Newark Unclaimed Money

Newark is one of Delaware's largest cities and sits in New Castle County, home to the University of Delaware and a large student and academic community. Searching for unclaimed money in Newark follows the same process as the rest of Delaware, using the state's online portal as the primary resource. Newark also has a local police department with a dedicated evidence unit for found physical property, and a Finance Department that handles property tax billing. This page covers all the relevant sources for unclaimed money tied to Newark, Delaware, and how each one works.

Delaware Unclaimed Money Search for Newark Residents

The starting point for any Newark resident searching for unclaimed money is the state portal at unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov. Under Delaware Code Title 12, Chapter 11, all holders of dormant financial accounts in New Castle County must report to the state once dormancy periods are met. This covers banks, employers, insurance companies, utilities, and other businesses that have held funds belonging to Newark residents without activity for the required period.

Newark's large student and academic population means that short-term residents, including former University of Delaware students, may have left behind unclaimed deposits, refunds, or accounts when they moved away. If you lived in Newark at any point and had local accounts, utility deposits, or city service credits, searching the state database is a good idea. There is no fee and no deadline.

The city of Newark itself once successfully claimed 26 accounts from the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property, recovering $20,726.40 in funds that belonged to the city. This shows that even local governments check the database and that the system holds a wide variety of account types. Newark's Finance Department has encouraged residents to check the state portal regularly.

Delaware's MONEY MATCH program may have already returned funds to Newark-area taxpayers without a formal claim. The program runs each September and has distributed over $5.6 million since 2021. If you file a Delaware income tax return and have unclaimed money on file, you may have received a check. If not, file a standard claim through the portal.

Newark Police Department Found and Returned Property

The Newark Police Department ensures the prompt return of property to victims and witnesses. Questions about found or stored property should be directed to Mr. William Hargrove, Police Evidence Custodian, at (302) 366-7100, extension 3105. The department is located at 220 South Main Street, Newark, DE 19711.

The property management function at the Newark Police Department is handled by one full-time civilian evidence custodian and one part-time civilian property coordinator. The evidence custodian stores all evidence and found property. Physical items turned in to the department or recovered by officers can be claimed by their rightful owners through the evidence unit during regular business hours.

The Newark Police Department's Return of Property page provides information on how the department handles found items and how residents can inquire about or retrieve property that has been turned in or is being held as evidence.

Physical found property at the police department is separate from the financial unclaimed money held at the state level. If you are missing a physical item such as a wallet, phone, or bicycle, contact the evidence unit directly rather than searching the state database.

The Newark Police Administration Division page explains the structure of the department's property management function, including the roles of the evidence custodian and property coordinator who handle found and stored items.

For property connected to an ongoing case or investigation, timing of release depends on the status of the case. The evidence custodian can provide a status update when you contact the department directly.

Newark Finance Department and Property Taxes

The City of Newark Finance Department handles property tax billing and related financial matters for city residents and property owners. You can contact the Finance Department by email at tax@newark.de.us or by phone at (302) 366-7000. The city's 2025-2026 property tax rate is $0.2385 per $100 of assessed value. Annual tax bills are issued in July and must be paid by October 31, 2025. You can view and pay your property tax bill online through the city's payment portal.

Overpayments or tax credits on Newark city accounts that are not refunded within the required dormancy period would eventually be reported to the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property. If you have moved out of Newark and believe a tax credit or utility deposit was left unclaimed, start with a search at the state portal. Newark does not maintain a separate public-facing unclaimed money database at the city level.

The City of Newark property taxes page provides information on the current tax rate, billing cycle, payment options, and online access to view and pay annual property tax bills for Newark property owners.

The online payment option makes it easy to stay current on taxes and reduces the chance of overpayments that might otherwise go unclaimed. If you need to request a refund on an overpaid Newark tax bill, contact the Finance Department directly at (302) 366-7000.

New Castle County Resources

Newark is in New Castle County, which has county-level resources that supplement the state unclaimed money search. These include the Recorder of Deeds at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington, the Register of Wills for probate-related unclaimed funds, the Sheriff's Office for excess proceeds from property sales, and Court Connect for civil case records. See the New Castle County unclaimed money page for full details on all county-specific contacts and resources.

For sheriff's sale excess proceeds in New Castle County, check the Project Rightful Owner list maintained by the Delaware Superior Court. The list covers all sheriff's sales in the county and may include proceeds from Newark-area properties sold in past years.

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