Claim Your Missing Money Now - Before States Do

If you or a family member are entitled to receive missing money or an unclaimed asset being held by a state -– anything from unused gift cards to life insurance proceeds -– you might want to stake a claim to those funds sooner rather than later.

Otherwise, you could end up missing out on cash and assets that are increasingly being eyed by cash-strapped states across the country.

Currently, state treasurers and other agencies are holding an estimated nearly $50 billion worth of unclaimed funds that belong to millions of consumers. These assets range from uncashed payroll checks and utility deposits to dividends and forgotten bank accounts.

The biggest chunks of money usually come from long-lost insurance policies. But people have also reaped huge windfalls from years-old military benefits or sizable assets discovered in safe deposit boxes.