Find Unclaimed Money in Wicomico County
Wicomico County residents can search for unclaimed money through both the state's database and a county-level program that is unique among Maryland's 23 counties. Maryland holds over $2.76 billion in dormant accounts statewide, and Salisbury residents along with people from across the Eastern Shore are among those with funds sitting uncollected. The county maintains a Tax Sale Excess Funds List for former property owners who may be owed surplus proceeds, and the state's free search tool covers everything else. Check both sources to make sure you have not missed anything.
Wicomico County Unclaimed Money Overview
How Wicomico County Unclaimed Property Works
Maryland's unclaimed property law requires businesses to transfer dormant accounts to the state after a defined period of inactivity. Under Maryland Code §17-102, the standard period is three years for most account types, including checking and savings balances, uncashed wages, and insurance proceeds. After that window closes with no owner contact, the holder must report and turn the funds over to the Maryland Comptroller. Money orders go dormant after seven years. Traveler's checks after fifteen.
Once the Comptroller receives the funds, they are held indefinitely under the state's custodial program. There is no deadline to file a claim. The ClaimItMD database covers every county in Maryland, including Wicomico. A search is free and does not require an account. Enter a name, see what comes up, and start a claim if you find a match.
The statewide statistic is that about one in seven Maryland residents has unclaimed funds on file. Wicomico County's population is around 103,000. That ratio points to roughly 14,700 people who may have money sitting in the system. Salisbury is the largest city on Maryland's Eastern Shore and serves as a regional commercial center, which means a higher-than-average volume of accounts from businesses, services, and former residents flows through the county over time.
Wicomico County Tax Sale Excess Funds Program
Wicomico County maintains a Tax Sale Excess Funds List, and this is one of the more direct county-level programs in Maryland for former property owners. When a property with delinquent taxes is sold at the annual tax sale and the sale price exceeds the total amount owed in taxes, interest, and fees, the surplus belongs to the former owner. The county tracks these surpluses and publishes a list that is updated regularly. The most recent update was February 11, 2026.
If you owned property in Wicomico County that was sold at a tax sale, check whether your name appears on the excess funds list. The list is available through the Wicomico County Finance Department. To claim excess funds, you will need to submit a W-9 form for taxpayer identification purposes. This W-9 requirement is a notable distinction from the state unclaimed property process and is required before the county can process your claim. Unlike the state program, this is handled at the county level and does not go through the Comptroller's office.
Wicomico County's annual real estate tax bills go out July 1. A 1% discount applies on full-year or first semiannual payments made by August 31. Interest on unpaid taxes begins October 1. The annual tax sale runs in June, with advertising beginning May 1. After May 1, only full payment of all outstanding delinquent amounts is accepted. Partial payments are not an option at that stage, and debit or credit cards are not accepted within five days of the sale. Payment methods accepted outside that window include cash, money order, bank check, credit card, and debit card.
The screenshot below shows the Wicomico County government website, the central resource for county financial programs including the tax sale and excess funds list.
Visit the Wicomico County government website for access to the tax sale excess funds list and Finance Department contact information.
The county website is the starting point for any former property owner looking to check the tax sale excess funds list or contact the Finance Department.
Wicomico County Department of Finance
The Wicomico County Department of Finance manages property tax billing, collections, and the annual tax sale process. The office is located in the Government Office Building at 125 N. Division Street, Room 102, Salisbury, MD 21801. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4036, Salisbury, MD 21803. The main phone number is 410-548-4840. Fax is 410-548-4807. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Finance Department is the right contact for questions about property tax bills, delinquent amounts, the tax sale excess funds list, and the W-9 submission process. For questions about unclaimed bank accounts, insurance proceeds, or wages held by the state, contact the Maryland Comptroller instead. The two programs are separate and handled by different offices.
The screenshot below shows the Wicomico County Finance and Budget page, which covers tax collection, billing, and local financial programs.
The Wicomico County Finance and Budget page provides contact details and links to tax sale information and other county financial resources.
Use this page to reach the Finance Department and access forms related to property taxes and the excess funds claim process.
