Michigan Might Be Holding Money That Belongs to You – Here’s How to Check

Michigan winters are expensive. Groceries are up, heating bills are just plain rude, and somehow, damage done to your vehicle by the state's cavernous potholes is your financial responsibility. So imagine finding out the State of Michigan might be holding onto money or property that already belongs to you. Not a loan. Not a rebate. Yours. Like finding $20 in an old hoodie, except the hoodie is Lansing.

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Michigan Might Be Holding Money That’s Yours

We're talking about dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten stock certificates, and valuables left behind in safe deposit boxes. Basically, things you forgot existed because life happens. Jobs change, you moved, didn't forward your mail, and now the state is babysitting your cash.

According to a press release from the Michigan Department of Treasury, nearly 1 in 7 Americans has unclaimed property. In Michigan alone, $164 million was returned last year. That's not couch change. That's real money going back to people who probably said, "Wait... that's mine?" out loud.

Checking is pretty easy. Michigan even has an official Unclaimed Property website. It's free, no catch, no processing fee, just search your name, maiden name, old business name, whatever version of you existed when paperwork fell apart.

How to Check Michigan’s Unclaimed Property Database

The database is updated multiple times a year by the Michigan Treasury Department. National Unclaimed Property Day is February 1, which is a weird thing to celebrate, but a great excuse to see if Michigan owes you money.

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Worst case? You waste a couple of minutes. Best case? Surprise cash. Here's the link: https://unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov/. Good luck, and happy claiming.