How to find unclaimed property in Georgia

When business ventures close, or when people move or become incapacitated, they may lose track of property. In Georgia this means that depending on the type of property that is misplaced, it may fall under the Georgia unclaimed property laws. Property owners and their heirs then will have to find out how to find unclaimed property in Georgia.

What is unclaimed property?

Unclaimed property is considered property that is abandoned by the original owner. This sometimes occurs after someone moves or has passed away without leaving a full list of their assets. In the case of a move, this means that the mailing order left with the post office has expired and the original owner has lost track of the property.

Unclaimed property classifications include paychecks, utility deposits and even contents of safe deposit boxes. When banks, government entities or other companies who hold assets belonging to another person are unable to locate the original owner, there are rules in Georgia that require the assets be turned over to the state. The period of time to locate the owner varies from one year to 15 years depending on the asset.

Identifying unclaimed property

The Georgia Department of Revenue offers an online search for unclaimed property. The database may be searched by last name, or an inquiry can be made by telephone by calling (404) 968-0490. Those who find property registered by last name should know just because a name is the same or similar does not mean the property is theirs to claim. There are often more than one person with the same (or similar) names.

Filing a claim for property

Those searching the unclaimed property database that believe they have identified assets that belong to them will have to request a claim form. This process is done from the database itself versus a direct form download. Simply select the item from the list that you believe you have a rightful claim to and you will be provided with additional information and an option to request a form. The additional information should be able to clearly show if the property belongs to the person making the inquiry by providing the persons last known address as well as the institution that was holding the asset.

Once confirming that the property belongs to you or a family member and requesting the form, you will have to wait for the form to be mailed. Once received it is imperative that you read all of the instructions provided. The form will have to be filled out completely and specific documents will have to be provided to the State of Georgia. Some of the typical documentation that is required is a photo identification, a W9 form and some proof of ownership.

It is important to note that property owners can claim property from the State of Georgia’s unclaimed property division at any time at no fee. Account owners, their heirs or their estates need not pay any fee for reclaiming abandoned property. Unclaimed property in Georgia is held by the state in perpetuity for the benefit of the owner (or heirs).

How to find unclaimed property in Hawaii

Like all states, Hawaii has millions of dollars in unclaimed assets. Residents, business owners and heirs of business owners and residents in Hawaii should know how to find unclaimed property in Hawaii. The process is not complicated, it is free and rightful owners and heirs can file a claim at any time after the property is turned over to the state.

How does property become abandoned?
Frequently when people move or become disabled they forget about personal property. Some of the types of property that are commonly turned over to the state include contents of safe deposit boxes, stocks and bonds or security deposits on apartments or for utilities. This property is often overlooked when someone moves and if not claimed within the periods of time laid out in the Hawaii unclaimed property laws, it is turned over to the state.

How do I find out about unclaimed property?

Those who have lived in Hawaii or have relatives who lived in Hawaii are encouraged to do an abandoned property search. This search may be conducted online at the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, Unclaimed Property Search page. Those who prefer may also contact the unclaimed property division at (808) 586-1589 extension 61589.  residents of Kauai should call (808) 274-3141, in Maui (808) 984-2400 and for Lanai & Molukai, 1-800-468-4644.  A clerk may offer to conduct the search for callers.

How do I file a claim?

Once you have established that you may be entitled to assets being held as unclaimed property in Hawaii, a claim must be filed. The claim forms must be filed and include specific information. Any

How to find unclaimed property in Florida

According to ABC News, unclaimed property scams are becoming more prominent. Many of these firms claim that they have identified hundreds or thousands of dollars being withheld from their rightful owners. Frequently, these scams are sent out by bulk emails to unsuspecting consumers. However, if you want to know how to find unclaimed property in Florida, you need not pay a “finder” to identify that property.

What is unclaimed property?

