Imgaine there really are billions of dollars missing...j in need of their rightful owners? Sometimes when people move and forget to change their address, companies or banking institutions cannot contact them.
So any property left behind–for example, bank accounts, safe deposit box contents, and un-cashed checks–is turned over to the state as "unclaimed property." The state then acts as a custodian of the property until the rightful owner claims it.
To determine if you have any unclaimed property with a state, visit www.unclaimed.org. Click on the state that you live in, and you will be directed to the appropriate Web site.
You will either be able to perform a quick immediate search online, or a few states give you the information on how to contact them directly to inquire.
If you have lived in several states, do a quick search for each, since the funds will be held in the state they originated. What's more, the site also has links for inquiring about money in Canada, or Federal money such as IRS returns.
Be cautious of solicitations by mail or email that require you to pay a fee to obtain information about unclaimed property. Any unclaimed property information can be obtained free of charge by visiting www.unclaimed.org.
jroosevelt@kw.com
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