Lakewood Lost Funds Lookup

Lakewood residents can search for unclaimed money through Colorado's Great Colorado Payback program. With over 155,000 people living here, this Jefferson County city likely has many unclaimed accounts waiting to be found. Old bank deposits, utility refunds, insurance payouts, and uncashed checks all end up with the State Treasurer after a few years. The state holds these funds until someone claims them. You can search the full database for free and file a claim at no cost.

Jefferson County Oversees Lakewood

Lakewood sits in Jefferson County. Local government records related to money or property go through county offices. Jefferson County has a page about unclaimed property that explains how they handle these funds now. The county follows state law and turns over dormant accounts to the State Treasurer's Office.

Since 2025, Jefferson County and the city of Lakewood must comply with House Bill 25-1224. This law repealed the exemption that allowed local governments to keep unclaimed funds. Now they report dormant accounts just like private businesses do. Any unclaimed money that Lakewood once held is now part of the statewide database managed by the Great Colorado Payback program.

Contact Lakewood city offices if you have questions about recent utility deposits or fees. Most cities hold deposits for water and sewer service. If you moved out and never got your deposit back, check the state database first. The city may have sent it to the State Treasurer already. For very recent deposits, call the city finance office to see if the funds are still on their books.

Jefferson County also has a finance division page with contact information for tax and treasury functions. They can help with questions about property tax refunds or overpayments, but they do not handle the same types of unclaimed money that go to the state program.

Search Lakewood Unclaimed Property

Go to colorado.findyourunclaimedproperty.com to search the state database. Type in your name and the system checks all records. You can add "Lakewood" in the city field to narrow results, but you might miss property if the holder had a different address for you. Search broadly first, then filter if you get too many results.

Try different versions of your name. Use your legal name, then try nicknames, maiden names, or any other names you have used. Look up family members and deceased relatives. You can claim property for someone who died if you are their legal heir. Business owners should search their company name and any former names they operated under in Lakewood.

Each search result shows the property type, the company that reported it, and an estimated value. Click any result for more details and to start a claim. The online system guides you through the whole process. You do not need to hire anyone to help you. The state provides all tools and forms for free.

Colorado holds more than $2.5 billion in unclaimed property for over 16.5 million names. The program processes more than 86,000 claims each year worth nearly $80 million. Most claims take about 11 days to complete, though some take longer if they need extra verification.

What Becomes Unclaimed in Lakewood

Many types of assets end up as unclaimed property. Bank accounts from institutions that closed or merged. Paychecks that were never cashed. Utility refunds when you close an account. Insurance payments sent to old addresses. Safe deposit box contents. Stock dividends. All of these go to the state after the business tries to find you and fails.

Dormancy periods vary by property type. Wages and paychecks become abandoned after one year. Bank accounts and utility deposits have a five-year period. Stocks and dividends have three years. Once the dormancy period ends and the holder cannot reach you, they must report the property to the state.

Utility deposits are common in Lakewood. If you rent an apartment or house and pay a deposit to turn on services, you should get that money back when you move out. Many people forget to claim it or move without leaving a forwarding address. The utility company holds the deposit for five years, then sends it to the state.

Paychecks and wages also show up often. If an employer could not deliver your last paycheck or you forgot to cash it, that money gets reported after one year. Direct deposit failures can also create unclaimed property. If the bank account on file is closed, the employer issues a paper check. If you do not cash it, it eventually goes to the state.

How to File a Claim

Once you find property in your name, click the "Claim It" button. The state asks for documents to prove your identity and address. A driver's license or state ID works for both. You can also use a passport, utility bill, bank statement, or tax return. Your documents must show your name and an address that matches what the holder reported or your current Lakewood address.

Claims over $1,000 require a notarized signature. Get your form notarized at a bank, credit union, or shipping store in Lakewood. Some charge a small fee, but many do it free for customers. The notary checks your ID and watches you sign the claim form.

Claims for deceased owners need more documentation. The state requires a death certificate and proof that you are the legal heir. Acceptable documents include a will, probate order, or affidavit of heirship. These claims take longer to process because the state must verify the ownership chain.

File your claim online or print the forms and mail them to the State Treasurer's Office at 200 E. Colfax Ave., Room 141, Denver, CO 80203. Online filing is faster and lets you upload documents as images or PDFs. The state sends all payments by check. Simple claims often get paid in a few weeks.

Note: The state now sends proactive checks when they can verify ownership without a formal claim.

Watch for Scam Artists

Some companies contact people claiming they found unclaimed money. They want you to sign a contract giving them a percentage of what they recover. You do not need these services. You can search and claim money yourself for free. The state never charges any fees.

If someone calls or emails asking for upfront payment to access unclaimed funds, it is a scam. The state will never call you and ask for money. They will not ask for your bank account number or Social Security number over the phone. All legitimate claims go through the official website or by mail to the Denver office.

Real notices from the state come on official letterhead with the Colorado State Treasurer's Office return address in Denver. If you receive an unexpected check from the State Treasurer and did not file a claim, it might be legitimate. Colorado started sending proactive payments. Call 303-866-6070 to verify any check before you cash it if you have doubts.

Program Contact Information

The Great Colorado Payback program runs through the Division of Unclaimed Property within the Colorado State Treasurer's Office. State Treasurer Dave Young oversees the program. Bianca Gardelli serves as the Unclaimed Property Director. The division maintains offices in Denver at 200 E. Colfax Ave., Room 141.

Staff answer phone questions Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Mountain Time. Call 303-866-6070 in the Denver metro area, or use the toll-free line at 800-825-2111. Email questions about claims to GreatCOPayback@state.co.us. Businesses with reporting questions should email Holders@state.co.us.

The FAQ page answers most common questions. It covers what types of property get reported, why businesses turn over funds, how long the claim process takes, and whether there are fees. Read through the FAQ before you search or file a claim to understand how the program works.

Colorado participates in MissingMoney.com, a free nationwide database that searches multiple states at once. This tool helps people who have lived in several states. Each result links back to the official claim process for that state. If you lived in other states before Lakewood, search those databases too.

Check your claim status online using the claim status tool. Enter your claim number and last name to see where your claim stands. The system tells you if they need more documents or when to expect payment.

State Unclaimed Property Law

Colorado unclaimed property law is in the Colorado Revised Statutes Title 38, Article 13. The state adopted the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act in 2019 through Senate Bill 19-088. This law took effect July 1, 2020. It modernized Colorado's framework to match standards used in most other states.

The statute sets different dormancy periods for each property type. Wages become abandoned after one year. Bank accounts and utility deposits have five years. Stocks and dividends have three years. Money orders stay with the issuer for seven years. The dormancy period starts when the owner last contacted the holder or showed interest in the property.

Businesses must perform due diligence before reporting property to the state. They must send written notice to the last known address for any property worth $50 or more. The notice goes out between 60 and 120 days before the annual report. If the owner responds to the notice, the property does not get reported as unclaimed.

House Bill 25-1224 changed the rules for local governments in 2025. It repealed the exemption that let cities and counties keep unclaimed funds. All local governments now must report dormant accounts by November 1 each year. Lakewood and Jefferson County must turn over unclaimed money to the state just like private businesses do.