Money The State Is Holding
Prop. Code 74.501 — the comptroller pays a valid claim, and the claimant can sue in Travis County
In Texas, the comptroller reviews the validity of each claim filed for property it holds, and pays a valid claim for money or delivers personal property, or the proceeds if it was sold.
Who may claim. The reported owner; if the owner died with a will, the beneficiaries under a probated will, the executor, or in some cases under $10,000 the beneficiaries of an unprobated will; if without a will, the legal heirs or a court-appointed administrator; and a parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated owner, among others the section lists.
What a claim needs. It identifies the specific property being claimed, includes the documentation the comptroller requires, and is on the comptroller's forms.
An appeal. A claimant may appeal a decision before the 61st day after it was rendered. If a claim is not decided before the 91st day, the claimant may give notice by certified mail and appeal if there is still no decision within 60 days. The appeal is a suit against the state in a Travis County district court, tried de novo, filed within one year of the claim.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionWho decides | The statute's answerThe comptroller, who reviews each claim's validity |
| The questionAn appeal from a decision | The statute's answerBefore the 61st day after it was rendered |
| The questionWhere | The statute's answerA district court in Travis County, tried de novo |
Finders' agreements, the holder's own reimbursement and the full list of claimants are not all on this page. Whether a particular claim will be paid is a question for the state's unclaimed property office or a licensed Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Prop. Code 74.501 — Claim filed with comptroller
- Prop. Code 74.506 — Appeal
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.