Unclaimed property is classified as a financial asset, with the exception of real estate, that has not been claimed by its rightful owner in a specified period of time. The time period for property being deemed unclaimed varies between three and five years. Typical unclaimed property includes stocks and bonds, safe deposit box contents and dividends or interest payments.  Other types of unclaimed property may include (but may not be limited to) unclaimed insurance policies, checking and savings accounts and abandoned retirement accounts.

Can anyone claim abandoned property?

The rightful owners may claim property at any time after it is turned over to the State of Florida. In addition property may be claimed by heirs of the owner, by other states or may be claimed by properly registered third parties.  Florida does have strict requirements about third parties who are collecting benefits on behalf of the rightful owners or heirs.

Identifying unclaimed property

Anyone who believes that there is property in the State of Florida that they are entitled to may contact the Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Unclaimed Property.  Owners may contact the office at (888) 258-2253 or (850)413-5555 or by email at FloridaUnclaimedProperty@MyFloridaCFO.com. It is important to note that there is no guarantee of

How to find unclaimed property in Idaho

While most states hold unclaimed property in perpetuity for the benefit of the rightful owner or heirs, claimants have a limited amount of time to find unclaimed property in Idaho. Unclaimed property is considered abandoned and Idaho statutes allow that once the property is turned over to the state, it is considered forfeited if not claimed within a period of 10 years. For residents or heirs of residents this means they need to know how to find unclaimed property in Idaho before the statute of limitations expires.

Searching for unclaimed property

The Idaho State Treasurer's Office provides an online database that may be searched by those who believe that the state holds property that is rightfully theirs. The property may include items such as stock certificates, bonds, dividend checks or other financial assets. There may also be physical assets such as those found in safe deposit boxes including jewelry, savings bonds or coin collections.

Search tips

While the state makes every effort to provide accurate information in their database it is important to know that (a) mistakes happen and (b) information may be reported incorrectly by the original account holder. When searching the database it is important to remember these important features:

• Searches may be conducted with as little as the first three letters of the last name
• Property holders (or heirs) should search under aliases that may have been used including maiden names
• Town names do not have to be included in the search to provide results

Another important thing to remember is even if the search turns up a match on the name that was searched does not mean that the property belongs to that person. There are potentially several people who bear the same name. It is best to determine if the account owner is the same person by reviewing the original institutions name where the account was held.

Filing a claim

For property that is identified in the Idaho unclaimed property database, a claim form must be filed.

How to find unclaimed property in Illinois

Forget the claims that you see in your email telling you that for a small fee someone can “find” money that belongs to you! For those who need to find unclaimed property in Illinois, it can be done quickly, easily and without paying anyone a dime to find it for you.  The State Treasurer in Illinois is the custodian of property that is designated “abandoned” or unclaimed.

Types of unclaimed property

Tax refunds, paychecks that were never picked up or cashed, stocks, bonds and safe deposit box contents are some of the types of property that often remain unclaimed. Most financial assets are considered abandoned after an account has been inactive for a period of five years. The one exception to this is that paychecks which are not cashed are considered abandoned after only one year.

Activity stops process

Banks, credit unions and other financial institutions must report assets as abandoned if there is no activity for a five year period. However, deposits or withdrawals to any of these accounts means that the property is no longer considered abandoned so in some cases, property may not be “unclaimed” for extended periods of time. This is especially true with retirement accounts, some people do not have any activity on their accounts for an extended period of time, then suddenly they will make a withdrawal. Accounts with activity are never considered abandoned with the process that is in place.

Finding unclaimed property

The Illinois State Treasurer has made finding unclaimed property easy for residents or heirs of residents of Illinois. A special website called Cash Dash has a database that is updated several times a

How to find unclaimed property in Colorado

Abandoned property in the state of Colorado is turned over to the state and they publish a list annually. The list is called the “Great Colorado Payback” list. While most states allow users to type in a last name and search the list of property available to property owners who share that name, Colorado requires users to put the name of the property owner into a form and this will return a list of matches or near matches. However, this is not the only way to find abandoned property in Colorado, there are other methods as well.

