How to Account for Unclaimed Property
Every state in the U.S. has repositories of unclaimed property. Unclaimed property generally consists of bank accounts, stocks, checks, dividends, insurance payments, trust distributions, certificates of deposit and other assets. Each state has its own unclaimed property law that governs the maintenance and return of said property. These laws require the turnover of the unclaimed assets to the government. The majority of the states participate in the Missing Money website, a free and useful tool for finding unclaimed property.
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Instructions
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Navigate to the Missing Money website (see resources). The Missing Money website is operated by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Type in your first and last name in the blank text fields. Enter the two letter abbreviation of your state of residence in the text field. Click the "Go" button.
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Click on your name if it appears in the results list. Click on the "Yes I can claim" button if the entry refers to your unclaimed property. Fill out your name, telephone number, address and email address on the form on the next page. Someone from your state's unclaimed property unit will contact you regarding how to obtain your property.
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Contact the governmental unit of your state if your state does not provide information to the Missing Money website. The Missing Money website provides the contact information for each state's unclaimed property unit (see resources). The Missing Money website, at a minimum, lists a telephone number to contact at your state's unclaimed property unit. For example, if you reside in Kentucky, unclaimed property is managed by the Kentucky State Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division.
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Fill out the necessary paperwork to obtain your lost property. The paperwork will be provided to you by the unclaimed property unit. This varies depending on your state, but you are generally required to prove your identity with a Social Security number and other personal information. You may be required to provide a government-issued photo identification.
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