Unclaimed Utility Deposits and Escrow Funds in Utah: Step‑by‑Step Guide to Claiming What You’re Owed

Many Utah residents move, switch service providers, or pay off home loans without realizing they may have money left behind in the form of unclaimed utility deposits or mortgage escrow funds. Over time, those balances may be turned over to the State of Utah as unclaimed property.

This guide explains, in plain English, how unclaimed deposits and escrow funds usually work in Utah, how to check if money is owed to you, and what to expect when you try to claim it through official state channels.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only. It is not a government agency, does not hold any unclaimed funds, and cannot process claims. You must work with the official Utah unclaimed property office, your utility company, or your mortgage servicer to actually claim money.

Understanding Unclaimed Utility Deposits and Escrow Funds in Utah

What are unclaimed utility deposits?

When you start service with a utility provider (such as electric, gas, water, or some telecom services), you may be charged a security deposit. This often happens when:

• You have limited or no credit history
• You have a past-due balance with a utility
• The provider’s policies require deposits for certain accounts

That deposit may later be:

• Refunded to you after a set period of on-time payments
• Credited to your bill
• Refunded when you close or transfer the account

If the utility provider can’t reach you (for example, you moved and didn’t update your mailing address), the unrefunded deposit may be considered unclaimed property and eventually turned over to the State of Utah.

Common utility deposit types in Utah:

• Electric and gas deposits
• Municipal water/sewer deposits
• Some internet or phone deposits (depending on the provider)

What are unclaimed escrow funds?

If you have (or had) a mortgage on a home in Utah, your mortgage servicer may collect extra money each month in an escrow account to pay:

• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Mortgage insurance (if required)

When the loan is:

• Paid off
• Refinanced
• Transferred to a new servicer
• Or if there is an overage in the escrow account

…the servicer is typically required to send you any extra funds.

If the refund check is never cashed, is returned as undeliverable, or the servicer can’t locate you, those unclaimed escrow funds may also be turned over to the Utah unclaimed property program.

Who Typically Has Unclaimed Utility or Escrow Funds?

You might have unclaimed money if you:

• Moved frequently within Utah or out of state
• Closed a utility account years ago and never received the final bill or refund
• Paid a mortgage in full or refinanced and don’t remember receiving an escrow refund
• Changed your name (for example, due to marriage or divorce)
• Handled a deceased relative’s estate and suspect they had property, utilities, or a home loan in Utah

Situations where money often goes unclaimed include:

• Final bills mailed to an old address
• Refund checks that were never cashed
• Name changes that make it hard to match records
• Small deposit amounts people overlook

If any of this sounds familiar, it is worth checking Utah’s official unclaimed property search tool or contacting the Utah State Treasurer’s unclaimed property division.

How Unclaimed Property Usually Works in Utah

Utah has laws that require companies (called “holders” of property) to turn over certain types of inactive or abandoned accounts to the state after a dormancy period. This generally covers:

• Utility deposits and credits
• Refund checks that were not cashed
• Escrow overages and mortgage refunds
• Bank accounts, paychecks, insurance proceeds, and more

Typical process (simplified):

1. No activity on the account for a period of time (often 1–5 years, depending on the type of property).
2. The company tries to contact you at your last known address.
3. If they cannot reach you, they must turn the money over to the State of Utah as unclaimed property.
4. The State holds the funds and keeps a record under your name and last known address.
5. You (or your heirs) can file a claim with Utah’s official unclaimed property office to get it back.

HowToGetAssistance.org does not handle this process. To claim money, you work directly with state officials using their official tools and forms.

Step-by-Step: How to Check for Unclaimed Utility Deposits and Escrow Funds in Utah

Step 1: Gather basic information

Before you search, it helps to have:

• Full legal name (and any prior names, such as a maiden name)
• Current and past Utah addresses (including cities and ZIP codes, if possible)
• Name of utility providers you’ve used (power, gas, water, etc.)
• Mortgage company or servicer names (current and past)
• For deceased relatives:
  • Their full legal name
  • Known addresses in Utah
  • Approximate dates they lived at each address

This information can make it easier to recognize which results belong to you when you search.

