim. |
| New Hampshire | Not published |
| New Jersey | Not published |
| New Mexico | The department has 90 days from filing to approve or deny a claim, and another 30 days to pay it. Most claims are processed faster. |
| New York | Most claims are paid within 30 days. If you are asked for more documents, allow up to 90 days after the state receives them. Approved checks are mailed within 30 days. |
| North Carolina | Normally about 90 days, processed in the order received. The site says high claim volume is currently making it take longer than 90 days. |
| North Dakota | Not published |
| Ohio | The claim status page says to allow up to 120 days after the Division has all required documents. It also warns that processing may take longer than expected, and if it asks you for more documents, your claim goes back to the end of the line. |
| Oklahoma | Not published |
| Oregon | Simple claims under $2,500 can be approved the day they arrive, with a check in the mail within a couple of weeks. The goal is to respond within 120 days, but claims needing manual review can take up to 10 months at the busiest times. |
| Pennsylvania | Claims that qualify for online approval are paid in weeks instead of months; no general timeframe is stated. |
| Rhode Island | State law says the Treasurer must consider each claim within 90 days after it is filed (R.I. Gen. Laws § 33-21.1-24). |
| South Carolina | The state says claims take four to twelve weeks depending on complexity and how complete your documents are, and many are processed within a few weeks. |
| South Dakota | The state says claims generally take about two to three weeks; contact the office if you have not heard back in three weeks. By law the Treasurer must consider each claim within 180 days and tell you if it is denied. |
| Tennessee | The Treasury says about 70% of claims are paid within two weeks, on average. |
| Texas | Not published |
| Utah | The state says it depends on complexity; heir and business claims take longer, and some claims may take as long as 90 days. |
| Vermont | Approved online claims under $200 are mailed within two business days. Paper claims under $200 from the original owner go through an express service, processed within five business days of receiving a complete form. The state gives no general time frame for larger claims. |
| Virginia | For VA Cash Now automatic payments, expect a check within 45 days of the notice letter. Treasury's state performance goal is to pay valid claims within 30 calendar days. |
| Washington | The Department says claims are processed in the order received and review can take up to 90 days. Once approved, funds are mailed in 2-3 weeks. By law (RCW 63.30.540-.550) it must decide within 90 days and pay within 30 days after approval. |
| West Virginia | The paper claim form says to allow up to 90 days for verification and processing. State law requires a decision within 90 days and payment within 30 days after approval. |
| Wisconsin | Claims are handled in the order received. It typically takes up to 12 weeks for a claim to be assigned for review, and 7-10 days to receive payment once approved. |
| Wyoming | As of July 29, 2026, the Treasurer says standard owner claims take about 6-8 weeks; heir and dissolved-business claims may take longer. State law requires the office to consider each claim within 90 days. |