At least one time per year, the Great Colorado Payback list is published online. In addition, this list is made available at public library branches, the offices of county treasurers and the offices of state legislators. In addition, the list is distributed to all newspapers in the state.

The State Treasurer also has additional proactive measures they use to find rightful property owners. One of these methods is using public events such as the Colorado State Fair. At these public events, the State Treasurer has the list and claimants may obtain forms to file claims on the spot.  In addition, notices are sent out annually to thousands of owners if the State Treasurer is able to find a new address for the owner.

Colorado also allows account owners and heirs to contact the original institution to retrieve property. Banks, credit unions, broker dealers or any other entity that has turned assets over to the state may

How to find unclaimed property in California

Bank accounts, safe deposit box contents and stocks may be turned over to the state of California as unclaimed property. In addition, certificates of deposit, insurance policies and royalty payments from various sources may also be held by the state. Enigmatic advertisements are constantly telling people that they can find property that belongs to them by paying a fee. Do not fall for these advertisements, instead, follows these simple steps to find unclaimed funds.

Fees are not necessary

Like most states, California has an unclaimed property division. This department is responsible for dealing with any assets that are turned over to the state due to the California escheatment laws. Those who are deemed as rightful owners or administrators of funds may claim these funds without paying a third party to file a claim.

How do I find the property?

The California State Controller’s office maintains a database of property that has been turned over to the state. This database may be searched online by going to the Controllers UCP (Unclaimed Property) Inquiry System. Users may search for property belonging to an individual, company or government entity. If the state has any property in their possession, the information will be contained

How to find unclaimed property in Kentucky

Savings accounts, checking accounts and from time to time, paychecks may all wind up as unclaimed property. This is caused primarily due to moving, name changes or death of a family member. Unclaimed property includes court settlements, safe deposit box contents and payoffs on life insurance policies. For those who have lived in Kentucky or have had loved ones who lived in Kentucky it is important that they know how to find unclaimed property in Kentucky.

Original account holder

For most people, the easiest way to find unclaimed property is to contact the original account holder. Often account owners or heirs find statements, cancelled checks or even a will that contains information about property held by banks, mutual fund companies or broker dealers. Even if these account holders have turned the property over to the state, it may be possible to request their assistance in claiming the property.

Kentucky State Treasurer

The State of Kentucky unclaimed property laws require most companies to turn over information regarding abandoned property within three years of the account being dormant. For claimants, information may be obtained about property by contacting the Treasurer’s Office at 1-800-465-4722. Someone in the office can conduct a name search and provide a claim form that must be properly filled out and filed with the appropriate documentation.

The State of Kentucky maintains an unclaimed property database which may be used to search for unclaimed property. The database may be searched by placing the last name of the account owner in the search box and if desired, the first name may also be included. Those who are searching are

Unclaimed property laws in Arkansas

When people move they often forget about small savings accounts. Some forget about small retirement accounts when they change jobs.  However, the good news is that all financial accounts are subject to escheatment laws better known as unclaimed property laws. In Arkansas, these laws are strictly enforced and companies may be subjected to penalties if they fail to abide by them.

What type of property is included?

Many people are surprised to find out that there are actually physical belongings that can be impacted by unclaimed property laws. Generally, this property is found in safe deposit boxes. Contents may include jewelry, coins, stamps or other collectibles that were stored for safekeeping.

What happens to unclaimed property?

Unclaimed property is turned over to the Arkansas Auditor of State after prescribed periods of time. Time frames vary from one year for wages and other types of funds to 15 years for travelers checks. These assets are recorded by the Auditor and held for the benefit of the owner or the estate or heirs of the owner.

Who can claim abandoned property?

Unclaimed or abandoned property that is held by the state may be claimed by the original owner (or owners), by the estate of the original owner or by the heirs of the owner.  There are specific

How to find unclaimed property in Maine

With the exception of personal property such as animals, vehicles or property, the State of Maine collects millions of dollars annually in unclaimed property. This property may come from banks, broker dealers or from employers.

What is unclaimed property?

