There May Be Bankruptcy Money Waiting for You in a Free Federal Court Tool

Money the courts could not deliver

When a bankruptcy case ends, money is sometimes owed to the people or businesses involved. Not every payment reaches its owner. Checks bounce back. Addresses change. People move on and forget.

When that happens, the money does not disappear. The federal courts hold onto it until the rightful owner comes to claim it.

You can search for that money yourself, for free, using the US Courts Unclaimed Funds Locator. There is no fee to look, and no fee to file a claim with the court.

Who can find money here

Both creditors and debtors can search. A creditor is someone who was owed money in a case. A debtor is the person or business that filed the bankruptcy.

That means you might have money waiting even if you were not the one who filed. If a company owed you money and went through bankruptcy, a payout may have been sent and returned.

It is worth a look if you, or a business you ran, were ever part of a bankruptcy case.

Watch out for paid finders

Some companies offer to track down unclaimed money for you and take a cut. You do not need them for this.

The US Courts locator is free to search, and the court itself does not charge you to claim your money. Any fee you pay a middleman comes straight out of what is yours.

Before you sign anything, try the free official tool first. Then decide if you need any help at all.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to search or claim?

No. Searching the US Courts locator is free, and claiming your money directly through the court does not require a fee. You never need to pay a middleman.

I did not file for bankruptcy. Could there still be money for me?

Yes. Creditors can search too. If a person or business that owed you money went through bankruptcy, a payment may have been sent and returned to the court.

What if I find a match?

Follow the court's instructions to file a claim. The court will guide you through proving who you are and receiving the funds.

Can OpenFinancial claim the money for me?

No. We are not a bank or a government agency and cannot claim money on your behalf. We point you to the free official tool so you can search yourself.