You may think an old savings account, forgotten paycheck, or unused brokerage account simply sits untouched forever. In reality, state governments can legally take custody of dormant assets under unclaimed property laws. This process, called escheatment, affects millions of Americans every year, often without them realizing it until they search for missing money. According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, roughly 1 in 7 Americans has unclaimed funds waiting to be claimed. Understanding how these laws work could help protect your money before it quietly changes hands.
