Recovering lost funds in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Treasury safeguards more than $5 billion in abandoned funds. Claims involving heirs, estates, securities, or larger amounts come with detailed proof requirements, and as a registered finder we manage them from start to finish.
- Registration
- Certificate of Finder Registration
- Certificate
- #0940595-1025
- Registered with
- Pennsylvania Treasury
Pennsylvania at a glance
Figures reported by Pennsylvania Treasury, February 2026.
Inside a Pennsylvania recovery
Who counts as an heir
Pennsylvania law sets out which relatives can claim a deceased owner’s funds, and each relationship has to be proven with the right records.
We map the family tree and document every link.Estate rules that depend on the amount
Depending on the amount, Treasury can require formal estate documents before it releases a deceased owner’s funds.
We determine what each claim requires and coordinate it.Securities and safe deposit boxes
Shares of stock and the contents of safe deposit boxes are claimed differently from cash, and ownership must be matched to the original records.
We track down the original account details and prepare the claim.Only registered finders may help
Pennsylvania requires anyone who assists with a recovery for compensation to hold a Certificate of Finder Registration from Treasury.
We hold Certificate #0940595-1025, which Treasury publishes.How Pennsylvania safeguards forgotten funds
Pennsylvania Treasury is the custodian of abandoned funds in the Commonwealth. Businesses that can’t reach an account owner must turn the money over to Treasury, which safeguards it until the owner or an heir comes forward.
The program is one of the largest in the country, and it keeps growing. In 2025, Treasury returned a record $334.1 million, up from $272.2 million in 2024. Behind those numbers are thousands of claims that needed the right documents before a single dollar was released.
- More family members can claim
- Act 65 of 2024 expanded the list of heirs who can claim a relative’s funds to include spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and grandparents.
- Items in the vault
- Treasury also safeguards the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. It has returned 548 military decorations to veterans and their families, including 13 Purple Hearts.
- Local governments too
- In 2025, Treasury returned $18.9 million to 113 counties, municipalities, and other public entities.
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 Pennsylvania Treasury 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Treasury with the claim, complete and in order.
Pennsylvania’s finder registration
Pennsylvania law requires anyone who helps recover abandoned funds for compensation to hold a Certificate of Finder Registration from Treasury. It is illegal to operate as a finder in Pennsylvania without one.
To be registered, a finder submits a signed and notarized application with a photograph and attests, under penalty of perjury, that they have not been convicted of a felony, theft, forgery, perjury, or fraud in the past ten years. Certificates are valid for two years and carry a unique registration number.
Lifetime Financial holds Certificate of Finder Registration #0940595-1025. Treasury publishes a list of registered finders, so you can confirm our status independently.
Our registration
- Registration
- Certificate of Finder Registration
- Certificate
- #0940595-1025
- Registered with
- Pennsylvania Treasury
Learn more from Pennsylvania Treasury
A short explainer on forgotten funds and how the state safeguards them.
How we recover Pennsylvania funds
We take on the research, legal paperwork, and follow-up with the Pennsylvania Treasury, and keep you updated until the claim is paid.
We locate and verify the account
We review Treasury’s records and confirm what is being held for you and its value.
We build the proof
We verify your identity or, for a relative’s funds, document your place among the eligible heirs.
Notary and documents
A notary from our network meets you to sign and notarize the claim and supporting documents, including relationship affidavits when they apply.
We file and answer every request
We submit the claim to Treasury as a registered finder and handle every follow-up request.
Treasury releases your funds
Once the claim is approved, Treasury releases your funds or property.
Pennsylvania questions
Is Lifetime Financial registered in Pennsylvania?
Yes. We hold Certificate of Finder Registration #0940595-1025 from Pennsylvania Treasury.
Who can claim a relative’s funds in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law sets out which relatives may claim and in what order, and each relationship has to be documented. Larger claims usually call for formal estate documents. We work out what your claim needs and coordinate it.
Does Treasury hold physical items?
Yes. Treasury safeguards the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes, including jewelry, documents, and military decorations, until the owner or an heir claims them.
What documents will I need for a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Treasury 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 Pennsylvania. We are not a government agency and are not part of, or endorsed by, the Pennsylvania Treasury.
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.