Nebraska Reunites Residents With Over $30 Million In Unclaimed Property Over 16 Months

LINCOLN, NE — The Nebraska Treasurer’s Office has returned more than $30 million in unclaimed property to residents over a 16-month period, reconnecting thousands of Nebraskans with money and assets they didn’t know they owned.

$30 Million Returned, Thousands Of Claims Paid

Between January 2024 and April 2025, the state processed 75,871 unclaimed property claims, approving 30,450 of them and paying out a total of $30,271,129, according to data obtained by KETV Investigates.

The largest single payout was nearly $2.5 million, while the smallest was just nine cents.

Nebraska Treasurer Tom Briese said his office’s goal is simple: to return money that rightfully belongs to residents.

“We’re reuniting Nebraskans with their hard-earned dollars — and oftentimes, they don’t even know they have it,” Briese said.

What Counts As Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed property can include a wide variety of assets — from dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance proceeds to mineral rights, stock dividends, and rent deposits.

If businesses or financial institutions cannot locate the rightful owner after a set period, they are required by law to turn those funds over to the state for safekeeping until they are claimed.

One Nebraskan, Mary Dalia of Bellevue, said she was shocked to discover her family still held mineral rights from land investments her grandfather made more than 70 years ago.

“The first time it was a substantial amount of money,” Dalia said. “It’s amazing how many people have something out there and don’t even realize it.”

Fraud Prevention And Public Outreach

The Treasurer’s Office employs fraud prevention specialists to vet claims and ensure only legitimate owners or heirs receive payouts. Some claims are denied due to insufficient information or fraudulent activity.

To make it easier for residents to check, the state maintains a dedicated office in Lincoln’s Haymarket and publishes an annual unclaimed property report listing names of individuals who’ve received assets worth $50 or more in the past year.

The simplest way to search, officials say, is through the online database at nebraskalostcash.nebraska.gov.

“They don’t charge you for looking. They don’t charge you for sending you a check,” Dalia added.

Supporting Public Education

Not all unclaimed funds go directly to individuals. A portion — usually between $10 and $15 million per year — is transferred into Nebraska’s Permanent School Fund, helping support public education statewide.

Briese said those contributions provide indirect property tax relief while also keeping the program self-sustaining.

“That’s important to Nebraskans — it represents another way we’re reinvesting back into our communities,” he said.

Do you know if you have unclaimed money or property in your name? You can find out for free by visiting nebraskalostcash.nebraska.gov.

Have you ever discovered unclaimed funds or assets? Share your story with us at NapervilleLocal.com, where we bring you inspiring updates on community programs and public resources across the Midwest.