Kent County Unclaimed Money

Finding unclaimed money in Kent County, Delaware involves checking the state's primary search portal as well as county-specific sources that may hold funds you are owed. Kent County is the middle of Delaware's three counties and is home to Dover, the state capital. County resources include the Recorder of Deeds, the Register of Wills for probate-related funds, the Sheriff's Office for excess proceeds from property sales, and the Finance Department for tax and assessment matters. This page covers where to look for unclaimed money in Kent County and how to use each resource effectively.

Searching Unclaimed Money in Kent County

The statewide search portal at unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov is the right starting point for any Kent County resident looking for unclaimed money. Under Title 12, Chapter 11 of the Delaware Code, all holders of dormant financial accounts in Kent County must report and remit funds to the Delaware Office of Unclaimed Property. Banks, insurance companies, employers, and utilities in and around Dover all fall under this requirement. The search is free. Claims can be filed at any time with no deadline.

Dormancy periods under § 1133 vary by property type. Bank deposits go dormant after 5 years of inactivity. Wages go dormant 5 years after they were payable. Securities become dormant after 3 years without owner activity. Gift cards and stored-value cards go dormant after 5 years. Once the state holds the property, no interest accrues under § 1154, so there is no financial benefit to waiting once you know funds are there.

Delaware's MONEY MATCH program, which runs each September, may have already returned funds to Kent County taxpayers who file state income tax returns. If you did not receive a check but believe funds exist, file through the standard portal. The Delaware unclaimed property FAQ for claimants explains what to do when property is not visible in the search results, including using the Online Request Form for bonds, money orders, and gift cards.

Kent County Finance Department

The Kent County Finance Department keeps financial records for all county funds, manages county investments, and administers assessment functions for real property. It is also responsible for tax collection and distribution of county, school, library, and ditch taxes. The department issues mobile home certification letters and administers the senior tax credit program for the state. Finance staff can help with questions about county tax bills, assessment data, and monition sale procedures.

Tax bills are mailed in early August after school districts finalize their rates. The full annual payment is due by September 30. For questions, contact the Finance Department at (302) 744-2386 or email kcfinance@kentcountyde.gov. The Tax Office can be reached at (302) 744-2341 or taxoffice@kentcountyde.gov. The Assessment Office is at (302) 744-2401.

The Kent County Finance Department page provides access to tax information, assessment functions, property tax payment tools, and contact information for county staff who handle billing, collections, and finance-related questions.

The county's online property search tools let residents look up valuation, assessment, and ownership details. Tax refunds that go uncashed can eventually become unclaimed money reportable to the state.

Kent County Recorder of Deeds

The Kent County Recorder of Deeds maintains all property documents for the county. Hon. Eugenia Thornton serves as the elected Recorder of Deeds, reachable 24/7 via email at eugenia.thornton@kentcountyde.gov. The office is at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. Office hours are 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, with recording accepted from 8 AM to 3 PM. The office phone is (302) 744-2314 and the email is Recorder@kentcountyde.gov.

Electronic deed records are available from the 1700s to the present. Searching and viewing watermarked documents is free. To download or print without a watermark, the cost is $2.00 per page or $75 for an unlimited monthly subscription. In-office copies printed by staff are $1.00 per page. The office offers a free Property Fraud Alert system that emails you when a document is filed in your name. This service provides total transparency and an early warning if someone records a document against your property without your knowledge.

Transfer on Death Deeds became available as of 2025. These provide a low-cost alternative to a will when the estate consists primarily of property. No attorney is required, though the office recommends consulting one. A drop box outside the office accepts after-hours submissions. E-recording is available through four approved companies. Deeds are never changed or corrected. A new deed must be made and recorded each time ownership changes, forming a chain of title.

The Kent County Recorder of Deeds office page explains recording requirements, fee schedules, forms, and the free Property Fraud Alert service available to all Kent County property owners.

For research purposes, understanding the history of a property's ownership can be critical when tracing an excess proceeds claim or verifying entitlement to funds held from a sheriff's sale in Kent County.

The online land records portal at i2g.uslandrecords.com/DE/Kent2/D/Default.aspx provides access to real property records from January 30, 1874 to present. Names are searchable as written on legal documents. Casual access charges $2.00 per page for downloaded documents.

