New Jersey
Statutory term: Unclaimed Property
Overview
Search for Unclaimed Property
This program provides a public search portal where you can look up unclaimed property.
Search Now →Key Statistics
Dormancy Periods
The dormancy period is how long property must be inactive before it is considered unclaimed and reported to the state.
| Property Type | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Checking accounts | 3 | Demand deposits |
| Savings accounts | 3 | Savings deposits |
| Wages/payroll | 1 | Uncashed payroll checks |
| Accounts payable | 3 | General intangible property; 3 years after becoming payable or distributable |
| Insurance proceeds | 3 | Life insurance benefits |
| Securities (cash) | 3 | Cash distributions from securities |
| Securities (shares) | 3 | Stock certificates and equity interests |
| Dividends | 3 | Unclaimed dividend payments |
| Safe deposit boxes | 5 | Contents delivered to administrator 120 days after report filing |
| Utility deposits | 1 | Utility company deposits and refunds |
| Customer refunds | 5 | Credit balances |
| Gift cards (with expiration) | 5 | Certain stored-value cards without expiration may be exempt |
| Money orders | 7 | |
| Traveler's checks | 15 |
New Jersey's unclaimed property law is based on the 1981 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (N.J.S.A. 46:30B), though the '1981' reference was formally removed in 2002. The general default dormancy is 3 years for most intangible property. New Jersey holds over $7 billion in unclaimed property, one of the largest amounts nationally. In FY2024, the state returned a record $261.4 million through 109,181 claims. Due diligence requires certified mail (with return receipt requested) 60-120 days before filing for property $50+. Life insurance companies report Jan 1 - Dec 31 with May 1 deadline; all other holders report Jul 1 - Jun 30 with Nov 1 deadline.
Finder / Helper Restrictions
Restriction Level: Moderate
Fee Cap: 20% — Finder fees are capped at 20% of the recovered value. This cap applies only to agreements entered after the 24-month waiting period has elapsed.
Waiting Period: 24 months — Any contract with a locator/finder signed within 24 months of the property being turned over to the state is void and unenforceable.
Solicitation Rules: Agreements signed within 24 months of the property turnover to the state are void. After the waiting period, finder fees cannot exceed 20% of the recovered value.