Glossary
Terms used in estate administration and unclaimed-property research.
- Escheat
- The legal process by which unclaimed property reverts to state custody. Each state sets its own escheat statutes, including dormancy periods and holder reporting requirements.
- Dormancy period
- The length of time property must remain unclaimed before the holder is required to report and remit it to the state. Dormancy periods vary by state and property type, typically ranging from one to five years.
- Holder
- The entity (bank, insurance company, employer, utility, etc.) that held the property before reporting it as unclaimed to the state.
- Finder / Locator
- A person or company that searches for unclaimed property on behalf of others, typically for a fee. Some states regulate or restrict finder agreements. EstateMarshal is a research service, not a finder; we do not file claims or enter into agreements with owners or heirs.
- Claimant's representative
- A person authorised to act on behalf of the rightful owner or their estate when filing a claim for unclaimed property. This is usually the executor, administrator, or an attorney with a power of attorney.
- Letters testamentary
- A court-issued document authorising the executor named in a will to administer the deceased person's estate. States typically require letters testamentary (or letters of administration, if there is no will) when claiming unclaimed property for an estate.
- Personal representative
- The person appointed by a court to administer a deceased person's estate. If appointed under a will, they are the executor; if appointed without a will, the administrator. The term "personal representative" is used in many states to cover both roles.
- Bulk file
- A data file published by a state unclaimed-property office containing records of all reported unclaimed property. Some states publish bulk files for download; EstateMarshal uses these for automated searching where available. States without a downloadable bulk file require a manual portal search.