Searching the State Database for Wicomico County Funds
The county's tax sale excess funds list is one source, but the larger pool of unclaimed money is held by the state. Start at claimitmd.gov and enter your name as it appeared on bank accounts, checks, or insurance policies. Try variations if your name has changed or if you went by a different form of your name on past financial accounts. The results show the holder's name and property type. Dollar amounts are available once you begin the claim.
The Maryland Comptroller's unclaimed property page has program details, the COT-ST912 claim form, and direct contact links. If you have lived outside Maryland at any point, use the MissingMoney.com database to check other states at the same time.
The Comptroller has a field office in Salisbury at 1306 South Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury, MD 21801. Phone is 410-543-6800. That office can help Wicomico County residents with questions about the claim process and documentation. The Comptroller's main office in Baltimore is reachable at 410-767-1700 or toll-free at 1-800-782-7383. Email is unclaim@marylandtaxes.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Note: Wicomico County is the only Maryland county with a direct tax sale excess funds list that is actively maintained and publicly available online. Check both that list and the state database to cover all possible sources.
Types of Unclaimed Funds Common in Wicomico County
Dormant bank accounts are the most common source of unclaimed property statewide, and Wicomico County follows that pattern. Beyond standard savings and checking balances, insurance proceeds are a major category. Life insurance payouts, uncashed premium refunds, and annuity balances all move to the state after the dormancy period. Salisbury's role as the regional commercial center for Maryland's Eastern Shore means there are also business-related accounts in the system, including refunded business deposits, vendor checks, and accounts from businesses that relocated or closed.
Utility deposits come up regularly. If you moved out of a home or business in the county and did not request a deposit refund, that money may have gone dormant and been transferred to the Comptroller's office. The same applies to uncashed dividend checks, stock proceeds from broker accounts with no owner contact, and contents of safe deposit boxes that were turned over by a bank. Under Maryland Code §17-101, the definition of abandoned property is broad and includes many account types that people do not always think to check.
Former residents who have moved away from Wicomico County are among the most likely to have unclaimed funds, since address changes often disrupt account contact. If you lived in Salisbury or elsewhere in the county at any point, do not skip the search just because you have moved on. The state holds the money until someone claims it, regardless of where you live now.
How to File a Wicomico County Unclaimed Property Claim
For state-held funds, find your name in the ClaimItMD database and follow the online claim process. You will need a government-issued photo ID, documentation of your Social Security number, and a completed COT-ST912 claim form. If the account is listed under a former name, bring a document showing the connection, such as a marriage certificate or legal name change order. Heirs claiming on behalf of a deceased person need a death certificate and letters testamentary or other estate documents.
Online claims typically take 6 to 12 weeks to process. Paper claims mailed to 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 320, Baltimore, MD 21202 take 12 to 24 weeks. Under Maryland Code §17-401, approved claims must be paid within 30 days of approval.
For tax sale excess funds at the county level, contact the Wicomico County Finance Department at 410-548-4840. Have your W-9 ready and be prepared to provide documentation showing you were the owner of the property at the time of the tax sale. The county program and the state program are handled by different offices and have different documentation requirements. You can pursue both at the same time. One does not affect the other.
Note: Under Maryland Code §17-404, finder fee agreements signed within 24 months of the property being reported to the state are void. You do not need to pay anyone to find or claim your money.
Wicomico County Tax Sale Information
The annual tax sale process in Wicomico County follows a clear timeline. Tax bills go out July 1. Payments by August 31 qualify for a 1% discount. Interest starts on October 1 for unpaid balances. Advertising for the June sale begins May 1. After that date, only full payment of all outstanding delinquent amounts is accepted, no exceptions. The tax sale itself runs in June each year.
The screenshot below shows the Wicomico County Tax Sale Information page, which details the sale process, deadlines, and payment requirements.
Visit the Wicomico County Tax Sale Information page for the full timeline, payment rules, and contact details for the Finance Department.
Property owners with delinquent tax bills should review this page well before the May 1 advertising deadline to understand their options for paying and preventing a sale.
Nearby Counties
Wicomico County borders three counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The ClaimItMD database covers all of them in a single search, but tax sale surplus programs are handled locally by each county's finance office. If you have owned property or lived in any of the surrounding counties, contact them directly about local surplus programs.