Where to search Massachusetts's official unclaimed property list for free, what happens to forgotten safe-deposit boxes there, and whether the money is still yours after a sale.
Official search · checked Oct 19, 2026
Safe-deposit boxes
It can, but we haven't confirmed a dated state sale in 2025–26. If the Division can't find the owner, box contents may be appraised and put up for public auction, and the proceeds are held indefinitely for the owner or heirs. The official site links the Treasury's eBay seller page and has a sign-up to hear when the next auction and previews are scheduled. In 2017 the Treasurer called that year's sale the state's eleventh eBay auction since 2005, about 1,200 lots, most from boxes unclaimed for at least nine years.
Sources: FindMassMoney.gov: Tangible Property ↗ · Treasurer's release, Sep 28, 2017 ↗
Not yet verified: We haven't found a Massachusetts sale after 2017 on a state page.
Read the full Massachusetts auction guide: who runs it, how often, past sales and where to bid.
After a sale
The Treasury says auction proceeds are held indefinitely for the owner or heirs. source ↗
How to check
Finders
No. NAUPA, the national association of state unclaimed property administrators, says there's no fee to search for and claim your property if you use your state's official program. Paid finders are legal in most cases but never required. Some states cap their fees and many require them to register, so check with the state office before you sign a finder's contract. NAUPA ↗
Keep reading
This page points you to official sources. It isn't legal or financial advice; the state office decides every claim.
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