Money Orders Unclaimed Property

Money orders are prepaid payment instruments purchased at post offices, banks, grocery stores, and check-cashing locations. They become unclaimed when recipients never cash them or when purchasers lose track of unused money orders during moves or life changes.

This typically happens to people who moved frequently, elderly individuals who purchased money orders for bills but forgot about them, or families cleaning out deceased relatives' belongings. Military families and college students also commonly lose track of money orders during relocations.

The average unclaimed money order in California is worth $276.02, though amounts range from small bill payments to larger transactions. To claim yours, you'll need government-issued ID and proof of purchase or receipt if you still have it.