Littleton Unclaimed Funds Search

Littleton residents can find unclaimed money through the Great Colorado Payback program run by the State Treasurer's Office. This Arapahoe County city likely has many unclaimed accounts for current and former residents. Bank accounts, utility refunds, paychecks, insurance proceeds, and other dormant assets end up with the state when companies cannot locate owners. The state holds these funds forever at no cost. You can search the database for free and claim any money that belongs to you without paying fees.

Arapahoe County for Littleton

Littleton is in Arapahoe County, which means local property and financial records go through county offices. The Arapahoe County Public Trustee office handles certain property matters, while the county finance office manages tax collections. They do not hold the same types of unclaimed money that go to the state program, but they can help with questions about property tax refunds.

Under House Bill 25-1224, Littleton and Arapahoe County must now turn over dormant accounts to the Colorado State Treasurer's Office. This 2025 law ended the local government exemption. Before this change, cities and counties could keep unclaimed funds. Now they must report them annually just like businesses. Any unclaimed money that Littleton once held is now in the statewide database.

Contact the city of Littleton if you have questions about utility deposits or local fees. Many cities hold deposits when you start water or sewer service. If you moved out and never received your deposit back, check the state database. The city may have already sent it to the State Treasurer. For very recent deposits, call the city finance office to see if the funds are still on their accounts.

How to Search the Database

Start your search at colorado.findyourunclaimedproperty.com. Type your name in the search box and the system checks all records. Results appear right away. You can add "Littleton" in the city field to filter results, but you might miss property if the holder had an old address for you. Search broadly first.

Try different name variations. Search your full legal name, then try nicknames or maiden names. Look up family members and deceased relatives. You can claim property for someone who passed away if you are their legal heir. Business owners should search their company name and any former names they used when operating in Littleton.

Each result shows key information. You see the property type, the holder who reported it, and an estimated value range. Click any result to view more details and start a claim. The online system guides you through each step. You do not need to pay anyone to help you. The state provides all tools and forms for free on their website.

Colorado holds over $2.5 billion in unclaimed property. The database contains more than 16.5 million names. Every year the program processes over 86,000 claims worth nearly $80 million. Since the program began, Colorado has returned over $858 million to rightful owners. Most claims take about 11 days to complete.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Many different assets become unclaimed property in Littleton. 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 and bond interest. All of these go to the state after the business tries to find you and fails.

The law sets dormancy periods by property type. Wages and paychecks become presumed abandoned after one year of no owner contact. Bank accounts, utility deposits, and most other property types have a five-year dormancy period. Stocks and dividends have three years. Money orders stay with the issuer for seven years before transfer to the state.

Utility deposits are very common. If you rent in Littleton 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 reports it to the state if they cannot find you.

Insurance proceeds also show up frequently. Life insurance, health insurance refunds, and property insurance overpayments all get reported if the company cannot locate the owner. Sometimes people change addresses and forget to update their insurance company. The payment gets returned as undeliverable and ends up with the state years later.

File Your Claim

Once you find property in your name, click "Claim It" to begin. The state asks for documents to prove your identity and address. A driver's license or state ID works for both requirements. 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 Littleton address.

Claims over $1,000 require a notarized signature on the claim form. You can get documents notarized at banks, credit unions, or shipping stores in Littleton. Some charge a small fee, but many do it free for customers. The notary must see you sign the form and check your ID.

Claims for deceased owners need extra documentation. The state requires a death certificate and proof that you are the legal heir. A will, probate order, or affidavit of heirship all work. These claims take longer to process because the state must verify the ownership chain and ensure the money goes to the right person.

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 because you can upload documents as images or PDFs. The state sends all payments by check. Simple claims often get paid in a few weeks.

Note: Colorado now issues proactive checks when they can verify ownership without requiring a formal claim.

Protect Yourself from Scams

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

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 to release funds. 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 a return address showing the Colorado State Treasurer's Office in Denver. If you receive an unexpected check from the State Treasurer and did not file a claim, it might be real. Colorado started sending proactive payments when they can identify owners. Call 303-866-6070 to verify any check before you cash it if you have concerns.

Contact State Program Staff

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

Staff answer questions by phone 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. You can also 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 about the program. Topics include what types of property get reported, why businesses turn over funds to the state, how long the claim process takes, and whether there are any fees. Review the FAQ section before you search or file a claim.

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 elsewhere before moving to Littleton, search those state databases too.

Use the claim status tool to check where your claim stands. Enter your claim number and last name to see the current status. The system tells you if they need additional documents or when to expect payment.

Unclaimed Property Statutes

Colorado unclaimed property law appears 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. The new law took effect on July 1, 2020. It modernized Colorado's framework to match standards used in most other states.

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

Businesses must try to find owners 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 holder submits their 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 previously allowed cities and counties to keep unclaimed funds. All local governments now must report dormant accounts by November 1 each year. Littleton and Arapahoe County must turn over unclaimed money to the state just like private businesses do.