What to gather
Heir claims are document-driven, and incomplete packets are the usual cause of delay.
- Certified death certificate for the recorded owner
- Proof of your identity and Social Security number
- Letters testamentary, court appointment, or a small-estate affidavit
- Documents linking the owner to the address on the property record
- A will or intestacy documentation showing the distribution
When multiple heirs are entitled
Some states pay each heir a pro-rata share on separate claims; others require one estate representative to claim the whole amount and distribute it. The claim instructions for that state control.
Expect a longer timeline
Estate claims routinely take 90 to 180 days because a human reviewer verifies the chain of authority.