The amount and variety of unclaimed property in Washington, DC is larger than one would think. Sometimes it happens when people move and forget to reclaim their utility deposits or over-payments; other times, people may die and leave some money squirreled away in separate checking or savings accounts. Laws regarding unclaimed property in DC also mean that business owners have legal obligations if they come into possession of unclaimed property.

The list of unclaimed property in DC includes, but is not limited to, stocks, checking/savings accounts, death benefits, vendor checks, over-payments, certificates of deposits, paid-in-full life insurance, uncashed checks, unpaid wages, money orders, credit balances, refunds, dividends, commissions, insurance payments, gift certificates and customer deposits.

1. Know the laws regarding Washington, DC unclaimed property and how they affect you as a business owner.

2. Search abandoned property in Washington, DC to see if you have forgotten some assets.

3. Find unclaimed properties in Washington, DC auctions.

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

Know your obligations regarding DC unclaimed property

As a business owner, you're typically required to report and remit unclaimed property in Washington, DC. If someone forgets to pick up a deposit or a check, make sure you know what your legal obligations are regarding reporting and turning the property over to the District.

I recommend: Washington, DC's Office of the Chief Financial Officer details your reporting obligations if your business comes into possession of unclaimed property. You can also find use the Business Owner's Toolkit.

Search Washington, DC unclaimed property to ensure that your business hasn't left some assets behind

It may be a long shot, but why not perform a Washington, DC unclaimed property search to make sure your business doesn't have some assets floating around out there somewhere? This makes even more sense if your business has been around for a long time or it has a long string of former owners. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that one of the former owners neglected to retrieve some DC unclaimed property or even some unclaimed land in Washington, DC that still belongs to your business.

I recommend: Search the Unclaimed Property Database at Washington, DC's Office of the Chief Financial Officer. You can also search at Missing Money to search surrounding states and across the country..

File a claim for abandoned property in DC

If you determine that Washington DC has some unclaimed property that belongs to you or your business, takes steps to reclaim it. Or take further steps if you discover that your property is held federally.

I recommend: Fill out and submit an unclaimed property Inquiry Form and the District of Columbia will start the process of returning your property. If the property in question has something to do with the federal government in Washington DC, try the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the US Treasury Unclaimed Assets.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be wary if approached by someone who wants money in exchange for information on DC unclaimed properties; you can get the same information on your own for free.