The first thing that you need to do if you believe that money may be owed to you from the past is to search the directory for your state. A great site like missingmoney.com is an ideal place to start. There are numerous other sites, and a simple Google search should enable you to locate these helpful sites. It's also wise to search the IRS's website to find out if they're holding any undeliverable tax refunds from the past. If you moved frequently in the past and can't quite remember receiving an income tax refund even though you filed, chances are that the IRS if holding money for you and all you have to do is follow the instructions given on the site and they'll send you a check.

Depending on the state you're in, it may be difficult to determine if the person who is owed money is actually you or someone with the exact same name. Other state websites are precise, and have the name of the person owed money, their last known address, the amount of the check or property, as well as who owes it. If you're not fortunate enough to live in a state that has all of the necessary information that will inform you if it's your claim or not, then filling out a claim form is certainly worth a try. Even if it turns out you're not the actual person owed money, at least you won't always wonder about it.

If you are lucky enough to find your name on a site that says you're owed money, there is a pretty simple claim process that you must go through. First of all, you'll have to print out a claim form and get it notarized, attesting that everything is true on the document. You may also be required to send in a copy of your driver's license, social security card, as well as a complete list of addresses that you've lived at over the years. If your claim is completed properly and is accepted, you should receive either a letter stating that you will receive the money and the amount, or you'll just receive the check. Usually, though, because of processing, it may take approximately 3 - 4 months to receive the money you may have discovered.

Even if you aren't able to find your own name on any of the unclaimed property/money sites, perhaps you could search for a deceased relative's name. If you do happen to locate the name of a departed relative on one of the sites, you must either be listed as the deceased's beneficiary or person appointed to handle their estate. Proper documentation will be required before any money or property is released to you.

Everyone would love to receive some unexpected cash, so if there is any minute possibly that some long forgotten company never cashed out your vacation pay and sent you the final check, or a utility company from years earlier owes you money from a deposit that you paid, you should by all means check your state's database. And of course if you've lived in more than one state over the years, you need to check the database from each state. You never know what will happen, and you may be well on your way to filling your pockets with some extra cash.