Lake County Unclaimed Money

Unclaimed money in Lake County is managed by the Indiana Attorney General's Unclaimed Property Division and can be claimed free of charge at any time. As Indiana's most populous county, Lake County has a large share of the state's unclaimed accounts tied to residents, former residents, and businesses in Hammond, Gary, Merrillville, Crown Point, and throughout the region. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and utilities all turn over dormant accounts to the state when they lose contact with the owner. If you have ever lived or worked anywhere in Lake County, take a few minutes to search your name.

Indiana Unclaimed Money in Lake County

Indiana's unclaimed property program holds more than $914 million in about 5.1 million accounts statewide. Lake County, as the most densely populated county in Indiana, contributes a disproportionately large share of those accounts. One in seven Hoosiers has unclaimed property somewhere in the system. Given the county's mix of industries, union workers, steel and manufacturing employees, and long-term residents, there is a real chance your name appears in the database.

Property reaches the state's hands when banks, employers, insurance companies, and other holders lose contact with account owners. Under IC 32-34-1-19, most accounts must be reported and transferred to the state after three to five years of dormancy with no owner contact. Once under state custody per IC 32-34-1-30, you can claim the property at any time. There is no deadline. The state holds it until you ask for it.

The state search portal is indianaunclaimed.gov. It runs every day and covers all 92 Indiana counties. More than $1 million is returned to owners each week. The highest single claim paid in Indiana so far was $750,000.

Note: Former Lake County residents who moved out of state can still claim property tied to their old county address.

Lake County Treasurer's Office

John E. Petalas serves as the Lake County Treasurer. The treasurer's office handles property tax collection, tax distributions, and county financial management. It is not the office that holds unclaimed money from private employers, banks, or insurance companies. Those funds go directly to the Indiana Attorney General. However, the treasurer may have records of outstanding county-issued refunds, uncashed vendor checks, or other local government payments that were never collected.

If Lake County itself owes you money, the Crown Point office is the right starting point. For private-sector unclaimed accounts, use the state search. Online tax payments for Lake County properties can be made at in-lake.publicaccessnow.com. The county website is at lakecountyin.gov and the treasurer's page is at lakecountyin.gov/departments/treasurer.

How to Search Lake County Unclaimed Money

Go to indianaunclaimed.gov/app/claim-search and type your last name. Adding your first name narrows the list. The search covers all Indiana counties at once, so accounts tied to Hammond, Gary, Merrillville, Crown Point, or any other Lake County address will all appear together. Try maiden names, old legal names, and the names of deceased parents or spouses as well.

The Lake County website shown below is a resource for residents looking for local government contacts and services across the county at lakecountyin.gov.

From the county site at lakecountyin.gov, residents can access links to all Lake County departments and find contact information for offices that may be relevant to local financial or property matters.

Once you spot a matching record, click the claim button. Most of the process is online. The Attorney General's team will contact you if they need more documents. For help with your search or claim, call 1-866-IN-CLAIM (1-866-462-5246) or email updmail@atg.in.gov.

What Counts as Unclaimed Money

Indiana law defines unclaimed property broadly. Under IC 32-34-1-1, any financial asset with no owner contact for the required dormancy period qualifies. Lake County residents may find old checking or savings accounts from banks that have merged or closed, or from credit unions tied to local unions or employers.

The list goes well beyond bank accounts. Uncashed payroll or pension checks from former employers, stock dividends, insurance policy proceeds, security deposits from utilities, credit card refund balances, and money orders all end up in the state's system. Safe deposit box contents also enter the program when box fees go unpaid and the bank cannot locate the holder. Most accounts hold under $100, but larger sums appear regularly given Lake County's large population base. One Indiana claimant has received $750,000 in a single payout.

Note: Lake County businesses must report and transfer dormant accounts to the state annually under IC 32-34-1-26.

Claiming Your Lake County Property

The claim process is free. You get every dollar back. Skip any paid service offering to search or file on your behalf.

Here is how Lake County residents file a claim:

• Go to indianaunclaimed.gov and search by last name
• Select the record that matches your information
• Complete the online claim form and provide your current address and contact info
• Upload or mail the documents the state needs to verify you
• Allow the Attorney General's office time to review and process the claim
• Receive the full payment by check or direct deposit

Simple claims often require only a government-issued photo ID. Larger claims may need a utility bill, old bank statement, or other document linking you to the account on record. Claims for a deceased relative's estate require a death certificate and documentation of your legal authority, such as letters of administration from a probate court or a copy of the will. The state handles each claim individually and will follow up if something else is needed.

Search Multiple States for Unclaimed Property

Lake County borders Illinois, and many residents have lived or worked across state lines. If you have accounts from Illinois or other states, MissingMoney.com can help. It is the NAUPA-endorsed multi-state portal that searches Indiana and dozens of other states at once. It is free and open without any registration required.

The Lake County Treasurer's department page shown below has tax payment and contact information for the Crown Point office at lakecountyin.gov.

The treasurer's page at lakecountyin.gov/departments/treasurer covers local tax payment options and office contact details for residents throughout the county. If a county-issued check was never cashed, the treasurer's office can help track it down.

For the most complete picture, search both tools. Start with indianaunclaimed.gov for Indiana accounts, then run the same name through MissingMoney.com to check Illinois and other neighboring states.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County is home to several of Indiana's largest cities, each with a dedicated page covering unclaimed money resources for city residents.

• Hammond - Lake County's most populous city
• Gary - major Lake County city on Lake Michigan
• Merrillville - major commercial center in Lake County
• Crown Point - county seat of Lake County
• Schererville - growing community in southern Lake County
• Hobart - Lake County city along the Kankakee
• East Chicago - Lake County industrial city

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders several Indiana counties and the Illinois state line to the west. Residents near those borders, or who have commuted or held accounts in neighboring areas, should check those counties as well.