Delaware’s Unclaimed Property Office: What It Does and What It Holds

The Delaware Unclaimed Property Office is the state agency that handles money and property that businesses owe to people but have lost contact with. Many people are surprised to find out they may have forgotten accounts or refunds waiting for them.

This guide from HowToGetAssistance.org explains, in plain English, what the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office does, what kinds of property it holds, who can claim it, and how to move forward through official channels. This site is informational only and is not a government agency, not an official portal, and not a place to file claims.

What Is “Unclaimed Property” in Delaware?

Unclaimed property is money or certain types of assets that:

• Belong to a person or business, and
• Have not been accessed or claimed for a set period of time, and
• Are turned over to the state by the company or organization that originally held them.

In Delaware, this can include property owed to:

• Current or former Delaware residents
• People who have never lived in Delaware but did business with a company incorporated in Delaware (which is very common)
• Heirs or estates of people who have passed away

The Delaware Unclaimed Property Office does not take your money away. Instead, it holds it safely as a custodian until the rightful owner or heir comes forward and proves ownership.

What Does the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office Do?

In general, the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office:

• Receives unclaimed property from businesses, banks, insurers, and other organizations
• Maintains a database of unclaimed accounts and owners’ names
• Reviews and processes claims from people who believe they are owed funds
• Verifies identity and ownership before releasing funds
• Pays approved claims to rightful owners or their heirs

The office’s main goal is to reunite people and businesses with their money, while following state law and fraud-prevention rules.

What Types of Property Does Delaware’s Office Hold?

Delaware’s unclaimed property is usually financial, not physical. Some common examples include:

Common types of unclaimed property

• Bank accounts

  • Savings and checking accounts
  • Money market accounts
  • Certificates of deposit after maturity

• Uncashed checks

  • Payroll checks
  • Refund checks
  • Insurance claim checks
  • Dividends and interest checks

• Insurance-related funds

  • Life insurance benefits
  • Annuities
  • Refunds from canceled policies

• Business-related funds

  • Vendor payments never deposited
  • Customer credits
  • Utility deposits or refunds

• Investment-related property

  • Stocks or mutual funds (often liquidated to cash by the state)
  • Dividends
  • Brokerage account balances

• Gift cards and credit balances

  • Certain unused gift cards or store credits, depending on the type and terms
  • Credit balances on store or service accounts

What the office usually does NOT hold

Typically, a state unclaimed property office does not handle:

• Real estate (land or houses)
• Cars or boats (except sometimes leftover funds from a sale)
• Most personal belongings or physical items (except rare cases like safe deposit box contents, if the state has authority and sells items with proceeds held as cash)

The Delaware Unclaimed Property Office usually converts most assets to cash for easier recordkeeping and payout. When you claim, you normally receive money, not the original stock shares or physical item.

Who Might Have Unclaimed Property in Delaware?

Many people have unclaimed property without realizing it. You might want to check Delaware’s unclaimed property system if:

• You previously lived in Delaware
• You did business with a company that’s incorporated in Delaware
• You changed your name, married, or divorced
• You moved and did not update your address with:
  • Banks
  • Utility companies
  • Employers
  • Insurance companies
• You had a relative who passed away who:
  • Lived in Delaware, or
  • Had accounts or insurance with Delaware-based or Delaware-incorporated companies

Even if you’ve never lived in Delaware, you might have unclaimed property there because many corporations are legally based in Delaware and send their unclaimed funds to the state.

How Property Becomes “Unclaimed” in Delaware

A typical path from active account to unclaimed property looks like this:

1. Inactivity period

   • An account is inactive or mail is returned.
   • No contact from the owner for a certain number of years (the “dormancy period”), often 1–5 years depending on the type of account.

2. Attempts to contact the owner

   • The business or institution usually must try to reach the owner by mail or other contact methods.
   • If they still cannot reach the owner, the account may be considered abandoned under state law.

3. Transfer to the state

   • The business turns the funds over to the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office.
   • The state records the owner name, last known address, and other details in its database.

4. Property is available to claim

   • The state holds the property indefinitely in trust for the rightful owner or heirs.
   • People can later search the official database and file a claim.