Unclaimed property is turned over to the State of Maine when the account holder is not able to locate the owner of an account. Funds from checking or savings accounts, safe deposit box contents and checks that have gone uncashed from employers or dividend payments may be classified as unclaimed or abandoned. When property is abandoned, the State of Maine provides methods for the rightful owner or their heirs to reclaim their property.

Property is considered abandoned for various reasons including death, divorce and moving. Occasionally, account owners forget about bank accounts, life insurance policies or brokerage accounts. When someone moves (or changes their name) confusion can result and items are forgotten.

Amount of unclaimed property

As of June 30, 2011, the State of Maine has more than $172 million in more than 900,000 accounts. The average claims paid by the State of Maine are about $600 per claim filed. In all cases, the goal of the State of Maine is to ensure that the property is returned to the rightful owner.

To find and claim property

To find abandoned or unclaimed property, the rightful owner (or heirs) may begin by conducting a search on the Maine Unclaimed Property Search & Claim database. Searches may be conducted using the rightful owners name or their social security number. Users need only fill out one field in order to

How to find unclaimed property in Connecticut

Connecticut General Statutes section 3-65a provide that any business or government entity that has financial assets must make reasonable efforts to locate the rightful owner. In the event that these attempts are unsuccessful, property must be turned over to to Office of the State Treasurer for safekeeping until the rightful owner or their heirs claim the property.

Unclaimed property takes on several forms including safe deposit box contents, security deposits on public utilities, tax refunds and more. The amount of money that is due to the rightful owner is held by the state until such time as it is claimed. Regardless of how minimal the amount of money is, the business holding the assets must report them to the Treasurer.  Gift certificates are no longer considered unclaimed property; the entity holding the funds may not charge any fees for attempting to locate the owner.

The process of turning funds over to the state

State of Connecticut rules indicate that the original holder must notify the owner at their last known address six months before turning wages, refunds and other forms of compensation over to the state. There is a further requirement that any holder of property that does not fall into these categories notify the owner at least twelve months prior to turning over the funds. The exception to both of these is for safe deposit box contents. The bank that is classified as the holder may sell the assets in the box and may be entitled to recoup the fees that are associated with the sale. The funds are then turned over to the State of Connecticut to be held for the owner.

Finding the owner of assets

The State of Connecticut publishes a list of the owners of unclaimed or abandoned property at the State of Connecticut Big List.  Owners or heirs of property may check the list for property that may belong to them or a decedent. Those who wish to find out if they are entitled to property may fill out

How to find unclaimed property in Alaska

Alaska Statute 34.45.110-780 provides specific rights to the State of Alaska to maintain an unclaimed property division. In addition, these statutes provide specific time frames (three years) for property such as oil and gas royalties, paychecks that have not been cashed, safe deposit box contents and other financial assets to be turned over to the state. Property is turned over to the state provided that it is considered abandoned.

What is abandoned property?

Abandoned property occurs when someone leaves a job, moves, gets married or passes away without a will or without notifying heirs that they have property.  In essence, a company that holds property for an account owner loses contact with the person (or business) and is unable to locate them.  Once the maximum time of no contact has passed, the company is then required to report such property to the state and turn it over to the state per the escheatment laws.

What happens to abandoned property?

The State of Alaska (as well as several other states) provide a list of property that is unclaimed into a database. This database is maintained online at Missing Money. Like most other states, Alaska does not charge claimants to file a claim or to claim property that is rightfully theirs.

Additionally, property locators (also called finders or heir finders) may help owners find property.

Unclaimed money: Understanding escheatment laws

Initially when people hear the words “seized funds” they immediately panic. However, Escheatment laws are in fact the process of states seizing unclaimed financial accounts. In fact, the escheatment laws are in place to protect financial assets for their rightful owners. Individual states have laws in place and they are varied though in general, the laws take effect after an account has been inactive for five years.

