How we check facts
Every fact on a state page comes from an official source, is quoted word for word in our research record, and is checked a second time, separately, before the page is published.
On this page
Official sources only
We use the program's own site, the state's statute and regulations as published by the state, the agency's holder manuals, forms, annual reports and press releases, and, for national rules, the Supreme Court, federal law and the state administrators' association. We do not use commercial law sites, news articles or other guides as sources; they can help us find a section number, never a value.
Two independent checks
- Research. Each official source is read and every value is recorded with the exact sentence it comes from, the source's address, its edition date and the date read. A value that cannot be found stays empty; we never estimate.
- Second check. A separate pass reopens every cited source live, compares each value and quote, and marks the state VERIFIED only when every value shown is confirmed. Anything that cannot be confirmed is removed, not shown.
- Publication. Our build publishes a state page only when its second check says VERIFIED, and drops any value flagged as unconfirmed. Published pages cite 1,612 official sources.
What "could not confirm" and a dash mean
Where a state page says we could not confirm something, or a table shows a dash, the official source either did not state that fact or could not be read and checked twice. It never means the answer is "no". The state's own site is the place to check.
What an archived copy means
Some official sites block automated access. When that happened, we used another official host for the same text or a dated copy of the official page saved by the Internet Archive (web.archive.org). Such sources are labelled "archived copy, captured" with the capture date next to the official link. We accept a capture only if it is recent enough for the fact: no more than 24 months old for procedures, contacts or fees, and for statutes only when the state's own materials show no later change. 135 sources on published pages are archived copies.
Dates on every page
Each source shows the date we checked it and, when the source states one, its own edition or "as of" date. Each state page shows the date it was last checked against official sources.
Update calendar
- Every state page: fully re-checked at least every six months, and earlier when a program announces a change (new website, new law, new claim process).
- Legislative sessions: after each state's session ends, its unclaimed property statute is checked for amendments, including finder-fee and dormancy changes.
- Holder reporting deadlines: checked every spring and summer, before the main reporting season in the fall.
- Statistics: updated when a program publishes its annual report.
Independence
We are not a government site and take no fees from anyone involved in claims. We explain rules; we do not give legal or tax advice. See about us and our corrections policy.