Dormancy period
A dormancy period is how long an account, refund or payment must sit untouched before it counts as abandoned and goes to the state.
Also called: abandonment period, dormancy period for unclaimed property, inactivity period
A dormancy period is how long an account, refund or payment must sit untouched before it counts as abandoned and goes to the state.
What it means
A dormancy period is the length of time an account, payment or credit must go untouched before it counts as abandoned property. When that time runs out, the business holding the money has to report it and turn it over to the state. The clock restarts when you show interest in the property, such as logging in, making a deposit or withdrawal, or contacting the company.
The length depends on the state and on the type of property. In California, most bank accounts and many refunds go dormant after three years. Delaware uses five years for many of the same items. Wages and utility refunds can be much shorter, such as one year in Washington, while money orders and traveler's checks can run longer.
Money held by a court has its own rules. In Washington, for example, class action proceeds that a court holds are presumed abandoned one year after they become distributable.
What it means for you
Dormancy periods explain why money can appear in a state database even though nobody meant to lose it. If you moved, closed an account or ignored a small refund, the clock may have run out. The money is not gone. Once it moves to the state, you claim it from the state's unclaimed property program, and the official programs do not charge to search or claim. Staying active on old accounts and keeping your address current with banks, insurers and employers keeps the clock from running. To see whether any of your money has already crossed over, search your state's official site or MissingMoney.com.
Example
Say a utility owes you a $90 deposit refund and you never cash the check because you moved. In a state with a one-year period for utility refunds, the utility could report the money to the state after a year. In a state with a three-year period, it might hold the money for three. Either way, you can later search the state's official site and claim the $90 without paying a finder.
FAQ
It depends on the state and the type of property. Three years is common for bank accounts and many refunds, Delaware uses five years for many types, and wages are one year in some states. Your state's unclaimed property office publishes its own periods.
Usually yes. In Washington, a call or letter from the owner about the property, activity in the account, or a deposit or withdrawal counts as a sign of interest. The period is measured from the latest one. Check your own state's rules.
Related terms
- Washington RCW chapter 63.30, Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (Washington Legislature)
- NAUPA, California reporting information (dormancy periods)
- NAUPA, Delaware reporting information (dormancy periods)
- NAUPA, Is it really free to search?
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.