Step 2: Use Utah’s official unclaimed property search

Utah maintains an official unclaimed property website where residents can:

• Search by name and sometimes by business name
• View basic descriptions of unclaimed funds (for example, “utility deposit,” “escrow refund,” or “credit balance”)
• Start a claim request on qualifying records

To find the correct site:

• Search online for phrases like:
  • “Utah unclaimed property State Treasurer”
  • “Utah unclaimed funds official site”
• Confirm you are on an official state government site (look for “.gov” in the web address and references to Utah state agencies like the Utah State Treasurer).

You can also call the Utah State Treasurer’s office or the unclaimed property division using phone numbers listed on the official state website and ask how to search for unclaimed property.

Step 3: Review your search results carefully

When you search, you may see:

• Your name (or a variation of it)
• A last known address or city
• A holder name (for example, a utility company, mortgage servicer, or bank)
• A general description, such as:
  • Utility deposit
  • Escrow overage
  • Refund check
  • Credit balance

Look for entries that match:

• Past utility companies or mortgage servicers
• Cities or addresses where you lived
• The names of deceased relatives if you are handling their estate

If you’re unsure whether a record is yours, you can usually:

• Start a claim and let the state review documentation, or
• Call the unclaimed property office for guidance on how to identify the right record.

How to Claim Unclaimed Utility Deposits or Escrow Funds in Utah

The exact steps can vary based on the type of property, the amount, and whether the claimant is:

• The owner themselves
• A surviving spouse or heir
• A legal representative (such as an executor)

The following outline describes what many Utah residents experience when claiming unclaimed funds.

1. Start a claim through the official Utah unclaimed property system

Once you find a likely match:

• Select the record
• Provide basic information the system requests, such as:
  • Your current address
  • Your contact information
  • Your relationship to the property (owner, heir, etc.)

At this point, you are typically creating a claim. You are not receiving money immediately; the state still needs to verify your identity and ownership.

For some older or more complex cases (especially for estates), you may need to submit a paper claim form that you download, print, and mail to the state’s unclaimed property office.

2. Gather the required documents

Utah’s unclaimed property office will usually tell you exactly what to provide once a claim is started. However, many claims involve these types of documents:

Common documents for individuals (utility or escrow refunds)

• Government-issued photo ID
  • Utah driver’s license
  • State ID card
  • Passport
• Proof of Social Security number (sometimes requested)
  • Social Security card
  • Tax document or W-2 (with full or partial SSN)
• Proof of current address
  • Utility bill
  • Lease or mortgage statement
  • Bank statement
• Proof of connection to the address or account shown in the unclaimed record (if needed)
  • Old utility bills
  • Mortgage statements
  • Lease agreements
  • Closing documents from a home sale or refinance

If you’re claiming on behalf of a deceased person

You may need:

• Death certificate
• Obituary (sometimes used as supporting documentation)
• Proof of your legal authority or relationship, such as:
  • Letters testamentary / letters of administration
  • Court appointment as executor or personal representative
  • Will or trust documents
  • Marriage certificate (if you are a surviving spouse)

The state will specify exactly which documents are required for heir or estate claims.

3. Submit your documentation

Documentation is usually sent:

• Online (uploaded to the official unclaimed property portal), or
• By mail to the address given by the Utah unclaimed property division, if they require paper copies or certified documents.

Follow the instructions carefully:

• Send clear copies (not blurry photos)
• Include all pages requested
• If they ask for certified copies (commonly for probate or death certificates), use official copies from the issuing office

Keep copies of everything you send for your records.

4. Wait for the review and decision

Once your claim and documents are received:

• Staff at the Utah unclaimed property office will review your claim.
• They may contact you if they need more information or clarification.
• Processing time varies, depending on:
  • The complexity of the claim
  • Whether more documents are needed
  • The current volume of claims

If your claim is approved, the state will typically issue a check payable to:

• You personally, if you are the verified owner, or
• The estate, trust, or entity, if that is who legally owns the funds.

If your claim is denied or partially approved, you should receive a notice explaining the reason and any possible next steps.

Typical Documents and Where to Use Them (Quick Reference)

Always confirm with the Utah unclaimed property office which documents are required for your specific claim, as requirements can change.

