Do you have unclaimed property or money?

Do you have unclaimed property or money?


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SALT LAKE CITY — Sweeter than honey, Utahns may only be a mouse click away from learning whether the Beehive State has missing property or unclaimed money in your name or that of a loved one.

Suffering from varying levels of unemployment, a record rate of foreclosure, an increasing use of food stamps, emergency cash assistance and government subsidies, more Americans have turned to the Internet in search of missing money and unclaimed property.

With more than $35 billion in unclaimed property nationwide, the search terms “missing property,” "unclaimed money" and “unclaimed funds" have topped the charts on Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

And while Kim Kardashian has regained the top spot of most searched terms on the Internet from Justin Bieber, the Google search index ranks "missing property" and “unclaimed money” right up there with them.

Even social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and Google+ have pages on how to find unclaimed funds and lost or unclaimed property.


Utah State Treasurer Richard K. Ellis currently holds unclaimed items and property valued at $385 million in more than two million claimable accounts.

In his Unclaimed Property Division, Utah State Treasurer Richard K. Ellis currently holds unclaimed items and property valued at $385 million in more than two million claimable accounts.

The division has unclaimed property that originates from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings.

Unclaimed property also includes tangible items such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes.

According to the division's website, the following are common sources of missing money: "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.”

Since 1957, the Utah Unclaimed Property Division has reunited owners or heirs of deceased owners with unclaimed money, items, and property held by the state.

Since 1984, approximately $131 million has been returned to owners or their heirs.

Having hosted over 116,500 website visitors and 23,500 customer service calls last year, the Unclaimed Property Division processed and returned more than $14.2 million in claims during fiscal year 2012.

“Last year the three highest activity events on our website were the ksl.com article, a follow-up KSL radio spot with Mary Richards and also a Deseret News article,” Dennis Johnston, administrator of the Unclaimed Property Division, told KSL. “Those events exceeded the hit rate and the actual claims submitted volume of any of our promotional efforts. Also, every one of those events exceeded the prior No. 1 activity event we tracked by a measurable amount. The top prior event was the nationwide televised Good Morning America program that highlighted Unclaimed Property in 2011.”


Utah is one of 40 states that participate in a program endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, an organization that proactively seeks owners of missing money and unclaimed property.

Utah is one of 40 states that participate in a program endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, an organization that proactively seeks owners of missing money and unclaimed property.

At MissingMoney.com or Unclaimed.org visitors can also determine whether missing property or unclaimed money is being held in their name.

While searching the respective indexes, visitors should check each state in which they have resided and under every name they have used. Be sure to include spelling variations as accounts sometimes contain different spellings or typographical errors.

Searching for deceased relatives is also advised as heirs are often surprised to learn that money or property has been left behind by their dearly departed.

Should a positive match be found, an on-line claims form must be completed, printed, and mailed with supporting documentation for processing. Although there is no statute of limitations on making a claim, the Unclaimed Property Division does not pay interest on accounts.

“We are in the process of adding social media to our locating and outreach efforts to reunite even more owners with their lost or unclaimed property,” stated Johnston. “I’ve already seen good results from using that approach and intend to do more in an automated fashion in the future.”

“Fee Finders” may occasionally contact individuals and let them know money or property has been located in their name. They will offer to process a claim on their behalf for a small percentage fee.

If contacted by a fee finder, politely decline the service and search the UnclaimedProperty Division registry yourself. Utah, as well as most states, does not charge a fee to recover unclaimed property.

There is no reason to pay for something you can do yourself free and without fee.

“In tough economic times, Utahns should account for every penny," Richard Ellis, the Utah State Treasurer told KSL. “With nearly two million unclaimed items, I encourage all Utahns to visit our website at www.mine.utah.gov. Chances are good we are holding cash or property for you, your business, or someone you know.”

Bill Lewis is the principal of William E. Lewis Jr. & Associates and host of "The Credit Report with Bill Lewis" — a daily forum for business and financial news, politics, economic trends and issues on AM 740 WSBR in south Florida.

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