Nantucket County Unclaimed Money Lookup

How to Search Unclaimed Money in Nantucket County

Go to FindMassMoney.gov and enter your name. No account needed. The search is free. Results show all property the state currently holds in your name, including the original source and the last known address on file.

Nantucket has a mix of year-round residents and people who have spent time on the island over the years, often under mainland addresses as well. If you have lived or owned property both on Nantucket and off-island, try searching under all the addresses you've used. Property is matched to owners by name and last known address, so accounts tied to a Boston or Cape Cod address won't appear under a Nantucket search. Try former last names, maiden names, and any business names you may have used.

After checking the state site, run a follow-up at MissingMoney.com. That national database pulls from unclaimed property programs across all states, so it can catch funds from states you've lived in that won't appear on FindMassMoney.gov. The Mass.gov guide to unclaimed property also walks through the process in plain terms if you want more context before you search.

About one in ten Massachusetts residents has unclaimed property sitting in the state database. The average claim is worth between $1,250 and $2,080. It takes just a few minutes to search. It's free.

Nantucket County Registry of Deeds

The Nantucket County Registry of Deeds is at 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Phone: 508-228-7250. Research hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Recording hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:45 PM. The main registry page is at nantucket-ma.gov/234/Registry-of-Deeds.

Online deed records for Nantucket County are searchable through MassLandRecords.com/Nantucket. The online system covers Recorded Land from January 2, 1967 to present; Plans from January 4, 1974 to present; Registered Land from January 1, 1958 to present; and Registered Land Plans from July 26, 1899 to present.

There is an important note for anyone doing online research: Nantucket has both Recorded Land and Registered Land (also called Land Court). The online search system defaults to Recorded Land. If you search for a property and don't find it, switch to the "Registered Land (Land Court) - Name Search" option before concluding the record doesn't exist. Also note that the registry website uses pop-up windows, so you'll need to turn off your pop-up blocker before searching.

The registry's historical collection is extensive. Grantor deed indexes start from 1657 and grantee indexes from 1659, making Nantucket's records among the oldest in Massachusetts. The county was formed in 1695. Deeds in the historical collection run from 1659 to 1866. Additional records include proprietors' accounts from 1815 to 1860 and proprietors' minutes from 1716 to 1843.

For mail requests, include the book/page number or Registered Land document number with your request. Make your check out to "Nantucket Registry of Deeds" at $1.00 per page. Call 508-228-7250 first to confirm the page count before sending payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Copy fees for other delivery methods: fax to an on-island number costs $3.00 plus $1.00 per page; fax to an in-state off-island number costs $5.00 plus $1.00 per page; and fax out of state costs $10.00 plus $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus an additional certification fee.

The image below shows the Nantucket County Registry of Deeds, which handles land records for all property on Nantucket Island:

The registry page at nantucket-ma.gov has full details on hours, fees, and how to submit requests for recorded documents.

How to File a Claim

Once you find a match at FindMassMoney.gov, you file your claim right on that same site. The how-to-complete page walks through each step. You submit your claim and upload supporting documents through the online portal. There is no local Nantucket County office that handles unclaimed money claims, everything goes through the state office in Boston.

For a claim in your own name, you'll need a government-issued photo ID and something that verifies your Social Security number. For a claim tied to a deceased family member, you'll need a death certificate and documentation that shows your legal authority over the estate, such as letters of administration or a probate order. The claim FAQ at FindMassMoney.gov covers the most common questions about required documents and how long the review process takes.

The state office is at One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. Phone: (617) 367-0400. Toll-free: 888-344-MASS (6277). Office hours are weekdays from 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM. Standard processing takes up to 180 days, though about a third of all claims are auto-approved and resolved more quickly.

Under M.G.L. Chapter 200A, Section 13, finder services that help you claim are capped in the fees they can charge. Filing on your own through FindMassMoney.gov is always free.

Types of Unclaimed Property in Nantucket County

Nantucket's mix of full-time residents, seasonal property owners, and people who have moved on and off island over the years creates a range of unclaimed property types that can appear in the state database. Dormant bank accounts are the most common source statewide. In Nantucket, those accounts often reflect a pattern of people who banked on-island for a time and then moved without closing accounts or updating their addresses.

Life insurance proceeds are a significant and frequently overlooked category. Older policies, especially those set up decades ago through local or off-island agents, go unpaid when beneficiaries don't know a policy exists or can't track down the insurer. Utility and service deposits left behind after departing the island are another source. Brokerage accounts and uncashed dividend checks also show up regularly when investors change addresses and don't keep their investment records current.

• Dormant bank accounts and certificates of deposit
• Life insurance proceeds and annuity balances
• Uncashed refund checks from utilities or businesses
• Brokerage accounts and investment dividends
• Safe deposit box contents
• Overpaid fees and government refunds

The general FAQ at FindMassMoney.gov provides a complete list of property types included in the state program. For physical items, such as contents from a bank safe deposit box, the tangible property page explains the separate process for those claims.

Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Law

All unclaimed property in Massachusetts, including funds tied to Nantucket County residents, is governed by M.G.L. Chapter 200A. The law sets out when property is considered abandoned, how holders must report it, and how owners can file to recover it.

Under Section 3, most financial accounts and uncashed checks are presumed abandoned after three years of no activity or owner contact. The dormancy period starts from the date of the last transaction the owner initiated. Section 7 requires banks, insurance companies, and other holders to report and remit abandoned property to the state Treasurer, and to send notice to the owner's last known address before doing so.

Municipal funds held by the Town of Nantucket, including unapplied tax refunds or overpaid fees, are reported under Section 9A. The state does not impose any deadline on claims, property is held permanently until a valid claim is filed and approved.

Contact and Resources for Nantucket County

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

For deed and land records in Nantucket County, contact the Registry of Deeds at 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Phone: 508-228-7250. Research hours are weekdays, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Online records are at MassLandRecords.com/Nantucket. All unclaimed money searches start at FindMassMoney.gov.

Nantucket County Towns

Nantucket County consists of the Town of Nantucket and several surrounding smaller islands. There is no separate city or town page for Nantucket on this site. All residents should search directly at FindMassMoney.gov to look up any funds held in their name by the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division.

Nearby Counties

Nantucket is an island county, but if you have financial ties elsewhere in Massachusetts, it's worth searching those counties as well.