By Kentucky State Treasurer Mark H. Metcalf
A few months ago, a Kentucky coal miner came to one of our unclaimed property county roadshows and discovered something he never knew was his: a significant amount of money waiting for him.
For his family, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
They were preparing to welcome a new child. Just the year before, the family had lost their home in the devastating Eastern Kentucky floods. They had already endured tremendous hardship when they learned the Kentucky Treasury was holding a substantial amount of money that belonged to them.
That money could not give them back the home they lost or erase what they had been through.
But it could help them move forward. It gave them an opportunity for a fresh start.
That is why we return money.
Kentucky has been safeguarding and returning unclaimed property for generations. The Commonwealth’s unclaimed property laws have been in effect since the 1940’s, creating a process to secure financial assets until their rightful owners can be found.
The law has changed over the decades, but the basic responsibility has remained the same: when money belongs to a Kentuckian, we should do everything we can to return it to them.
Behind every unclaimed property claim is a person, a family, a business or an organization. Sometimes the amount is significant. Sometimes it is only a few dollars.
But you cannot measure the impact of a claim simply by looking at the amount.
A large claim can help a family rebuild. A smaller one might mean a few days’ groceries, gas to get to work, a utility bill paid, or an unexpected expense covered.
And sometimes, this money serves an even more important purpose. When someone who has unclaimed property also has outstanding child support or criminal restitution obligation, the unclaimed money may be sent to the custodial parent or the crime victim rather than paid to the defendant.
This is another way unclaimed property makes a difference in the lives of Kentuckians— by putting money where it is needed most.
Unclaimed property comes from many places—old bank accounts, death benefits from lost life insurance policies, left-behind utility and apartment deposits, uncashed paychecks, forgotten safe deposit boxes, and other financial assets that busy people sometimes neglect. Too often, people do not even realize they are missing money.
Our responsibility is to safeguard this money and return it to the rightful owner. After a statutory period, typically three years, financial institutions and businesses turn unclaimed property over to the Kentucky State Treasury for safekeeping. The Treasury then maintains a searchable database so people can find and reclaim what belongs to them.
Since taking office, returning unclaimed property has been a priority of my administration. We have taken this program directly to Kentuckians through county roadshows and brought this search to events across the Commonwealth, including the Kentucky State Fair.
Kentuckians can be proud of our progress. We recently passed $123 million returned to Kentucky families from every walk of life.
I too am proud of this milestone, but I do not think about it as simply $123 million. I think about the people behind that number—families getting a fresh start, Kentuckians getting help with unexpected expenses, and children getting their child support.
I also think about people discovering money they never knew was waiting for them, about the son who learned his deceased mother left him the death benefits of a life insurance policy he never knew existed. Surprise, mixed with tears and gratitude, describes his reaction.
That is the difference this program makes.
And that is why Kentucky is recognizing Unclaimed Property Week during the fourth week of September, September 21–25, 2026. This year, the General Assembly established the fourth week of September as Unclaimed Property Week, giving us an opportunity to shine a light on the program and encourage more Kentuckians to search for money that may belong to them.
For the first time, we are dedicating a week to raising awareness about the millions of dollars in unclaimed property waiting to be returned to Kentuckians. Too many people still do not know this program exists, and we want to change that.
I encourage every Kentuckian to visit treasury.ky.gov and search for unclaimed property. Search for yourself, your family members and even your business. It’s free, and it only takes a few minutes.
You may find thousands of dollars. You may find $10. You may find nothing at all this time.
But you will never know unless you take a moment to search your name. It’s important to check every year.
Government has a responsibility to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to it. When that money belongs to a Kentuckian, our responsibility is simple: safeguard and return it.
Because behind every dollar is a story.
And sometimes, returning that money does more than put a check in someone’s hands.
Sometimes, it gives a Kentucky family a new beginning and confidence their government remembered them.