What accounts are impacted

Escheatment laws cover all types of financial accounts including checking, savings, IRA and insurance policies. These laws also include contents of safe deposit boxes. Escheatment laws do not cover real estate in any manner, the only physical property they include are those that are found in safe deposit boxes.
What happens to these accounts

Financial institutions including banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies are required to attempt contact with the account holder at least annually. If they are unable to locate the owner, these funds are then transferred to the state. The “state” in this case means the state where the account

How to find unclaimed property in Kansas

Finding unclaimed property is like stumbling onto a secret savings account that was forgotten about. During 2011, the Treasurer of Kansas was able to identify more than $9.7 million belonging to more than 43,000 owners. In spite of this, residents and those who have had family members living in Kansas need to know how to find unclaimed property in Kansas.

Using the online database

Like most states, Kansas offers residents and others to search for unclaimed property in Kansas by searching online. The unclaimed property database is simple to use and is updated several times annually. Simply place the owners last name into the search field and select search for properties. It is important to note that since errors can happen that commonly misspelled names should be searched using all possible spellings.

Alternative search methods

For residents or potential property owners who prefer direct contact, there are other options available. Potential property owners may contact the Kansas Cash Connection at 1-800-432-0386 or (785) 296-4165. Alternatively, property owners may also write to the Treasurer’s office at Kansas State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division, 900 SW Jackson, Suite 201, Topeka, Kansas 66612-1235 or by email at Unclaimed@treasurer.ks.gov. In addition to these methods, lists of unclaimed properties are provided in county courthouse records where they may be accessed during regular business hours.

Railroad pensions that were administered through MetLife may also qualify for as much as $2,000 in

How to find unclaimed property in Louisiana

Every year as people move, get married or lose a family member, thousands of dollars in assets are misplaced or abandoned. In some cases, this property may be as small as a few dollars left in a checking account and forgotten about, or may be thousands of dollars in mutual funds or stocks and bonds. It is important to know how to find unclaimed property in Louisiana for those who have lived or worked in Louisiana or who had family members in Louisiana.

Contacting the State Treasurer

The first step for those who believe they have property in the State of Louisiana is to contact the State Treasurer. Since the Louisiana laws were changed, the Treasurer’s office is responsible for administering all unclaimed property claims. The office may be contacted by phone toll-free at 888-925-4127 or for local calls 225-219-9400.  Another option is to write to the office at State Treasurer, Attention: Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 91010, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or by email by filling out the Louisiana State Treasurer online contact form.

Searching database

The State Treasurer of Louisiana maintains a database of unclaimed property. This listing shows property that is listed by the name of the owner. It is important to note that property is listed in this database based on the last known address of the account owner. It is a good idea to check commonly misspelled names by all common spellings and to search women’s names by married and maiden names.

How to find unclaimed property in Arizona

Arizona laws are very specific regarding unclaimed property. Their laws include rules regarding not only stocks and bonds but also covers financial instruments like travelers checks and money orders. Like most other states, institutions who hold financial assets on behalf of individuals, companies or government offices are required to notify the state when property is considered abandoned. Arizona has specific statutes that provide guidelines for reporting abandonment and for turning assets over to the state.  Once assets have been turned over, rightful owners need to know how to find unclaimed property in Arizona.

Searching the database

Arizona’s Unclaimed Property Unit provides the ability to search (free of charge) for assets that may belong to consumers, businesses and government entities. The site provides site visitors with the ability to track assets that have been returned to the State of Arizona from all over the country. Several states and territories including Arizona use “Missing Money” to allow searches by name and state.

Those who believe that they may be the rightful owners or heirs to unclaimed property in Arizona should search this database carefully. Make sure that last names are spelled correctly and avoid using “nicknames” for first names. Make sure to input any state that the original owner may have lived in prior to or after living in Arizona..

When property is identified

Unfortunately, there are companies that make a living matching “found” money with rightful owners.

How to find unclaimed property in Indiana

Like nearly every other state in the United States, current and prior residents of Indiana have forgotten about property that belongs to them.  While most states utilize the services of their Treasurer, those who are interested in learning how to find unclaimed property in Indiana must contact the Attorney General.