At-a-Glance: What the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office Handles

Who Can File a Claim With the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office?

The right to claim depends on who the property belongs to. Common types of claimants include:

1. Individual owner

You may file a claim if:

• Your name or former name appears on the unclaimed property record
• You are the same person as the listed owner, and you can prove it with:
  • Identification (such as a driver’s license)
  • Supporting documents (like a bank statement or pay stub)

2. Heir or beneficiary

You may be able to claim if:

• The original owner has died, and
• You are an heir, executor, or administrator of the estate, and
• You can provide:
  • A death certificate
  • Proof of your relationship or legal authority (for example, letters testamentary or court documents)

3. Business or organization

A business, nonprofit, or other organization can file a claim if:

• The property is listed under the company’s name
• The claimant is an authorized representative
• The company can provide:
  • Business formation documents
  • Proof of authority (like a corporate resolution or letter on company letterhead)
  • Tax ID (EIN) and other verification documents

What Documents Are Commonly Needed?

Exact requirements can vary by claim type and property amount, but Delaware’s office usually asks for:

For individual owners

• Government-issued photo ID

  • Driver’s license
  • State ID
  • Passport

• Proof of Social Security number (if required)

  • Social Security card
  • Tax form (with SSN visible)

• Proof of address or ownership, such as:

  • Utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Pay stub
  • Insurance policy
  • Old check stub that links you to the business

• Name change documents, if applicable:

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Court order for legal name change

For heirs or estates

In addition to the individual documents above, you may need:

• Death certificate for the deceased owner
• Will, probate order, or letters of administration/testamentary
  • Shows who has legal authority over the estate
• Affidavit of heirship, if allowed in place of formal probate for smaller estates
• Any estate tax ID or other court paperwork, if applicable

For businesses

• Business formation documents

  • Articles of incorporation or organization
  • Partnership agreement

• Proof of Federal EIN

• Photo ID for the person signing

• Proof of authority

  • Letter on company letterhead
  • Corporate resolution
  • Title showing you as officer or authorized agent

If you’re unsure what’s needed for your situation, the safest approach is to contact the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office directly through its official phone number or mailing address and ask what documents are required for your specific claim type.

How to Check for Delaware Unclaimed Property

To see if you have unclaimed property handled by Delaware:

1. Locate the official Delaware Unclaimed Property search

   • Use a search engine to look for:
     “Delaware unclaimed property official site” or “Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property”.
   • Make sure it’s a .gov website or clearly identified as an official State of Delaware site.

2. Search your information

   • Enter:
     • Your last name
     • Your first name
     • Past names if you changed your name
     • Business name, if you own or manage a business
   • Try multiple spellings or name variations.

3. Review the results

   • Look for:
     • Your name or old name
     • Old addresses or cities where you lived
     • Names of employers, utilities, or companies you remember using

4. Decide whether to file a claim

   • If you see property that looks like it belongs to you, the official website usually allows you to start the claim process online or print out a claim form.

Remember, you are not applying through HowToGetAssistance.org. You must use Delaware’s official online portal, official forms, mail, or phone lines.

How the Claim Process Typically Works in Delaware

While details can change, many Delaware unclaimed property claims follow a similar process:

Step 1: Initiate a claim

• Through the official Delaware portal or official forms:
  • Select the property you believe is yours.
  • Fill out the requested information (name, address, contact info, relationship to the owner, etc.).

Step 2: Submit supporting documents

• Upload or mail copies of your:
  • ID
  • Proof of Social Security number, if requested
  • Proof that ties you to the address or company on record
• For heirs/estates:
  • Send the death certificate and estate-related papers.

Step 3: Agency review

• The Delaware Unclaimed Property Office typically:
  • Reviews your claim
  • Checks whether your documents match their records
  • May ask for additional documentation if something is unclear

Step 4: Approval or denial

• If approved, the office:
  • Issues a payment, often by check, to the address you provide.
• If denied, you may receive:
  • An explanation (for example, insufficient proof of identity, conflicting information, or another person already claimed the funds).

