Checking for money the deceased left behind
People forget about accounts. An executor who is building an inventory of the estate should spend ten minutes searching the unclaimed property databases before the application for probate goes in.
What unclaimed property is
When money sits untouched for years and the holder cannot reach the owner, it becomes unclaimed property. Common examples are a credit union account opened decades ago, a small refund cheque never cashed, or money paid into court during a lawsuit and never collected. The money is not lost. It is held for the owner, or the owner’s estate, until someone claims it.
Where to look
Search in two places, using the deceased’s full legal name and any other names they used.
- BC Unclaimed (bcunclaimed.ca) is a non-profit society that holds unclaimed money for the province, including dormant credit union accounts, money from estates, and court funds. The search is free.
- The Bank of Canada (unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca) holds balances from federally regulated banks and trust companies that have been inactive for ten years and whose owners could not be reached.
Some organizations keep their own unclaimed funds rather than transferring them, so a result in neither database does not prove there is nothing to find. Old statements, cheque stubs and tax slips in the deceased’s papers are worth a second look.
Is it really theirs?
A name match is not proof. Two people can share a name, and the databases list what they hold under the name on file. Look at what the listing says about the source of the money and when it was received, and ask whether that fits the deceased’s life.
Making the claim as executor
To release money, the holder needs to know two things: that you are who you say you are, and that you have authority to act for the estate. Expect to provide identification, a document connecting the deceased to the money (an old statement or pay stub, for example), and proof of your authority, which usually means the grant of probate or administration. BC Unclaimed lists what it needs for each type of claim on its documentation page, and you can reach it at 1-888-662-2877.
Court funds are handled differently: the holder relies on a court order saying who is entitled to the money, and you may have to apply for one. BC Unclaimed explains that process on its court funds page.
Remember the inventory
Money found this way is an estate asset. If you find it before you apply for probate, include it in the affidavit of assets and liabilities. If you find it after, the Supreme Court Civil Rules require a supplemental affidavit (Form P14) promptly once you learn the original was incomplete, and further probate fees may be payable on the added value.
General information for British Columbia, current to September 2026. It is not legal advice. Check the holder’s current requirements before you rely on them.