Types of unclaimed property

Indiana statues provide a list of the types of property that are considered to be abandoned or unclaimed. In spite of what most people think, generally unclaimed property does not include cars, real estate or other physical assets. Some physical assets such as stock certificates, safe deposit box contents and checks are covered under the unclaimed property statutes.

How property becomes unclaimed

Property that is designated as “unclaimed” is more commonly known as abandoned property. Based on specific time frames property is considered abandoned after the property holder (e.g., banks,

How to find unclaimed property in Iowa

Everyone loves the idea of discovering untold wealth that they did not know about.  In fact, we almost all have seen emails promising to find property that belongs to us from “the government”. Oddly enough, hundreds and thousands of people do have property that is owed to them and it is being held by government agencies. However, the truth of the matter is that most of this property can be found and claimed free of charge. If you or a family member has ever lived in Iowa, you may be wondering how to find unclaimed property in Iowa.

Finding out by notification

Property owners may be notified by mail by a company who refers to themselves as  a “property finder” that they have found property that belongs to them.  Before filing documents with these companies, it is a good idea to do some research on your own. Most states, Iowa included, provide easy access to property that they are holding on your behalf.  There is never any reason to pay a fee for reclaiming assets that rightfully belong to you or your family.

Finding property online

The State of Iowa maintains a website called “The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt” where they maintain a public list of assets that are held by the State Treasurer. Those with Internet access may simply put in a name to see if there is property being held. It is generally a good idea to search under the proper spelling but also common misspellings.

If property is found in the database, a claim form must be filed to get the property. These claim forms must provide proof of ownership, proof of a right to claim (in the case of an heir or estate administrator) and other documents as may be requested by the state.

Other public lists

Unclaimed property in Iowa is published on multiple lists and displayed at major events such as the

How to find unclaimed property in Delaware

The State of Delaware provides residents and non-residents alike easy access to unclaimed property listings. Like other states, Delaware charges no fees for investigation of property or claiming property. For some, the question is how to find unclaimed property in Delaware.

Types of property

Delaware unclaimed property laws provide for various institutions including banks, stores and other financial institutions to turn over assets that are abandoned. Abandoned property may include stock, dividend payments or gift certificates that have not been cashed in. In addition, deposits made for utilities, contents of safe deposit boxes and funds from abandoned checking and savings accounts may become unclaimed property.

Conducting a search

Searching for unclaimed property is a simple process. Users can go to the State of Delaware website and review their unclaimed property page. Here you will find information regarding the types of properties that are held by the state as well as instructions on how to conduct a search.

There are several options available to conduct a search:

• PDF files - the State of Delaware provides a PDF list of unclaimed property. These lists are updated only one time annually (typically in October) and are posted online. The lists are broken into alphabetic sorts allowing quicker downloads.
• Online search - Delaware also provides an option for searching their database online via last name or street address search. When using last names, you may have to type in common

How to find unclaimed property in Maryland

In Maryland, unclaimed property is handled through the office of the Comptroller. Like many states, the Maryland unclaimed property division handles assets that have been abandoned by the owner. These assets include checking accounts, safe deposit box contents and several other types of financial assets. Unclaimed property does not include automobiles, homes or land that is abandoned. Those who have done business or lived in Maryland should understand how to find unclaimed property in Maryland.

Account holder reporting

Maryland requires businesses including banks, broker dealers and others who handle financial assets to report any property that has been dormant for more than three years to the Comptroller.  Account holders must not have had any contact during this period of time with the account owner including deposits, cashed checks (on brokerage or bank accounts) or changes of address. Account holders are required to file reports each year in October for the fiscal year ending on June 30. One notable exception is insurance companies which must report in April for the year ending December 31.

Outreach to account owners

Banks and others who hold assets for the benefit of an account owner must attempt to reach the owner prior to escheating property to the state of Maryland. They must (at a minimum) send a letter to the last known address advising the account owner that the property will be turned over to the state within 30 days. Depending on internal compliance rules, some companies may elect to run skip-