Safety, Crime, Reentry & Legal Help · Surprise rank #95
Holocaust Survivor or Heir? New York Will Research Lost Assets and Advocate for Restitution for Free
New York's Holocaust Claims Processing Office helps Holocaust victims and heirs pursue lost bank accounts, unpaid insurance policies and artwork without charging a fee or taking a percentage.
Who
Holocaust victims and heirs with reason to believe family assets remain dormant, unpaid, lost, stolen or sold under duress because of Nazi persecution.
Where: New York State office serving claimants in restitution matters
What to do
Start here: Submit an HCPO online inquiry or contact the office with family names, asset information and any surviving documentation.
Eligibility: The office assesses the viability of each claim and the available restitution process.
What you get
HCPO researches claims, documents ownership/loss and advocates with compensation organizations or current asset holders.
Benefit: Free professional research and claims advocacy; HCPO charges no fee and takes no percentage of recovered assets.
Possible value: Potentially substantial depending on the asset; there is no guaranteed recovery amount.
Good to know
Important: Many formal compensation deadlines have passed, and recovery is not guaranteed, but HCPO says some claims may still be possible through remaining processes or directly with institutions.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: Families may assume old restitution deadlines make every claim impossible or that professional asset research requires paying a private specialist.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026