Search Louisiana Unclaimed Money

Louisiana holds more than one billion dollars in unclaimed money and unclaimed property right now. The state Department of the Treasury manages all of these unclaimed funds through its Unclaimed Property Division. About one in six Louisiana residents has unclaimed money sitting in state accounts. You can search the official database by name at no cost. The search takes just a few minutes and covers all 64 parishes. If you find a match, you can file your claim online and track its progress. Most people do not know they have unclaimed money in Louisiana until they run a simple search.

What Is Unclaimed Money in Louisiana

Unclaimed money is made up of financial assets that go dormant. Banks, insurance firms, utility companies, and other holders send these funds to the Louisiana Department of the Treasury after a set period of no activity. The official term used by the state is "unclaimed property." It covers a wide range of assets, and the Louisiana Unclaimed Property portal lets you search all of them in one place.

Common types of unclaimed money in Louisiana include old checking and savings accounts, uncashed payroll checks, forgotten utility deposits, stock dividends, and life insurance payouts. Safe deposit box contents can also end up as unclaimed property. Real estate and vehicles do not count as unclaimed property under Louisiana law. The state holds these funds under LSA-R.S. 9:151-182, the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, until the rightful owner or heir comes forward to claim them.

The Louisiana Treasury has returned more than $878 million in unclaimed money to date. In one record year, the state sent back $70.6 million to over 160,000 residents. The average unclaimed money check in Louisiana is $900.

How to Search for Unclaimed Money in Louisiana

Searching for unclaimed money in Louisiana is free. You never have to pay a fee to search or to file a claim. The state property search page is the main tool for finding unclaimed funds. It is run by the Department of the Treasury and covers all parishes statewide.

To search, enter a name in the name field. No specific order is needed. You can type last name first, first name first, or a business name. To narrow results, add a city or ZIP code. The search results show a table with the owner name, co-owner, property ID, address, city, state, ZIP code, amount, and property type. You can search as many names as you want. Try old names, maiden names, and past addresses to catch everything.

You can also search for unclaimed money tied to tax refunds. The Louisiana Department of Revenue maintains a separate database for unclaimed tax refunds that were never cashed or delivered.

How to Claim Louisiana Unclaimed Money

Filing a claim for unclaimed money in Louisiana is a straightforward process. The state walks you through it step by step on the official site. You do not need a lawyer or a paid service to claim your money.

The official steps are simple. First, go to the property search page and type your name. Then select the properties you want to claim. Click "Continue To File Claim" and fill out your personal details. You will need to pick your relationship to each property. The form asks for your full name, date of birth, email, phone number, Social Security number, and mailing address. After you submit, the state reviews your claim. You can check your claim status online at any time using your claim ID.

You may need to provide documents to prove ownership. A copy of your photo ID is the most common requirement. For claims tied to a deceased relative, you may also need a death certificate and proof that you are the executor or rightful heir. Processing takes up to 90 days once the Treasury has all your paperwork. There is no deadline to file. Claims on Louisiana unclaimed money never expire, as stated under LSA-R.S. 9:151-182.

Note: The state of Louisiana will never charge you a fee to return your unclaimed money.

Louisiana Unclaimed Money FAQs

The Louisiana Treasury answers many common questions about unclaimed money on their official FAQ page. Here are some key points that come up often.

There is no time limit to claim your property. The state holds unclaimed money forever. You just need to show proof that you are the rightful owner. You never have to pay a fee to file a claim. Any website or person asking for an upfront payment or "processing fee" should raise a red flag. The Louisiana Department of the Treasury will not ask for money to return what is already yours.

The average claim amount in Louisiana is $900. Some claims are much larger. Types of unclaimed property include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, stock dividends, and utility deposit refunds. The funds come from corporations, banks, insurance companies, and other institutions that reported dormant accounts to the state.

Louisiana Unclaimed Property Data Match

Since 2018, the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and the Department of Revenue have run a yearly data match program. This was made possible by Act 339 of the 2018 Regular Session, which lets Revenue share updated address data with the Treasury. The program finds current addresses for people with unclaimed money and sends checks directly to them without any claim needed.

The data match program increased checks issued by nearly 500% and cut administrative costs by 80%. If your address is on file with the Department of Revenue and you have unclaimed property, you may get a check in the mail without ever filing a claim. This is one reason Louisiana has returned so much unclaimed money in recent years. Still, not everyone is caught by the data match. A manual search on the unclaimed property portal is the best way to make sure nothing is missed.

Parish Clerk Records and Unclaimed Money

Louisiana's 64 parishes each have a Clerk of Court who serves as the official record keeper. While unclaimed money claims go through the state Treasury, parish clerks maintain related public records that can help you track down unclaimed funds. Court records, property filings, and succession documents at the parish level sometimes reveal assets that were never claimed.

Two statewide portals give you access to parish clerk records from home. The eClerks LA portal offers free searches across all 64 parishes for land records, marriage licenses, and civil information. You can also sign up for eClerks Alert, a free fraud monitoring service that watches for documents filed in your name. The Clerk Connect portal provides subscription-based access to civil, criminal, and property records for participating parishes including East Baton Rouge, Caddo, Bossier, and several others.

All Louisiana Clerk of Court offices are self-supporting. They run entirely on fees collected for services. No tax money funds their operations. The Louisiana Legislature sets the fee schedules for each office. Staff are trained professionals, though they cannot give legal advice. If you need legal help related to unclaimed money or estate matters, contact an attorney or call the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association for guidance.

Contact Louisiana Unclaimed Money Division

The Unclaimed Property Division handles all claims statewide. You can reach them by phone or mail.

You can also speed up your claim by mailing a legible copy of your driver's license along with any paperwork that proves you own the property. Send it to the mailing address above with your claim ID. The claim submission page has full details on what documents to include.

Browse Louisiana Unclaimed Money by Parish

Each parish in Louisiana has its own Clerk of Court who keeps public records. Pick a parish below to find local resources and contact information for that area.

View All 64 Parishes

Unclaimed Money in Major Louisiana Cities

Residents of major cities search for unclaimed money through the state Treasury. Pick a city below to learn about unclaimed funds in that area.

View Major Louisiana Cities