Common reasons for delay
Copies were not certified, or certified by someone not on the authority's list.
The name on your ID does not match the record and there is no document linking them.
The address on the record is not your current address and nothing shows you lived there.
For deceased estates, the authority may need probate, letters of administration or other evidence of who is entitled.
If you disagree with a decision
Ask the authority how to request a review. Review and complaint processes vary between authorities, so rely on the one it tells you about.
Step by step
- 1
Read the letter or email carefully and note exactly what the authority says is missing.
- 2
Contact the authority using the details on its official website if the reason is unclear.
- 3
Gather the missing item, such as certified ID, proof of a previous address or a name change document.
- 4
Resubmit through the official process, quoting your claim reference.
- 5
Keep copies and a note of every contact, with dates.
Common mistakes
- Lodging a new claim instead of responding to the existing one.
- Ignoring a request for more information, which can lead to the claim being closed.
I found a possible match, what now?
A listing is a record the authority holds, not proof the money is yours. Note the reference shown against it, check the details you recognise, then open the claim page on the official site and read what evidence it asks for before you start. You lodge the claim directly with that authority, never through this site.
What documents you may needI found nothing, what now?
A nil result usually means you searched the wrong register, the wrong spelling of a name, or too few variations of it. Try surname only, earlier surnames and each state you have lived in, then work through the troubleshooting steps before you give up.
Searched and found nothingTip: Before lodging, compare your documents against the authority's checklist line by line. It is faster than waiting for a request.
Common questions
Official sources checked
- Researched and reviewed by
- Find Lost Money Australia
- Information last verified
- 1 August 2026
Find Lost Money Australia is an independent information service, not a government agency. Our review checks the responsible agency's current page, search location and claim instructions. Agencies can change their rules, so confirm details on the official site before you act.
Keep looking
Continue your lost-money search
Money goes missing in more than one place. These are the next things worth checking.
- Every official registerEvery official register we have verified, filterable by state and type of money.
- Bank accounts, shares and dividendsASIC holds bank money inactive for seven years, plus unclaimed dividends and share proceeds.
- Lost superSuper from old jobs, plus balances the ATO is holding in your name.
- Your state or territory registerEach state holds unclaimed refunds, deposits and trust money from businesses in that state.
Searching is free. Every register we link to lets you search at no cost, and you can lodge a claim yourself. Be cautious of any business that asks for an upfront fee simply to search a public register on your behalf. Find Lost Money Australia is an independent information service. We are not a government agency and we do not hold or search unclaimed money databases.