Wisconsin · Unclaimed property · Updated Oct 2026
Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Unit holds money that businesses could not return to its owners. Here is how to search, what proof you need and how long it takes.
Search Wisconsin's official list of unclaimed property by name.
Search in WisconsinSearch your name (or a Property ID) on the Department of Revenue's free search page and click 'Add' for each item that is yours.
File the claim online. Choose your relationship to the property (owner, heir, business, guardian, etc.); picking the right one speeds things up.
Upload at least one document, ideally your government ID, plus the other proof listed for your relationship type. Files can be JPG, PDF, PNG, BMP or TIF, up to 30 MB.
Choose direct deposit or a paper check, sign the online agreement, and save your confirmation number.
If you prefer, send documents by mail to P.O. Box 8982 in Madison, by fax to (608) 261-6799, or in person at a DOR office, with your claim or confirmation number.
Yes. DOR compares unclaimed property records with tax records once a year; if you are matched and your property is $2,000 or less, DOR mails a check automatically. If it is more than $2,000 or is tangible property (like safe deposit box contents, savings bonds or stock), you get an 'Action Required' letter and must file a claim.
Heirship claims must be filed online, with the deceased owner's SSN, date of birth and date of death. Claims under $50,000 need a Transfer by Affidavit (unless an open estate or active trust is claiming), and $50,000 or more requires a court order; open estates send domiciliary letters and the estate's tax ID.
An heir finder or locator cannot charge you more than 10% of the value of the property recovered. An agreement is void if the property has been held by DOR for less than 24 months. The written agreement must be filed with the claim, and DOR pays you directly, not the locator. Locators do not need a license in Wisconsin.
Law: Wis. Stat. ch. 177, subch. XIII (§§ 177.1301-177.1302)
Watch out: DOR stresses that you do not need to pay a third party to claim your property; filing your own claim is free.
Search every other state where you lived or worked. Some money, like old savings bonds and IRS refunds, is held by federal agencies.
Money that businesses could not return to you and had to hand over to a state, such as old bank accounts and insurance policies. USA.gov says state governments hold most unclaimed money.
Official siteOld paper or electronic U.S. savings bonds that were never cashed, including bonds that have matured and stopped earning interest (EE and I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years), plus lost, stolen or destroyed bonds.
Official siteTax refunds owed to people who never filed a federal tax return for a year, often because they earned little and were not required to file. The IRS says taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim a refund; after that the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
Official siteSearch the official database run by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Unit. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in Wisconsin.
No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. An heir finder or locator cannot charge you more than 10% of the value of the property recovered. An agreement is void if the property has been held by DOR for less than 24 months. The written agreement must be filed with the claim, and DOR pays you directly, not the locator. Locators do not need a license in Wisconsin.
Heirship claims must be filed online, with the deceased owner's SSN, date of birth and date of death. Claims under $50,000 need a Transfer by Affidavit (unless an open estate or active trust is claiming), and $50,000 or more requires a court order; open estates send domiciliary letters and the estate's tax ID.
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.
Last checked: Oct 2026.