Common Issues That Delay or Block Claims

People in Utah often run into similar problems when claiming unclaimed utility deposits or escrow funds:

• Name doesn’t match exactly

  • Example: Record under “Jennifer Smith,” ID under “Jennifer Johnson” (after marriage).
  • Solution: Provide name change documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order).

• Missing proof of old address

  • Utility or mortgage records are from many years ago.
  • Solution: Search your own records, contact the former utility or mortgage company, or provide alternative official documents showing you lived at that address (old tax returns, bank statements, leases, etc.), if accepted.

• Incomplete estate documents

  • Claiming for a deceased relative without proof you are the legal representative or heir.
  • Solution: Obtain necessary probate or estate documents from the court, or other documents the state accepts for small estates.

• Unread or missing mail from the state

  • Letters about missing documents or denied claims are sent but never received.
  • Solution: Periodically check your claim status through the official portal or call the unclaimed property office if you haven’t heard back in a reasonable time.

If your claim is denied, you can typically:

• Ask for clarification on what was missing or not accepted
• Provide additional or corrected documentation
• In certain cases, follow any appeal or review process outlined by the Utah unclaimed property office

Can You Go Directly to the Utility Company or Mortgage Servicer?

Sometimes you may be able to resolve unclaimed deposits before they get sent to the state, especially if:

• You recently closed the account
• The refund check is still considered “stale” but the company hasn’t yet transferred it to the state

When to contact the utility company or mortgage servicer

Consider contacting the company’s customer service or billing department if:

• You closed an account within the last year and believe a deposit refund or escrow overage is missing.
• You received a check you never cashed and want to confirm whether they can reissue it.
• You’re unsure whether the money was already sent to Utah as unclaimed property.

Ask questions like:

• “Do you show any credit balance or deposit remaining on my old account?”
• “Did you issue a refund check? If so, when, and to what address?”
• “Has any unclaimed amount been turned over to the State of Utah as unclaimed property?”

If they confirm the funds were already sent to the state, you will need to go through the Utah unclaimed property process described above.

How to Verify You’re Using an Official Utah Channel (Avoiding Scams)

Because unclaimed property involves money, there are often scams and misleading services that claim they can “get your money for you” for a fee.

To protect yourself:

• Look for .gov in the website address when using Utah’s official unclaimed property portal.
• Confirm the site or phone number is listed on Utah state government pages, such as those for the Utah State Treasurer.
• Be cautious if someone:
  • Demands upfront payment to “help you claim” your funds
  • Asks for sensitive information via email or text (like full Social Security number or bank account numbers) without clearly identifying an official Utah agency
  • Pressures you with “limited time” offers

Some people do hire “heir finders” or “asset locators” who charge a fee to help locate and claim funds. Whether you choose to use such a service is up to you, but it is often possible to complete the process yourself at no cost by working directly with the Utah unclaimed property office.

If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a website or contact:

• Call the Utah State Treasurer’s office or the unclaimed property division using a number you find through the state’s main government site, not from an unsolicited call, email, or ad.
• You may also contact Utah’s consumer protection office or the Attorney General’s office to ask about potential scams.

What If You Don’t Find Anything in Utah?

If your search in Utah turns up no results, consider:

• Searching under former names (maiden names, nicknames, name variations).
• Searching for business names if you ran a small business or rental property.
• Searching in other states where you lived or held accounts, using each state’s official unclaimed property program.

If you still don’t find anything, there may simply be no unclaimed utility deposits or escrow funds in your name at this time. You can always check again in the future, especially if you recently:

• Moved
• Closed accounts
• Paid off a mortgage or refinanced

Other Resources That May Help Utah Residents

If you’re working on financial issues in general while searching for unclaimed funds, you might also:

• Dial 211 to reach Utah’s community resource referral line for help finding housing, utility assistance, food aid, and more.
• Contact your local utility provider about current bill assistance programs or deposit waivers, if you’re struggling with payments now.
• Speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor if you have questions about mortgages, escrow accounts, or foreclosure prevention.

These resources are separate from unclaimed property, but they can be helpful if you’re trying to stabilize your finances while tracking down money that might be owed to you.

By using Utah’s official unclaimed property tools, keeping your documentation organized, and responding promptly to any requests from the state, many people are able to successfully claim unclaimed utility deposits and escrow funds that they didn’t even realize were waiting for them.