Search Porter County Unclaimed Money
Unclaimed money in Porter County is held by the Indiana Attorney General's Unclaimed Property Division until the rightful owner claims it. Old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, security deposits, and stock dividends are just some of the asset types sitting in the state database right now. Residents of Valparaiso, Portage, and every other community in Porter County can search for free. You do not need to hire anyone or pay anything. The online search takes only a few minutes and covers all of your Indiana history in one place.
Porter County Quick Facts
Indiana Unclaimed Money in Porter County
Indiana's unclaimed property program is run by the Attorney General's office and holds more than $914 million spread across roughly 5.1 million accounts. About one in every seven Hoosiers has money in the system right now. Porter County is one of the more populated counties in the state, which means a large number of accounts connected to this area are likely sitting unclaimed.
Property becomes unclaimed when holders, including banks, insurance firms, and utility companies, lose contact with the owner. Under IC 32-34-1-19, most accounts are transferred to the state after three to five years of no owner activity. Once the state takes custody under IC 32-34-1-30, your right to claim never expires. There is no cutoff date. You can file a claim this year or ten years from now.
Search at indianaunclaimed.gov for free. The state pays back more than $1 million per week to owners who step forward. Call 1-866-IN-CLAIM (1-866-462-5246) or email updmail@atg.in.gov if you need help with a search or a claim.
Search every name you have used. Former names, maiden names, and deceased relatives' names all turn up results regularly in Porter County.
Porter County Treasurer's Office
The Porter County Treasurer is Jimmy Albarran. The treasurer's office is located at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 209, Valparaiso, IN 46383. This office manages property tax billing and collection, tax sales, and other county-level financial matters. It does not hold funds from private banks, insurance companies, or other businesses. Those assets go to the state's unclaimed property program.
That said, the treasurer's office is worth contacting if you think the county owes you a refund on taxes or a payment check from a county transaction was never cashed. Staff can look up county-level payment records and confirm whether anything in your name remains outstanding. For the broader state database, use indianaunclaimed.gov.
You can reach the treasurer's office by phone at 219-465-3470 or by fax at 219-465-3821. The county's official site at portercountyin.gov has additional office details and links to other county departments.
| Name | Jimmy Albarran, Porter County Treasurer |
|---|---|
| Address | 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 209, Valparaiso, IN 46383 |
| Phone | 219-465-3470 |
| Fax | 219-465-3821 |
| Treasurer Page | portercountyin.gov/210/Treasurer |
How to Search Porter County Unclaimed Money
Go to indianaunclaimed.gov/app/claim-search and enter your last name. Adding a first name narrows the results. The search covers all of Indiana, so accounts tied to Porter County show up alongside anything else in your name statewide. Try maiden names, previous last names, and business names if applicable.
The Porter County website below is a helpful reference for residents who need to reach local offices or find county-specific information at portercountyin.gov.
The county site at portercountyin.gov connects you to a range of county departments, including the treasurer's office, which handles local financial records for Valparaiso and the rest of Porter County.
When you find a match, click to start the claim online. Many claims are completed entirely through the website without printing anything. The Attorney General's office reviews each submission and may ask for documents before releasing funds. You can also check the status of an existing claim by logging into the portal or calling the unclaimed property line at portercountyin.gov.
The Porter County Treasurer's page shown below gives direct contact information and office details for residents who may have county-level refunds or payments to follow up on at portercountyin.gov.
The treasurer's page at portercountyin.gov/210/Treasurer provides office hours and payment information for Porter County tax and financial matters separate from the state's unclaimed property system.
What Counts as Unclaimed Money
Indiana's law is broad. Under IC 32-34-1-1, unclaimed property includes any financial asset where the owner has not had contact with the holder for the required dormancy period. For Porter County residents, this can include savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market funds from local or regional banks.
Other types that show up regularly include uncashed payroll checks, forgotten wages, insurance policy proceeds, stock shares and dividends, store credit balances, utility security deposits, federal and state tax refunds, and money orders. Safe deposit box contents also count if the box rent goes unpaid and the owner cannot be found. Under IC 32-34-1-26, businesses are required to report and turn over unclaimed assets to the state each year. About 75% of accounts hold less than $100, but larger amounts appear regularly. Indiana's highest single claim ever paid was $750,000.
Claiming Your Porter County Property
The process is free from start to finish. Do not pay any company or individual to file your claim. You are entitled to 100% of what the state holds in your name. No finder's fee, no percentage cut, no hidden charge.
Steps for Porter County residents to file a claim:
- Search your name at indianaunclaimed.gov
- Select the property record that matches you
- Complete the online claim form with your current contact information
- Upload or mail any documents the state requests
- Wait for the Attorney General's office to review and approve
- Receive payment by check or direct deposit
Small claims may require only a photo ID. Larger claims often need a utility bill, old bank statement, or other document linking you to the property. If you are claiming on behalf of a deceased person, you will need a death certificate and legal documentation such as a will or letters of administration. The office handles every claim individually, so requirements can vary. They will let you know what is needed once your claim is submitted.
Search Multiple States for Unclaimed Property
Porter County sits near the Illinois border, and many residents have lived or worked in Chicago or other parts of Illinois at some point. If that describes you, unclaimed money may be waiting in another state. The best tool for a multi-state search is missingmoney.com, the official portal run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
The MissingMoney.com portal shown below lets you search Indiana and many other participating states at the same time, which is helpful for anyone who has moved around at missingmoney.com.
Search at missingmoney.com in addition to Indiana's own database at indianaunclaimed.gov. Both are free. No registration is needed just to search. Together they give you the most complete picture of any unclaimed funds with your name attached.
Cities in Porter County
Porter County includes several sizable communities. The cities below meet the population threshold and have dedicated pages with more specific information.
Smaller communities in Porter County, including Chesterton, Hebron, and Portage Township areas, can all use the state's free tool at indianaunclaimed.gov to search for unclaimed property.
Nearby Counties
Porter County shares borders with several Indiana counties. If you have had addresses or accounts near a county line, check these areas too.