Making the most of unclaimed property in Missouri will require you to determine the holder of the property. Cities and counties may serve as custodians of unclaimed property until certain criteria are met. At that time, custodianship of the property is then turned over to the state. This allows claimants to search for their property in a central location.

Unclaimed property in MO can be an inexpensive way to obtain business equipment as companies frequently lose property through misfortune or carelessness. The appropriate agency will require specific forms and procedures in order to approve your claim on the property. Unclaimed property generally falls into one of the following categories:

1. Liquid assets such as uncashed checks, a bank account or the contents of a safe deposit box.

2. Missouri abandoned property that the original owner is unlikely to claim. This is commonly a wrecked vehicle or real estate with delinquent taxes but may also include a treasure trove. Property owners usually have a superior claim to a treasure trove than a trespasser who discovers the property.

3. Missouri state unclaimed property that is confiscated by law enforcement. This is frequently the result of a drug or tax seizure.

Action Steps
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Find agencies that handle unclaimed property for Missouri

Start at the state level if you are looking for property that belongs to a specific person and work down.

I recommend: The Missouri State Treasurer has a database of unclaimed property in the state that is searchable by name. Clay County maintains a dynamically updated list of people who have not claimed property from the county.

Learn more about the laws regarding Missouri unclaimed properties

Each state has laws regarding the disposition of unclaimed property. The Missouri unclaimed property division should specify the conditions that allow the state to assume custodianship of the property and any conditions that allow the property to revert to the state.

I recommend: HelplineLaw.com has the text of Chapter 447 of the Missouri statute which addresses the disposition of unclaimed property in Missouri. Paule Camazine and Blumenthal publish news articles on the Unclaimed Property Act in Missouri.

Buy a vehicle in an MO unclaimed property auction

Look at the various auctions that occur regularly throughout Missouri if you are interested in bidding on a car. Vehicles are typically the mainstays of unclaimed property auctions and consist of abandoned vehicles, vehicles seized by law enforcement and surplus vehicles.

I recommend: The Tow Services Division of Kansas City holds regular auctions of unclaimed vehicles in that city. The Parking Violations Bureau sells unclaimed vehicles at public auction after 30 days.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The process of turning over unclaimed property in Missouri to the state is called escheatment and legal documents may therefore refer to the property as escheat. Businesses usually encounter escheat in the form of an unclaimed pay check and are generally required to make a good faith effort to find the owner.

A court may classify unclaimed property in Missouri as abandoned, lost or mislaid. These classifications have their origins in common law and can be difficult to interpret under modern legal systems. Legal documents may refer to the common law doctrine that ensures property is not left ownerless as escheat. Missouri property owners usually have a superior claim to escheat than a trespasser who discovers the property.

There are specific forms and procedures to follow when claiming Missouri unclaimed property. Generally, the state serves as the custodian for Missouri escheat until the appropriate agencies approve the finder’s claim on the abandoned property. Companies frequently lose property through misfortune or carelessness and Missouri abandoned property can be an inexpensive way to obtain business equipment.

There are general types of Missouri state unclaimed property:

1. Liquid assets such as a dormant bank account, safe deposit contents, unclaimed deposits or refunds, uncashed checks and unused insurance benefits;

2. Abandoned property the original owner is unlikely to return to claim. Certain property such as wrecked cars, ships or aircraft may belong to the state;

3. Property confiscated by law enforcement or repossessed by a loan company. These items are frequently auctioned off to the public.

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Find agencies that handle state of Missouri unclaimed property

Beware of sites that charge you a fee to help you contact the Missouri unclaimed property division. This information should be available from your state government at no charge.

I recommend: Sign up to use the National Unclaimed Property Database for free. It offers a search on both federal and state agencies. The Missouri state treasurer keeps a database of unclaimed property that is searchable by name.

Participate in an auction for unclaimed property in MO

Most states have their own auctions to allow prospective buyers to bid on unclaimed or otherwise abandoned property.

I recommend: Bid4assets.com offers auctions on a variety of property that has been seized or forfeited to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Carsfrom500.com allows you to search for government auctions in your area. You can specify zip code and a search radius.

Search for Missouri unclaimed properties in your community

Most communities in Missouri have a department that attempts to reunite unclaimed property with its owner. This department can answer specific questions regarding lost or abandoned property.

I recommend: Clay County has a list of unclaimed property owners, but you will need to contact the Treasurer's Office for addresses and amounts. The Property Unit for the City of Springfield Police Department auctions unclaimed property periodically at Propertyroom.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Unclaimed property in Missouri that the owner deliberately hides or conceals may be a treasure trove instead of mislaid property. The property must remain concealed long enough for the owner to be dead or undiscoverable. A treasure trove may belong to the finder or the property owner.

