Your state might owe you money. Seriously.
Forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, lost deposits, old utility refunds — every year they get handed to state treasuries, where they sit waiting for someone to claim them. StarNose searches the official programs in all 50 states, files your claims, and tracks them to payout. One $49 search fee. A 15% recovery fee only when money lands.
The money is real — and it's sitting there right now
This isn't a lottery or a loophole. When a bank account goes quiet, a paycheck goes uncashed, or a deposit goes unclaimed, the holder is legally required to turn it over to the state. Here's the scale of what's waiting:
Honest note: the big numbers are real, but most individual claims are modest — a forgotten $40 utility deposit, a $200 insurance refund, an old paycheck. We show you the national scale so you understand the system; your search report shows your actual matches, whatever they are. (The $2,080 average is pulled up by a smaller number of large claims.)
What your $49 buys — exactly
One payment. No subscription, no upsells, no "premium search tiers." Here's the complete deliverable list:
What we actually search — no black boxes
Most "finder" services won't tell you where they look. Here's our full search surface:
- All 50 state treasuries + D.C. · official programs — every state's unclaimed-property database, searched directly. States are where the overwhelming majority of unclaimed money sits.
- NAUPA's MissingMoney.com · multi-state sweep — the states' own shared search portal, cross-checked against individual state results.
- Federal unclaimed programs · the long tail — IRS undelivered tax refunds, HUD/FHA mortgage-insurance refunds, FDIC funds from failed banks, and similar federal sources.
- Name & address variants · the multiplier — maiden and married names, nicknames, common misspellings, and every address you've lived at. One variant is often the difference between "nothing found" and a real match.
- Deceased-relative search · on request — tell us about a late parent or grandparent and we'll search their names too, with guidance on heir claims.
What we don't do: we never buy private "people-finder" data, never cold-call your relatives, and never ask for your bank login or passwords. The search runs on public government programs and the details you provide.
From payment to payout — the timeline
The tedious part is ours. Here's exactly what happens after you pay:
- You pay $49 and tell us your names & addresses
Takes about five minutes. Names you've used, places you've lived — that's the raw material.
- We run the full search
All 50 states, D.C., federal sources, and every name variant — completed and documented within 24 hours of payment.
- You get your results letter
Every match with amounts and claim numbers — or a clean, documented "nothing found" with proof of every database checked.
- We prepare your claims; you sign
Paperwork completed for each match. You review, sign, and supply ID where the state requires it.
- The state processes and mails your check
States typically process complete claims in weeks to a few months, varying by state and amount. We track each claim and follow up until payout.
How the money actually reaches you
No mystery, no middleman holding your cash. The claim process is refreshingly boring — by design:
- The check comes from the state · not from us — your state treasury or comptroller issues and mails the payment directly to your verified address. We never touch your money.
- Typical payout: weeks to a few months · after a complete claim — simple claims can clear quickly; larger or heir claims take longer. Timelines vary by state — we'll tell you your state's current pace.
- Amounts range from dollars to five figures · most are modest — a $38 utility deposit here, a $400 insurance refund there. Occasionally someone finds an old stock account worth thousands.
- Our 15% comes only from recovered money · after you have it — invoiced once your check arrives. If a claim is denied, you owe nothing beyond the $49 search.
We eat our own cooking
These are live StarNose claims — filed through the same process you'd get:
Plain truth: these are modest amounts — that's the honest reality of most unclaimed funds. We'd rather show you real $751.61 than imply you'll find a fortune. Your search could turn up more, less, or nothing — the results letter tells you exactly which.
Us vs. doing it yourself vs. the other firms
You have three options. Here's an honest look at each:
| ★ StarNose | Do it yourself | Typical recovery firms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $49 one-time | $0 — state sites are free | ~ Varies — some charge upfront fees |
| Recovery fee | 15% — only if money is found | $0 | ~ Varies widely — ask before you sign |
| Your time | ~5 minutes — names & addresses | Hours — 50+ state sites, variants, forms, follow-ups | ~ Moderate — intake calls, contracts |
| Search scope | All 50 states + D.C. + federal | ~ As far as your patience goes | ~ Varies — ask before you sign |
| Claims filed for you | ✓ Yes | ✗ You do the paperwork | ✓ Usually |
| Tracked to payout | ✓ Yes | ✗ You chase the state | ~ Sometimes |
DIY is genuinely free and we won't pretend otherwise — MissingMoney.com and every state site cost nothing. You're paying $49 to skip the tedium: 50+ databases, name variants, paperwork, and months of follow-ups, done for you.
