Access Dukes County Unclaimed Money

How to Search Unclaimed Money in Dukes County

Start at FindMassMoney.gov. Type in your name. The search is free and no account is needed. The results show all property the state holds in your name, the original holder, and the last address on file.

Because Dukes County is an island community, many residents have ties to both the Vineyard and the mainland. If you've lived off-island at any point, try searching under those addresses too. Property is matched by name and last known address, so a bank account tied to a mainland address won't come up the same way as one tied to an Edgartown address. People who owned businesses or seasonal properties on Martha's Vineyard under different names or entities should check each one.

Also run a search at MissingMoney.com. That national database covers unclaimed funds from all states, not just Massachusetts. If you spent time off-island and had financial accounts elsewhere, that's where those funds would show up. The Mass.gov unclaimed property guide provides a plain summary of how the process works from start to finish.

About one in ten Massachusetts residents has unclaimed property in the state system. Average claim values run between $1,250 and $2,080. A search takes only a few minutes.

Dukes County Registry of Deeds

The Dukes County Registry of Deeds is located at the County Courthouse, 81 Main Street, PO Box 5231, Edgartown, MA 02539. The phone number is 508-627-4025. Fax: 508-627-7821. Email: registry@dukescounty.org. Register Paulo C. DeOliveira oversees the office. The registry covers all seven towns on Martha's Vineyard: Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head), Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury.

The Dukes County Registry holds land records going back to 1641, which is one of the oldest property record collections in Massachusetts. All documents have been scanned and are available through the online search at MassLandRecords.com. The registry uses both book/page and document/certificate numbering systems, and every document can be found using the name of any party to the transaction. The main registry site is at massrods.com/dukes.

If you need a copy of a recorded document and cannot visit in person, you can submit a mail request. Include the book/page or document number with your request. Make your check payable to "Dukes County Registry of Deeds." Copies cost $1.00 per page. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse during regular office hours for in-person research.

One thing worth knowing: all leases of 30 years or more require Land Bank approval before the registry can record them. The Land Bank office can be reached at 508-228-7240. Fees collected by the registry go directly into the county and state treasuries, not to the registry itself.

The image below is from the state's primary search portal at FindMassMoney.gov, which Dukes County residents use to look up and claim funds held by the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division:

Searching via this portal is free and is the official way for any Massachusetts resident, including those on Martha's Vineyard, to search for and claim unclaimed property.

How to File a Claim in Dukes County

After finding a match at FindMassMoney.gov, you file a claim directly through the same site. The how-to-complete guide walks through each step. Upload your documents and submit the claim online. There is no local Dukes County office for this, all claims go through the state office in Boston.

For a basic claim in your own name, you'll need a government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. Estate claims, meaning property you are claiming on behalf of someone who has died, require a death certificate and documentation showing your legal authority over the estate. The claim FAQ at FindMassMoney.gov covers the most frequent questions about documents and processing times.

The state office is at One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 367-0400. Toll-free: 888-344-MASS (6277). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM. The standard review takes up to 180 days, though about a third of claims are auto-approved and move through more quickly.

If a third-party finder contacts you about unclaimed money in your name, know that M.G.L. Chapter 200A, Section 13 caps the fees they can charge. You can always file on your own for free.

Types of Unclaimed Property in Dukes County

Martha's Vineyard has a unique mix of year-round residents and seasonal property owners, which affects the types of unclaimed property that turn up in the state system. Dormant bank accounts are the most common source statewide, and that holds true for Dukes County as well. Accounts that go three or more years without any owner activity are reported to the state and added to the database.

Dukes County's seasonal property patterns mean that some unclaimed funds are tied to rental transactions, refunds, or deposits that were never returned. Insurance proceeds are another frequent category, life insurance payouts go unclaimed when beneficiaries lose track of a policy or don't know one exists. Safe deposit box contents from banks that served island communities can also end up in the state system after years of inactivity.

• Dormant savings, checking, and money market accounts
• Life insurance proceeds and annuity balances
• Uncashed refund or settlement checks
• Brokerage accounts and stock dividends
• Safe deposit box contents
• Overpaid taxes and government refunds

The general FAQ at FindMassMoney.gov lists all the types of property included in the state program. For physical items such as safe deposit box contents, the tangible property page explains how those are handled separately from cash and financial claims.

Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Law

All unclaimed property in Massachusetts, including funds belonging to Dukes County residents, is governed by M.G.L. Chapter 200A. The law covers the full lifecycle of unclaimed property, from when it is classified as abandoned to how it is returned to rightful owners.

Under Section 3, most financial accounts are presumed abandoned after three years of no activity or owner contact. Section 7 requires the holders, banks, insurers, and other businesses, to report and remit that property to the state Treasurer. Holders must also make a good-faith effort to notify the owner at their last known address before reporting the property to the state.

Towns in Dukes County that hold unapplied tax refunds or unpaid municipal balances report those under Section 9A. The state holds all property permanently, there is no point at which unclaimed funds become unavailable to the original owner or their heirs.

Contact and Resources for Dukes County

The Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division handles all Dukes County claims. Office: One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 367-0400. Toll-free: 888-344-MASS (6277). Weekdays, 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM.

For deed and land records in Dukes County, contact the Registry of Deeds at 81 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539. Phone: 508-627-4025. Email: registry@dukescounty.org. Online records are at MassLandRecords.com. To search for unclaimed funds, go to FindMassMoney.gov.

Dukes County Towns

Dukes County covers seven towns on Martha's Vineyard: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury. None of these towns currently have a dedicated unclaimed money page. All residents should search at FindMassMoney.gov to check for any funds held in their name by the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division.

Nearby Counties

Dukes County is an island county, but if you have financial ties to other parts of Massachusetts, it's worth searching those counties as well.