Unclaimed property in Missouri laws and regulations are based partially on the common law of property. This generally means that unclaimed property is property which has left the rightful owner’s possession without directly entering another owner’s possession.

The disposition of unclaimed property in MO depends on the specific circumstances under which it is found. There are three types of unclaimed property:

1. Lost property is found in a location where the owner did not intend to leave it and is not likely to find it. The finder of state of Missouri unclaimed property is entitled to possession against everyone but the true owner. One exception to this rule occurs when a trespasser finds lost property while on private land.
2. Mislaid property is found in a location where the owner did intend to leave it and simply forgot to pick it up. Mislaid property must be returned to the owner.
3. Missouri abandoned property is found in a place where the owner intended to leave it. However, the condition of the property is such that it is unlikely that the true owner intends to reclaim it. Abandoned property belongs to the finder.
   

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Learn about the laws regarding the owners of unclaimed property in Missouri

Laws on unclaimed property are frequently used to determine the circumstances under which property must be returned to the owner. Unclaimed property laws and regulations are a resource for owners who wish to locate their unclaimed property. Contact the Missouri unclaimed property division of the State Treasurer to locate your own property.

I recommend: Chapter 13, Article 3 of the City of Nixa Code is a law that addresses the steps owners must make to recover their property from the police department. Cornell University Law School provides the rules of ethics that attorneys in Missouri must follow to return their clients' unclaimed property.

Examine laws on holders of unclaimed property for Missouri

Unclaimed property laws describe the requirements for holders of unclaimed property to return the property to the rightful owner. They can determine when ownership of the unclaimed property passes to the holder.

I recommend: The Missouri State Treasurer offers the holding requirements for financial institutions with unclaimed property. The Missouri General Assembly has specific laws for holders of unclaimed property in Missouri.

Review the laws on Missouri unclaimed properties for finders

Unclaimed property laws for finders address procedures for how finders charge owners for locating, delivering, recovering or assisting in the recovery of their unclaimed property. Unclaimed property laws for finders may also cover the rights of the state to recover compensation for unclaimed property.

I recommend: The Missouri Attorney General provides rules that finders of unclaimed property in Missouri must follow. The City Ordinance for the City of St. Peters does not allow unclaimed property to be returned to the finder.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act is a key piece of federal legislation that affects Missouri state unclaimed property. The Act seeks to address the problems of unclaimed property that arise from its origins in English common law. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws first drafted the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act in 1981 and last revised it in 1995.

Unclaimed property in Missouri basics hold that unclaimed property may be any financial asset that is abandoned for a specific period of time. Unclaimed property laws require businesses, financial institutions and government entities to report any personal property they have been holding for a certain period of time, known as the abandonment period.

The state administers Missouri state unclaimed property when the owner cannot be located and the appropriate abandonment period has expired. The state uses several methods to locate the owner, including newspaper advertisements and mailing notices to the owner's last known address. There are three general types of sources that provide additional information on unclaimed property in Missouri:

1. The state government. These sources provide official information on Missouri abandoned property and also include the state’s official property database.
2. Third parties. Commercial sites that sell unclaimed property services or independent sources may offer basic facts on unclaimed property in Missouri.
3. Local governments. Specific cities and counties normally hold unclaimed property before turning it over to the state. Each local government will have its own specific procedures for allowing owners to recover unclaimed property.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find state agencies that deal with unclaimed property of Missouri

The Missouri unclaimed property division administrates unclaimed property that it receives from businesses and government entities throughout the state. Missouri also has specific laws that regulate unclaimed property.

I recommend: The Missouri State Treasury provides official information about unclaimed property in Missouri. Chapter 447 of the Missouri Revised Statutes published by the Missouri General Assembly addresses lost and unclaimed property in Missouri.

Learn about unclaimed property in MO from private sources

There are many businesses that provide searches of unclaimed property in Missouri. While these companies may charge a fee for these services, they often provide free information about unclaimed property in Missouri.

I recommend: KSPR details the efforts of a private investigator to locate owners of unclaimed property in Missouri. MyKDKD.com provides the basic procedures for recovering unclaimed property in Missouri.

Look for Missouri unclaimed properties in local jurisdictions

Universities, cities and counties frequently hold unclaimed property temporarily. The property will eventually be turned over to the state, reclaimed, auctioned off or otherwise disposed of.

I recommend: The St. Louis City Municipal Court provides its procedures for handling the unclaimed funds in its jurisdiction. The City of Hollister provides a current list of unclaimed property owners in that city.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The process of turning over state of Missouri unclaimed property to the state is also called escheatment and this property may therefore be referred to as escheat. Missouri businesses frequently handle escheat in the form of an unclaimed pay check which requires the company to file an unclaimed property report. The company also must make a good faith effort to find the owner.