The portal also links directly to the Property Fraud Alert signup, making it easy to protect your interests while researching property records for unclaimed money or excess proceeds purposes.

Additional property and deed information is available through the Kent County Deeds and Property Records page, which provides guidance on how to access both the deeds records database and the separate property records search system.

The two databases serve different purposes. The deeds records system covers document images and indices, while the property records search provides ownership and assessment data for current parcels in the county.

Kent County Sheriff's Sales and Excess Proceeds

The Kent County Sheriff's Office conducts two types of sales: mortgage foreclosures and county or town tax sales called monitions. Mortgage foreclosure sales are held on the first Thursday of every month at 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901, Chamber Room 203. Monition sales run quarterly on the last Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at 10:00 AM. Contact the office at (302) 736-2161 for mortgage sales or (302) 744-2336 for tax monition sales.

As of May 1, 2025, all bidders must register before each sale and bring a $4,000 non-refundable cashier's check, certified check, or money order. Registration closes promptly at 9:45 AM with no exceptions. All sales are advertised in the Dover Post and Delaware State News two weeks prior. The Kent County Sheriff's Office is not law enforcement and does not guarantee clear titles.

When a property sells for more than what is owed in back taxes, liens, and fees, the surplus becomes excess proceeds that belong to the former owner. These amounts are tracked through the Delaware Superior Court's Project Rightful Owner program. The Kent County list is at courts.delaware.gov/superior/rightfulowner/kent_sale_a_b1.aspx. Past entries on the list include amounts like $20,542.80 and $36,243.36, showing the value that can be sitting unclaimed from older sales.

The Kent County Project Rightful Owner list is maintained by the Delaware Superior Court and shows all excess proceeds from Kent County sheriff's sales that have not yet been claimed, organized alphabetically with case numbers, sale dates, and amounts.

Cases on the list go back to the early 2000s. If you or a family member owned property in Kent County that was sold at a sheriff's sale, checking this list should be a priority. Claims require a title search, a W-9, and certified supporting documents.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office page provides current sale schedules, registration requirements, payment terms, and access to the new 2025 procedures document that outlines updated rules for all sale types.

The office updates the sales list three times daily and the list on the day of a sale as of 9:30 AM. Printed copies of the sales list are available for $0.25 per page at the office.

Kent County Register of Wills

Estate assets that are never distributed can sit unclaimed for years. The Kent County Register of Wills manages estate administration, probate proceedings, will filings, and appointment of personal representatives. D.J. Cox serves as Register of Wills. The office is at 555 Bay Road, 2nd Floor, Room 214, Dover, DE 19901. Walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The phone number is (302) 744-2330.

To search whether an estate file exists for someone who has passed away, the county maintains a searchable database. Appointments are required to open and close an estate, and the office reviews paperwork before scheduling. Forms are payable by cash, check, or money order only. Required items for opening an estate in person include the original death certificate, the original will if one exists, estimated values of solely owned assets, a list of next of kin with addresses, and a valid photo ID.

The Kent County Register of Wills page provides access to the estate search database, forms library, fee schedule, and instructions for both in-person and mail submissions for opening and closing estates in Kent County.

If an estate was opened in Kent County but assets were never fully distributed, those funds may still be accessible through the probate process or may have been escheated to the state as unclaimed property.

Kent County Department Contacts

All primary Kent County offices are located at or near 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. The general county information line is (302) 744-2300. Below are the direct contacts for departments relevant to unclaimed money searches in Kent County.

• Finance Department: (302) 744-2386, kcfinance@kentcountyde.gov
• Tax Office: (302) 744-2341, taxoffice@kentcountyde.gov
• Recorder of Deeds: (302) 744-2314, Recorder@kentcountyde.gov
• Register of Wills: (302) 744-2330, Registrar@kentcountyde.gov
• Sheriff's Office: (302) 736-2161, Sheriff@kentcountyde.gov
• Assessment Office: (302) 744-2401, assessment@kentcountyde.gov

The Kent County contact page lists all department phone numbers, email addresses, and physical locations for offices at the county administrative complex in Dover.

For questions that span multiple departments, calling the general information line at (302) 744-2300 is often the fastest way to get directed to the right office for your specific unclaimed money question.

Cities in Kent County

Kent County is home to several Delaware cities with their own local resources for unclaimed money searches.

Nearby Counties

Kent County sits between New Castle County to the north and Sussex County to the south.