Find Unclaimed Money in Sterling
Sterling residents can look for unclaimed money held by the State of Colorado through the Great Colorado Payback program. This system keeps funds from old accounts, refunds, and forgotten property when businesses cannot find the owners. If you lived or worked in Sterling and moved away, you might have money waiting for you. The state holds it until you claim it. Search online at no cost. File your claim for free. The City of Sterling does not handle unclaimed property. All funds go to the state level in Denver. You keep every dollar you claim with no fees deducted.
Sterling Quick Facts
Search the Unclaimed Property Database
Start your search at Great Colorado Payback. Type in your name or the name of a business you ran in Sterling. The system pulls up all matches. You can add Sterling to narrow the list. Each result shows who sent the money to the state and when. Click on a result to see details about the property.
The City of Sterling website at sterlingcolo.com has info on local services. For unclaimed money, you search through the state system. You can call Sterling City Hall at 970-522-9700 if you need help finding the right place to look.
Search under different versions of your name. Use your full legal name. Use nicknames. If you got married or divorced while in Sterling, search your old name too. The database might list property under a name you no longer use. If you had a business in Sterling, search the business name as well. Some funds get listed under company names instead of personal names.
Common types of unclaimed money:
- Old checking or savings accounts at Sterling banks
- Final paychecks from jobs in the area
- Security deposits from rental properties
- Utility deposits or overpayments
- Insurance refunds or uncashed checks
- Stock dividends or bond interest
The state database gets new property all the time. Businesses turn over funds each year. What is not there today might show up next year. Search at least once a year to check for new funds under your name. It takes just a few minutes and costs nothing to search.
When you find a match, use the claim search to start your claim. The site walks you through the steps. You prove your identity with a photo ID. For larger amounts, you may need old account info or proof of address. The site tells you what to send based on the size of your claim.
What Becomes Unclaimed Property
Bank accounts are the top source of unclaimed money in Sterling. If you had an account at a local bank and left money in it, the bank sends it to the state after a few years of no activity. This includes checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts. Credit unions do the same thing. Even a small balance ends up with Colorado if you do not use the account.
Uncashed checks create a lot of unclaimed property. Maybe you got a refund from a utility company in Sterling. Maybe you got a rebate or a store credit. If you lost the check or forgot to cash it, the company turns it over to the state. Employers do this with final paychecks too. When people move out of Sterling without leaving a new address, the paycheck comes back. The employer holds it for a while, then sends it to Colorado.
Landlords send security deposits to the state when they cannot find you. When you move out of a rental in Sterling, the landlord should mail your deposit back. If the check is undeliverable, they keep it for a time. Then they send it to the state. Utility companies do the same with deposits. You pay a deposit when you start service. When you cancel, they refund it. If they cannot reach you, it goes to the state unclaimed property fund.
Other sources include:
- Contents of safe deposit boxes at Sterling banks
- Court deposits or legal settlements
- Life insurance proceeds if beneficiaries were not located
- Royalty payments from minerals, oil, or gas
- Escrow balances from property transactions
- Investment account distributions
The state does not hold real estate or vehicles. Those stay with the county. But if you had cash tied to property in Sterling, like an escrow balance, it could be with the state. Check the database to see what you might have. All of it is yours to claim whenever you are ready.
Note: Unclaimed property does not expire in Colorado, so you can claim it at any time.
Filing a Claim from Sterling
After finding unclaimed money, you file a claim online at Great Colorado Payback. The site guides you through the process. You make an account, fill out a form, and upload documents. For small claims, you just need a photo ID. For larger claims, you may need to prove you lived at the address listed or held the account. The site gives clear instructions based on what you are claiming.
The claim form asks for your current address in Sterling or wherever you live now. It asks how you want to be paid. Most people choose direct deposit so the money goes right into their bank account. You can also pick a mailed check. Both ways are free. The state does not charge to process claims or send payments. You get the full amount you are owed.
If you are claiming money for a business you ran in Sterling, you need proof of the business. A tax return showing the business name usually works. If the money belonged to someone who died, you need their death certificate. You also need proof you have the legal right to claim it. This could be a will, a probate court order, or proof you are the next of kin. The claim form explains what to send for each situation.
The state reviews your claim after you submit it. Simple claims get approved in a few weeks. More complex claims take longer if they need extra proof. You can log in to check the status. The site shows if your claim is under review, approved, or needs more info. If they ask for extra documents, send them as soon as possible. Most payments go out within 90 days of approval. Large claims can take a bit longer, but the state eventually sends everything.
Logan County Unclaimed Money
Sterling is in Logan County. The county does not run an unclaimed property program like the state does. But the county treasurer may hold some local funds for a time before sending them to the state. If you overpaid property tax on a home or land in Sterling, the refund might sit with the county for a while. Eventually it moves to the state unclaimed property system. Check both places if you think you have a tax refund.
The Logan County website at logancounty.colorado.gov has info on county services. For unclaimed money that already went to the state, use the Great Colorado Payback search. For local questions about tax refunds or other county funds, call the Logan County offices.
For more on Logan County funds and how the county works with the state unclaimed property program, visit the Logan County page.
Claim Anytime with No Deadline
Colorado law says unclaimed money does not expire. The state holds it forever. There is no deadline to claim it. You can file a claim today, next year, or 20 years from now. This is good news for people who lived in Sterling years ago and might have left money behind. Even if you moved away long ago, you can still claim what is yours. The state keeps it safe until you file a claim.
If you die before claiming your money, your heirs can claim it. They need to prove they have the right to your estate. A will makes this simple. If there is no will, they may need to go through probate in Logan County to get a court order. Once they have the paperwork, they file a claim like anyone else. The state pays out the full amount. They do not keep any of it.
The state uses a small part of the unclaimed property fund to run the program. This pays for the website, staff, and outreach to find owners. But most of the money stays in the fund waiting for claims. The state cannot use it for general expenses. The law protects your right to claim what is yours. So there is no rush. Search when you are ready. Your money will be waiting.
New property gets added every year. Businesses in Sterling and across Colorado turn over funds on a regular schedule. So even if you searched before and found nothing, search again. Something new might have appeared since your last search. It only takes a few minutes to check, and you might find money you forgot about.
Help and Information
The Great Colorado Payback site has a full explanation of unclaimed property and how it works. The FAQ section answers common questions about searching and filing claims. If you still need help, contact the state office through the contact page. Staff can answer questions and guide you through the process.
You can also read the unclaimed property law to understand the legal side. The law sets the rules for when property becomes unclaimed and how businesses must report it. It also explains your rights as an owner. Knowing the law helps you understand why your money ended up with the state and what steps to take to get it back.
Watch out for scams. Some companies say they will find your unclaimed money for a fee or a percentage of what you claim. You do not need them. The state search is free. Filing a claim is free. You can do it all yourself from Sterling. Do not pay anyone to do something you can do for free. If someone contacts you about unclaimed money, check the state site on your own before you give them anything.