Unclaimed Property consists of money and other personal assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specified period of time. It includes checking accounts, certificates of deposit, over payments, gift certificates, paid-up life insurance policies, unpaid wages, commissions, uncashed checks, death benefits, dividends, insurance payments, money orders, refunds, savings accounts, stocks and contents of safe deposit boxes. Unclaimed Property does not include real estate.
In addition to money and securities, the Utah holdings include tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles.
Each year millions of dollars in dormant or lost accounts go unclaimed. If you know anyone who has ever moved or died, the state may be holding unclaimed cash, lost securities, bonds, refunds, insurance claims, deposits, jewelry or coins. There is no charge to search the state data for anyone's name.
Make sure you check with every state in which you have lived (unclaimed property is generally turned over to the state of your last known address as reflected on the records of the business holding your money, stock, etc.).
Another tip that may be helpful is to try various combinations of your name, try putting you first name last and your last name first. Don't forget that you may have assets in your maiden name.
Keep in mind that if someone calls or writes to you and asks that you pay them money for the successful return of your unclaimed property, you probably have some out there somewhere. The folks who are contacting you are called "heir finders." They are not likely to contact you unless they believe that they have found property belonging to you. Heir finders generally charge a fee to locate and help return unclaimed property to you.
In addition to money and securities, the state's holdings include tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles. Unclaimed money is deposited into a state school fund, and is used exclusively for public education. There are, however, no statute of limitations. Anyone has the right to claim property, at any time.