Step 5: Follow-ups or corrections

If your claim is delayed or denied, you may be able to:

• Submit missing documents
• Correct errors (such as a misspelled name or incorrect address)
• Ask the office what additional proof is needed to move forward

For any questions on an existing claim, it’s best to use the official Delaware contact information provided on the state’s website or forms.

How Long Does It Take?

Processing times can vary based on:

• The volume of claims
• How complete your documentation is
• Whether the claim is simple (single owner, small amount) or complex (multiple heirs, business claims, large amounts)

In many cases:

• Straightforward claims can sometimes be resolved in a few weeks.
• More complicated cases (especially estates or large business claims) can take longer.

If you have concerns about timing, you can contact the Delaware Unclaimed Property Office directly and ask about typical processing times for your type of claim.

Common Reasons Claims Get Delayed or Denied

Delaware’s Unclaimed Property Office has to protect against fraud and mistakes, so it may deny or delay claims when information doesn’t line up. Common issues include:

• Missing documentation

  • No ID submitted
  • No proof linking you to the listed address or company

• Name mismatch

  • Different spelling
  • Missing middle name or initial
  • Name change not documented (for example, after marriage)

• Incomplete estate paperwork

  • No death certificate
  • No legal proof of authority for the person claiming on behalf of a deceased owner

• Wrong claimant

  • Someone claims property that belongs to a business they are not authorized to represent
  • An heir with no legal standing under state inheritance or probate rules attempts to claim alone

• Outdated or incorrect contact info

  • The office cannot reach you for clarification or additional documents

If your claim hits one of these issues, you may be able to resolve it by:

• Providing the missing documents
• Correcting personal information
• Updating your contact details with the office

How to Tell You’re Using the Official Delaware Channel (Scam-Avoidance Tips)

Unclaimed property is a common target for scams. To protect yourself:

• Look for a .gov site

  • The official Delaware Unclaimed Property portal should be on a state government domain.

• Be cautious of fees

  • Delaware’s official unclaimed property office typically does not charge you a fee to search or file a claim directly.
  • Some private “finders” or “locators” may offer help for a fee; using them is optional, not required.

• Never share full personal info over email with unknown senders

  • Avoid sending your Social Security number or ID images to anyone who contacted you unexpectedly.

• Verify “official” letters or calls

  • If you receive a letter or phone call about unclaimed property:
    • Look up the Delaware State government contact number on your own (not from the letter),
    • Call and ask if the outreach is authentic.

• Avoid pressure tactics

  • Be skeptical of anyone insisting you must pay immediately or lose the property forever.
  • Delaware typically holds unclaimed property indefinitely as custodian for the rightful owner.

If you are unsure, you can contact the official Delaware Unclaimed Property Office using the phone number or address listed on the State of Delaware’s main government site and ask whether a communication is legitimate.

What If You Don’t Qualify or Your Claim Is Denied?

If you believe the property is yours but your claim is denied, you can:

• Ask for clarification
  • Contact the office and ask for the specific reason for the denial.
• Provide additional proof
  • Submit more detailed documents showing:
    • Name changes
    • Address history
    • Relationship to the deceased owner
• Ask about any formal review or appeal process
  • Some claims may be reconsidered if you can provide stronger evidence.

If the office determines that you are not the rightful owner under state law, you generally cannot claim those funds, but you may still:

• Check for other unclaimed property records under your name or past addresses.
• Search other states where you have lived or done business, using each state’s official unclaimed property portal.

Other Resources If You Need Help

While HowToGetAssistance.org cannot file claims or check status for you, there are resources that may help you navigate the process:

• Delaware Unclaimed Property Office

  • Best source for:
    • Claim requirements
    • Status questions
    • Documentation guidance

• 211 helpline (in many areas)

  • Can often direct you to:
    • Local legal aid
    • Community organizations
    • Senior assistance resources that can help explain paperwork

• Legal aid or estate-planning attorneys

  • May be helpful in complex estate or heirship situations.

Whenever you are dealing with unclaimed property, the safest and most accurate information will come directly from the official state agency that holds the funds. Use their website, mail address, or phone lines to move your claim forward.