Simple pricing
One search fee. One recovery fee, only when it pays. That's the whole price list.
Full unclaimed-funds search
- All 50 states + D.C. + federal sources searched
- Name-variant sweep (maiden, nicknames, misspellings, old addresses)
- Written results letter — matches or documented clean search
- Claim preparation & filing for every match
- Tracking through payout
Recovery fee
- Due only when money is actually recovered
- Invoiced after your state check arrives
- Nothing found = nothing more owed, ever
- No subscriptions, no renewals, no surprise charges
Secure checkout by Stripe. The $49 covers the research labor; the 15% is our recovery fee, invoiced only on success.
Five minutes from now, your search could be underway.
Give us your names and addresses. We'll handle the 50 states, the variants, the paperwork, and the waiting.
Start my search — $49 →Secure payment via Stripe · 15% recovery fee only when money is found
Questions
Is this a scam? Be honest.
Skepticism is healthy — this industry has earned it. Here's how to check us: every match we report comes with a claim number you can verify yourself on the state's official unclaimed-property website before you sign anything. We only search government programs, the state mails your check directly (we never touch your money), we never ask for bank logins or passwords, and payment runs through Stripe — not a wire transfer to a stranger.
Can't I just do this myself for free?
Yes — MissingMoney.com and every state unclaimed-property site are free, and we'll never pretend otherwise. What $49 buys is the tedium, done right: 50+ state databases plus D.C. and federal sources, every name variant and old address, completed claim paperwork, and months of status follow-ups. Most people start the DIY version and abandon it at state number four.
Why do you charge $49 upfront when other services say "no upfront fees"?
Fair question — and one worth asking, because state treasury sites warn against anyone demanding payment before you've seen anything. Here's the difference: the $49 is a research fee for the labor — the multi-state search, the name-variant sweep, the paperwork. The state never charges you anything; our 15% applies only to money you actually recover, invoiced after your check arrives. "No upfront fee" firms often take a much larger percentage of your recovery instead — a far bigger bite on a large claim. We charge for the work; we don't take a cut of money you never see.
Why hasn't the state contacted me about my money?
States do send notices — to your last known address. If you've moved, changed your name, or the holder had a bad address on file, the notice never reaches you. After 3–5 years of no contact, the funds are turned over to the state, where they sit until someone searches for them. That's the entire reason this service exists.
What if you find nothing?
Then you paid $49 for a thorough, documented search — and you'll have the results letter proving every database checked, so you know it's settled rather than wondering. No further charges, ever. The 15% recovery fee only exists when money is recovered.
How long until I see money?
Your search results arrive within 24 hours of payment. The slow part is the state: after a complete claim is filed, processing typically takes weeks to a few months depending on the state and the amount, and heir claims take longer. We track every claim and follow up until payout — that's part of what you're paying for.
What do you need from me?
Names you've used (including maiden names and nicknames), addresses you've lived at, and your date of birth. If a state requires identity verification for a claim, you'll provide ID directly through the state's process — we never ask for your Social Security number by email, and never your bank login credentials.
Do you take 15% even on tiny finds?
Yes — 15% is flat, whatever the amount. On a $40 utility deposit that's $6. We keep it simple and the same for everyone rather than setting minimums that punish small claims.
Who actually sends me the check?
Your state treasury or comptroller — the government office holding the funds. They mail it to your verified address. We prepare and track the claim; the state pays you directly.
Can you search for a deceased relative?
Yes — tell us their names and last known addresses and we'll include them in the search, with guidance on how heir claims work in that state (they typically require probate documents, and take longer).