Proof of ownership for unclaimed money

The identification needed for a claim will depend on who you make the claim with. ASIC asks for proof of ownership for shares and investments.

If you need to claim through a bank, authorised deposit taking institution (ADI) or insurance company, you’ll need to claim through them directly. Contact their unclaimed money officer to find out what proof of claim documents you need to give them.

Providing proof of the ownership address

To make a claim you will need to provide a certified copy of an official notice addressed to you at the postal address that appears on the unclaimed money record. This proof helps ASIC determine if you are the rightful owner.

Here are some examples of an official notice that ASIC will accept:

• dividend advice or takeover notice (from any company)
• bank statement
• council rates notice
• government correspondence
• utilities bill
• birth, marriage or death certificate of a relative (as long as you can prove kinship)
• certificates or academic results

ASIC may request original documentation. Please retain any original proof of address documents until your claim has been processed.

ASIC will also accept official documents that you can request from other organisations, as long as the document includes the date of birth and address as it appears on the unclaimed money record:

• electoral roll confirmation letter — contact the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) (The AEC will only give you this information if it is about yourself.)
• transport authority confirmation letter — contact the department of transport in your state or territory
• Centrelink confirmation letter
• bank or financial institution confirmation letter

Alternatively, if the address on your unclaimed money record was for a business or company, you can provide ASIC with a document from that business (showing the address as it appears on the unclaimed money record).

Certified Primary and Secondary identification

You need to provide either two certified copies of primary identification, or one certified copy of each of primary and secondary identification.

Where the identification is a card (for example, drivers' licence, Centrelink, 18+ or credit/debit card), copies of front and back must be provided.

True copies of primary and secondary identification must be certified by a Justice of the Peace or other authorised person (see page 5 of the claim form). These copies must be clear and readable as they will be verified with the issuer.

Here are examples of what you will need for a claim through ASIC:

Primary identification

• Current Drivers Licence - A current licence issued in your name with your photo and signature. We can accept current a learner permit and provisional licence. We do not accept digital copies. For Victorian drivers' licenses, please provide the card number located on the back of the card.
• Current Passport – A current Passport issued in your name with your photo and signature. We can accept current passports issued in another country.
• Current Centrelink, 18+ Card or Proof of Age Card – issued by a state or territory government in your name with your photo (where applicable) and your signature.

Secondary identification

• Current Medicare Card - A current Medicare Card issued in your name.
• Bank Credit/Debit Card or Veterans Affairs Card - A current card issued in your name with your signature. Please black out bank card details prior to submitting your claim.
• Birth Certificate – A birth certificate showing evidence of your name and date of birth.
• Official Marriage Certificate – if there has been a change in your name. This should be the official certificate issued from Births, Deaths & Marriages and not the ceremonial document.

If you have changed your name (not through marriage), please provide certified copies of official documentation such as a change of name certificate. 

Documents required for claims through ASIC

ASIC needs documents to ensure they give the money to the right person and to prevent identity theft. This paperwork proves your identity and that you own or are entitled to the unclaimed money.

The documents you need to provide depends on who you are claiming for. Here is a list of what is needed.

How to claim money for someone who died without a Will

If the record you have located on an unclaimed money search is owed to someone who died without a Will or probate it is considered that they died intestate.

To claim money on behalf of someone in this situation you need to confirm the following information:

• There was no Will — State succession laws will apply if there was no Will and beneficiaries of the estate may be entitled to the funds.
• No probate was granted — Contact the probate registry in the state the person died to confirm this.

In some cases you may also need to apply to court to have an administrator appointed to deal with the deceased estate property.

To make an initial claim you will need to provide the following information to ASIC:

• names of the beneficiaries (children and spouse/defacto of the deceased)
• the value of the estate
• the place and date of death
• the deceased's usual place of residence
• confirmation from Probate Office that no Probate or Letters of Administration have been granted on the estate

Please email this information to: [email protected]

After we have received your email, we will advise you of our requirements to make a claim.