Q. “What do I need to do?”
A. Go to the State Treasurers office website below and search for your name. Most times just the last NAME and Town (without zipcode) is sufficient
https://yourmoney.ok.gov/

Q. “Do I have to go to the Oklahoma Treasurers Office in OKC?”
A. No. You can do it all online at their website.
https://yourmoney.ok.gov

Q. How long before I get my money?
A. I’m going to say about 2 months. Of course this hinges how your submitted documentation and accepted by the State.

Wendy Stewart Holland said:
9/01/26 I received a response to the claim I submitted June 15th 2026
“We currently have a backlog period of six months before the claim is assigned to an auditor. You will receive a letter at that time. Thank you”

Q. Instead of dollar amount listed, it says Shares Available. What does that mean?
A. Usually some kind of stock market shares. Besides life insurance payouts, it can be savings accounts, unpaid wages, securities, uncashed checks, and safe deposit box contents.

An elderly lady decades ago lived on Campbell NW in Ardmore. Her residence today is just east of Walmart. She found a couple thousand dollars on the State Treasurers Office and filed. They responded asking her for some kind of documentation showing she lived on Campbell Street. She had nothing, so she gave up. When I talked to her, and she told me the story, I said “I can help”.

I went to the Ardmore Public Library and found her in the 1980 R. L. Polk City Directory and there it showed her on Campbell. I made a copy and sent it to her. She uploaded that to the State Treasurers office, and got her money.

Process Used By The State’s Unclaimed Property Office to Locate Owners

“It is my understanding that only a couple of employees “reach out” by telephone or mail to find owners; most other employees list names in newspapers a couple of times each year and wait on you to call their office. The method is out dated because currently very few individuals take a newspaper. A name may appear only once in a very short block of time – if you miss it, it may never appear again. I looked at the newspaper listing for one county of about 350 names and when I checked their database there were of 15,000 lines. It amazes me that there are so many folks that are only known by a nick name or middle name and nobody knows their legal name.

Folks figure that the total that they would probably receive would not be worth the hassle (and it may not) – but there may be several other items for other periods or for items other than insurance-related ones.

For insurance-related monies, “Death” is a frequent reason that money/property is turned over to the state. Frequently, heirs do not recognize that they have a right to claim what would pass to them through the person’s estate. Many are afraid that they will be taxed for the item (some may, but we don’t have a 100% tax). Point out that Find-A-Grave is a good source for finding family members (possible heirs). We live in the “microwave age” and are only looking at recent events – some amounts are reported because the person covered is 100+ years of age. That money is never claimed by the state and remains in the listing.”
-above submitted by Larry Stephens, Collinsville, Oklahoma

Q.. Where can I search for mineral rights ownership in Oklahoma
A. At the MOEA website
https://ogims.public.occ.ok.gov/external/moea-search

Oklahoma Treasurers Office
Street Address: 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 217, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone Number: (405) 521-3191
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

I been doing this people search for unclaimed property (insurance) since October 2010 as a hobby. I do not charge any fees.

Butch Bridges
236 Timber Road
Ardmore, OK 73401
580-490-6823
butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net

“I’m just the messenger”

August 29, 2026

Butch Bridges

2026