How old was he at the time? Could an old employer or school have something with the address?

Driver's license at that time through the state DMV?

Would they accept a listing in a telephone directory? I don't know where you are located but if you are near a large city, many large public or university libraries maintain a historical collection of telephone directories for their area.

Bank statements, cancelled checks, real estate documents, property/school tax statements, copy of deed(s) to him should be available from county agency where those records are kept forever, same with mortgage documents. If he owned the property(s), all should have been recorded there.

I like maire cate's idea but I think they also want to prove that he is THE John Smith, for example, that lived in that house. Did he ever mail a letter to his mother from that house - a letter that she kept? A photo of him standing in front of the house? Did he get a marriage license while living there? Or father a child while living there? The microfiche of the local newspaper could produce any newspaper articles that he might have been mentioned in.

The only type of documentation I can think of is court records or property ownership records. Did he own the property in question? Those documents are saved forever. We probably do have all of our tax documents from the time we got married lol. But my husband likes to keep those for a long time. I can't imagine they would expect a person to have those types of things from so long ago.

"Property accounts" administered by state unclaimed property departments are usually money, not real property - bank accounts, uncashed checks and customer account credits or refunds held by businesses that get turned over to the state after a period of time. Also, the contents of safe deposit boxes that haven't been accessed for a set period of time. The legal term is called "escheat".

Would he happen to have an old income tax record with that address on it?

He was 24, no property records or court records. His folks are long deceased. Tried to find some telephone directories from '78 - 80. No luck. I requested a copy of his entire driver's license file. Not sure they go that far back, or that they would have that address. He probably used his parents address back then because he moved around so much. Worth a try. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

For those of us who like the thrill of tracking things down, would you mind telling us the city in Idaho where he lived? It is amazing what you can find on line. I will understand if you don't want to do this.

If applicable, see if the hospital has his old records or a dentist. I know when one of my old dentists retired, he sold the practice to someone else. My eye doctor probably saw me for the first time around 36 years ago. I might still be in his system since my family still sees him.

Was he in college around then? Or where was he working. Does he still know anyone from that time? Maybe he could send a notarized letter.

What about property taxes?

I feel your pain, but maybe not as bad. We recently had to prove that we paid federal taxes ten years ago. Not going into the story here. It was a pain.

Will they tell you the amount he can claim? If it's a small amount -- return of a deposit for starting up utility service or something -- it may not be worth the chase. Was he working? Going to school? (Employer or school registration records?) Can he prove that his *parents* lived there? (Lived there when he was born? RE tax records? A neighbor who could testify?) Did he pay a fine? (Court records.)

I've just had to dredge up the installing plumber's bill from 2001 to *prove* to American Standard that I bought their (terrible) faucets when we built our home. The products have a lifetime warranty. (Guess they bet on people moving every few years!)

Census records might be a place to try.

1940 is the most recent Census that the government has made available.

Is he a military veteran?

Good Luck on this. Several years ago I found that the State of California was holding several hundred dollars for me apparently from an old brokerage account that dated back to the 1960ties-early 1970ties when I was still single & lived at the apartment house address shown for me. I sent them all kinds of photos of documents, including a copy of our marriage certificate changing my name & an old passport from 1967. I thought all would be sufficient, but no. I got very angry on the phone, telling them that I thought what I had supplied them already was sufficient for something going back almost 40 years, & I'd like my money. She said she'd "talk to her supervisor", and a few weeks later I received the check in the mail.

One thing I did have that I never sent was a stamped envelope from 1966, inviting me to a friend's wedding shower, which plainly showed my "maiden name" & the correct address from 40 years ago. I felt I had jumped through enough hoops by that time.

Currently I have about $4.00 being held by the unclaimed property division of the State of California, but it's hardly worth my trouble to apply for it considering the foregoing experience.

County tax records should go back that far. In case of fires and floods, though, records have been lost to the ages. Call the State Agency directly and explain the problem. Ask them what other form of ID might be acceptable to them. They can wave documentation, if they choose, or suggest acceptable alternatives. Many times it is so sad, too bad and the money reverts to the State.