6 Documents Ohioans Forget When Claiming Money the State Is Holding

Finding your name on a list of unclaimed money is the easy part.

Getting the money can take paperwork, and what you need depends on the claim.

Here’s what Ohioans may need on hand so a claim doesn’t stall.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Document requirements are subject to change, so confirm the current list with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds.

What Documents You Need to Claim Unclaimed Funds in Ohio

To claim any of the state’s $5.4 billion, most claims need a signed claim form, a photo ID and a legal document that lists your Social Security number, according to the Division.

Under Ohio Administrative Code rule 1301:10-4-02, you can establish ownership by supplying your name, address and Social Security number.

Your claim form lists any other required documents, and you should include anything else that supports your claim.

Companies list each owner’s last known address in their reports to the state.

If the address on a report is out of date, you can submit letters, statements or other documents that were sent to that address.

1. Notarized Claim Form

For claims of more than $5,000, you sign your claim form and have it notarized, according to the Division.

At $4,999.99 or less, you gather the documents listed on your form and provide them.

Exactly $5,000 sits in neither group.

Your claim form lists the documents, so read it before you gather anything.

2. Probate Court Papers

Funds reported in the name of someone who has died call for a certified copy of a probate court document.

It has to show that you’re the executor, administrator or commissioner of the estate.

If you’re weighing a challenge to the will itself, our guide to the will-contest deadline explains how long you have.

There’s a limit on how old your copy can be, so check its date.

3. Death Certificate

Many people filing for an estate forget the death certificate.

When an estate is closed or was never administered, the rule allows other documents in place of the probate papers.

A valid death certificate is among them.

The list isn’t limited to that certificate, so your claim form may ask you for more, and it’s worth reading the form’s list before you order copies.

4. Power of Attorney Papers

If you're acting for the owner under a valid power of attorney, the rule requires evidence that an agreement exists to claim those funds.

Send that evidence in with your claim form.

The rule's wording points to the particular money, so tie your paperwork back to it.

5. Certification of Trust

Claiming trust funds means you need a certification of trust that meets every requirement of Revised Code section 5810.13.

It names the trust's settlor, the person who created it or put property into it, along with the trustee's powers and the date the trust was signed.

As trustee, you can give someone other than a beneficiary this certification instead of the trust instrument, the signed document that sets out the trust's terms.

6. Guardian Appointment

When unclaimed money belongs to a ward, the probate court has appointed a guardian to care for that incompetent person or minor and manage their affairs.

If you're that guardian, you present a certified copy of your appointment dated within the rule's two-year window.

An older copy may need replacing before you file.

Documents for Special Cases

Besides the six documents above, the same claim rule sets requirements for several other claimants.

Businesses sign through someone duly authorized to act on their behalf.

Finders, who charge a fee to locate your money, must first submit their agreement with you to the Division for review.

Bankruptcy changes who files: The receiver or trustee in bankruptcy is the proper claimant, and presents certified copies of the entry of appointment.

A creditor who has levied execution on the funds submits a certified copy of the judgment entry or order of execution before the claim is processed.

A dissolved company shows evidence of authority under its dissolution agreement or applicable state and federal statutes.

Political subdivisions, meaning cities, counties and similar bodies, must present evidence of authority to claim the funds on their behalf.

Whatever your role, the rule leaves it to the Division's sole discretion to decide whether your documents are enough.

Overseas Claims

If you or the owner live outside the United States, filing takes an extra step.

That covers the signed claim form, power of attorney, finder's agreement and any other signed original.

You need each one notarized and authenticated through the U.S. consulate in the owner's or claimant's country.

A notarization certified by a Hague Convention Apostille, a single certificate that replaces longer legalization for documents used abroad, also meets the rule.

County-Held Money

County auditors also hold some unclaimed money, and your county's list can differ.

Carroll County's auditor requires a clear photocopy of the owner's Social Security card and a driver's license or State ID on all claims.

Submit the original check too, if it's available.

For a deceased owner, the auditor requires a copy of the death certificate and a letter of authority, the paper that names the executor.

Carroll County's auditor won't pay a claim based solely upon a will or death certificate.

In Carroll County, money left unclaimed for five years reverts to the general fund of the public office.

The auditor says processing usually takes 30 business days once the claim form arrives.

FAQ

Quick answers on documents for unclaimed funds.

What documents do you need to claim unclaimed funds in Ohio?

Most claims need a signed claim form, a photo ID and a legal document that lists your Social Security number, according to the Division.

Do you need a notary to claim unclaimed funds in Ohio?

For claims of more than $5,000, the Division says to sign your claim form and have it notarized.

Can you claim unclaimed money for someone who died?

Yes, if you can show a right to the money.

An executor, administrator or commissioner sends a certified probate court document, and a closed estate can use other documents, including a valid death certificate.

Can someone use a power of attorney to claim unclaimed funds in Ohio?

Yes.

Ohio's rule says a claim filed under a valid power of attorney must present evidence of an agreement to claim those funds.

Can you upload your claim documents online?

Yes.

The Division accepts your claim form and documents by secure upload or by mail.