Search Boston Unclaimed Money
Boston residents can search for unclaimed money held by the state through the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division, which holds over $3 billion in funds from dormant bank accounts, forgotten refunds, uncashed checks, and other abandoned property across the state. The search is free and takes just a few minutes to run your name or a business name.
Boston Overview
How to Search Unclaimed Money in Boston
The main tool for finding unclaimed money in Boston and across Massachusetts is FindMassMoney.gov, run by the state Treasury. You can search by your full name, a business name, or a prior name. Try every variation you can think of, including maiden names, middle names, and old addresses. Many people are surprised to find claims they did not know existed.
The search page at FindMassMoney.gov/app/claim-search lets you filter results and view details on each record. You can see the type of property, the amount if known, and the original holder. The state also lists tips on how to search if you want to improve your results before you file.
Massachusetts holds roughly 1 in 10 residents has unclaimed funds on file. The average claim runs between $1,250 and $2,080. About one-third of claims are approved automatically without extra documentation.
The state Treasury website provides a screenshot of the main search portal. Visit FindMassMoney.gov to start your search.
The portal is simple to use. Enter your name and hit search. Results appear right away.
Boston City Treasury Department
The Boston City Treasury Department handles all city funds, pays city warrants, issues bonds, manages trust funds, and handles investor relations for the city. They are not the same as the state unclaimed property program, but they do handle city-level financial obligations that can sometimes result in unclaimed refunds or overpayments owed to Boston residents or former residents.
You can reach the Boston City Treasury at 617-635-4140 for general questions, 617-635-4151 for accounts payable and payroll matters, or 617-635-4488 for accounts receivable. If you believe the city owes you a refund or an overpayment, contact the treasury directly.
The Boston Treasury Department manages city finances including all warrants and bond payments.
City-level funds and refunds flow through this office. Contact them if you have a specific claim against city payments.
Boston City Clerk Records
The Boston City Clerk is located at 1 City Hall Square, Room 601, Boston, MA 02201. Phone: 617-635-4600. The clerk's office holds vital records including birth, death, and marriage certificates. They also maintain business certificates (DBA filings), City Council records, and ordinances.
Business certificates are worth checking if you are trying to trace a former business or verify ownership of an old DBA name. The DBA database search tool lets you look up by business name, file number, issue date, business address, neighborhood, zip code, or owner name. This can help you connect old business activity to potential unclaimed funds tied to that name.
Boston also maintains a City Archives at 201 Rivermoor St, West Roxbury, MA 02132. The archives hold City Council minutes, business certificates from 1907 to 2016, city census records from 1820 to 1855, assignments for benefit of creditors from 1897 to 1995, and assignments of wages from 1857 to 2005. These older records can be useful when tracing property going back many decades. Visit archives.boston.gov for more detail.
The Boston City Clerk office handles public records and business certificate filings.
Vital records and DBA filings kept here may help you trace old accounts or ownership ties to unclaimed property.
The Boston DBA search tool allows multiple search fields to find business certificate records quickly.
Use this tool to find old DBA filings that might be linked to unclaimed accounts or dormant business funds.
Boston Assessing Department and Property Records
The Boston Assessing Department provides a property lookup tool at boston.gov/departments/assessing/property-lookup. Property record cards cost $5 per parcel, but if you are requesting a card for your own property, it is free. Property ownership data can help you verify who held a parcel and connect ownership to any unclaimed funds tied to that address.
The Suffolk County Registry of Deeds at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114 holds recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents for all property in Suffolk County. Their online records are accessible at masslandrecords.com/suffolk. Registry records help trace ownership chains, locate past property transactions, and find old liens that may relate to unclaimed escrow or insurance funds.
How to File a Claim
Once you find a match on FindMassMoney.gov, the next step is to file a claim online. The state walks you through the steps at findmassmoney.gov/app/claim/how-to-complete. You will need to confirm your identity with documentation such as a government-issued photo ID and proof of your address. If you are claiming for a deceased relative, additional documents like a death certificate and proof of your relationship are required.
About one-third of claims get approved automatically. The rest go through a manual review. The state targets a processing time of about 180 days, though simple claims often move faster. Approved funds are paid by check or direct deposit.
You can check the FAQ on claiming for answers to common questions. The general FAQ covers how the program works, what counts as abandoned property, and how long the state holds funds before paying them out.
Types of Unclaimed Property in Boston
Unclaimed money in Boston comes from many sources. Bank accounts that sit idle for three or more years get turned over to the state. Insurance policy proceeds, refunds from utilities, dividends from stocks, and security deposits are all common types. Wages and payroll checks that go uncashed are another source, as are court settlements, estate distributions, and contents of safe deposit boxes.
Tangible property can also be held by the state. Safe deposit box contents transferred from banks are listed at findmassmoney.gov/app/tangible-property. This includes things like jewelry, documents, and other items turned over when a box is abandoned.
You can also search the national database at missingmoney.com, which pulls records from multiple states. This is useful if you have lived in other states or have accounts elsewhere. The Massachusetts program works under M.G.L. Chapter 200A, which sets the rules for when property is deemed abandoned and how claims are handled.
Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Law
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 200A is the core law governing unclaimed property in the state. Section 3 covers bank deposits and related accounts. Section 5 addresses insurance property. Section 7A covers miscellaneous property types.
Under the law, holders such as banks, insurance companies, and utilities must attempt to contact the owner before turning property over to the state. They send notices and wait out the dormancy period. After the property is turned over, the state holds it indefinitely. There is no deadline to file a claim. You can search and claim at any time, even years after the property was turned over.
The Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division is located at One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 367-0400. Toll-free: 888-344-MASS (6277). You can also get help through the Mass.gov how-to guide or the Division's main page.
Suffolk County Unclaimed Money
Boston is in Suffolk County. The county page has local Registry of Deeds information and more resources for your area.
Nearby Cities in Massachusetts
These cities are near Boston. Each has its own unclaimed money resources page.