Recovering lost funds in Massachusetts
Massachusetts holds $3.4 billion in abandoned funds, including cash and securities. Securities, estates, and business accounts make many claims complex, and we manage them from start to finish.
- Status
- Registered to assist claimants in Massachusetts
- Claims filed with
- Office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer
Massachusetts at a glance
Figures reported by the Office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer, 2025.
Inside a Massachusetts recovery
Securities claims
Shares of stock and other securities must be matched to the original owner and account before they can be returned.
We gather the records that prove ownership.Estates and heirs
Claims for someone who has died require proof of who is entitled to inherit, often with probate or relationship documents.
We identify the heirs and prepare the estate paperwork.Business and organization claims
Organizations must show they are the owner on record, or its successor after a merger or name change.
We document the corporate history.Old names and addresses
Accounts are listed under the details the business had on file, which may be decades old.
Our research links those records to you.How Massachusetts safeguards forgotten funds
The Office of the State Treasurer safeguards money and securities that businesses couldn’t return to their owners.
Fiscal year 2025 was a record year, with more than $196 million in cash and nearly $18 million in securities returned on 131,000 claims.
- Securities are common
- Massachusetts returns both cash and securities, such as shares of stock that were turned over when the owner couldn’t be reached.
When a claim involves an estate
Many of the accounts we recover belong to someone who has passed away. That is when a claim becomes a legal matter: the Massachusetts State Treasurer releases the funds only to the person with the legal right to them, and that right has to be shown with court or estate documents.
When probate usually comes into play
- The owner died without a will, or the will was never filed with a court.
- The amount is large enough that the state requires a court-appointed representative.
- Several heirs share the funds, or some of them live in other states.
- The owner died years ago and the money has passed through more than one generation.
How we get involved
- We map the familyWe identify every legal heir under Massachusetts law and document how each one is related to the owner.
- We choose the right legal pathWe determine whether an affidavit is enough or the estate needs to be opened in probate court.
- We coordinate the court workProbate attorneys in our network handle the court filings, so the executor or administrator receives the letters the state requires.
- We file with the estate documentsCertified death certificates, court letters, and affidavits go to the Massachusetts State Treasurer with the claim, complete and in order.
How we recover Massachusetts funds
We take on the research, legal paperwork, and follow-up with the Massachusetts State Treasurer, and keep you updated until the claim is paid.
We locate and verify the account
We search Massachusetts’s records, match the account to the right person, and confirm its value.
We build the proof
We trace past addresses, name changes, and family relationships, and gather the documents that prove your right to the funds.
Notary and documents
A notary from our network meets you to sign and notarize the claim, so nothing is sent back for a missing signature or seal.
We file and answer every request
We submit a complete claim to the Massachusetts State Treasurer and respond to each follow-up request until it’s approved.
Massachusetts releases your funds
Once the claim is approved, the funds are released to you.
Massachusetts questions
What documents will I need for a Massachusetts claim?
It depends on the account and your relationship to the owner. Every claim needs supporting documents that show you are entitled to the funds, and claims for someone who has died usually need additional documents about the estate or family relationship. We tell you exactly what’s needed and help you gather it.
Why do claims get delayed or sent back?
The most common reasons are missing or mismatched documents, names and addresses that don’t match the state’s records, and incomplete proof of an heir’s right to the funds. Each one can add months. We review every claim before it’s filed and answer the state’s follow-up requests, which is how we keep a 95% success rate.
The Massachusetts State Treasurer logo is shown to identify the state office where claims are filed. Lifetime Financial LLC is a private company registered or licensed to assist claimants in Massachusetts. We are not a government agency and are not part of, or endorsed by, the Massachusetts State Treasurer.
Other states where we work
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Have questions about a claim?
Talk to a real person on our team. We’ll explain what we found, what happens next, and answer anything you want to know before you decide.