Virginia is currently holding over $2.5 billion in unclaimed funds!

Unclaimed funds are all tangible or intangible personal property that has remained unspoken for by its owner for an extended period of time.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• • savings and checking accounts
  • wages or commissions
  • dividends
  • customer deposits
  • refund checks
  • insurance proceeds
  • safety deposit boxes

Funds becomes unclaimed when the holder has not had contact with the owner of the property for a specified period of time, called the dormancy period.   After the passage of the dormancy period, if there has been no activity generated by the owner, the property is then presumed abandoned.

Most property types have a five-year dormancy period;  but the time frame can vary from one to fifteen years depending on the holder and the property types.

You can go to https://www.vamoneysearch.org  to search for Virginia unclaimed funds.  There is no fee to collect your funds.  Click  “Claim Your Property” button on the front page.

Once you get on the site, you can create a user name and password to establish your account.  This will allow you to search for unclaimed property belonging to you and your family, living or deceased, and any companies or businesses you have the authority to claim property for.

If your search reveals potential matches, you will be given a set of options including saving your progress online and instructions on how to complete a claim form. These include instructions on completing the paperwork, supplying the necessary documentation, and sending the relevant information to the Division of Unclaimed Property.

It’s important to remember that all of the results you see may not belong to you. The Virginia Department of the Treasury does a thorough review of your documents prior to approving the claim to ensure that only the rightful owner receives the property in question.

There is no time limit to file a claim.   The Virginia Department of the Treasury holds all funds in perpetuity.   Tangible items are auctioned off on a regular basis and the proceeds from the auction are held for the property’s owner indefinitely.   The Virginia Department of the Treasury does not store dangerous, flammable, explicit/obscene or illegal items of any nature for any length of time. Paperwork and other documents are stored for a period of 20 years before being destroyed.

After you file a claim, The Virginia Department of the Treasury Unclaimed Property Program will assign your claim to a Claims Analyst who will begin the review and approval process. Your supporting documentation will then be verified and if your claim is approved, you will be issued a check for your funds or be instructed on how to take delivery of any tangible items.

You can check the status of a pending claim by logging into your account at any time.

You should allow approximately 60 days for processing of your claim. The time frame may vary given the specific details of the claim, any necessary additional information that is required by the Claims Representative and the nature of the property.  Securities requiring transfer and claims on estates can take longer than 60 days.

You can contact the Division of Unclaimed Property at:

1-800-468-1088
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
or send a fax to 804-692-0576.

For Claim Processing:

Commonwealth of Virginia
Department of the Treasury
Division of Unclaimed Property
PO Box 2485
Richmond, VA 23218-2485

Did you know that there is a little known business where you can actually get paid to find unclaimed money for other people?

Unclaimed money finders search for people that have money being held for them and help them claim it. In return they charge a fee for their service, which is a percentage of the amount that they have recovered. It’s a very easy business that not too many people know about.

If you would like to learn more about it, please click here.

The State of Vermont is holding over $88 million in unclaimed funds!

There are over 485,000 individual accounts that are owed money.

Funds are considered unclaimed if the institution holding them cannot find the person or entity that own them.

Examples of unclaimed funds include:

• Dormant Savings/Checking Accounts and Certificates of Deposit
• Safe Deposit Box Contents
• Uncashed Money Orders, Cashier’s or Travelers Checks
• Uncashed Payroll Checks
• Uncashed Stock and Mutual Funds Dividends
• Stock Certificates
• Unclaimed Security Deposits
• Utility Deposits
• Customer Deposits, Overpayments, Credit Balances, and Refunds
• Court Deposits
• Insurance Payments
• Probate Court Judgements
• Property Overlooked in the Probate of an Estate
• Paid Up Life Insurance Polices
• Uncashed Death Benefit Checks and Life Insurance Proceeds

Vermont Unclaimed Property laws require corporations, business associations, financial institutions, insurance  companies and other such entities (referred to as holders) to report and deliver property annually to the State Treasure Office if there has been no customer activity on the account for a pre-defined number of years.  All state citizens benefit from property that remains unclaimed as interest earned on these funds helps support public programs.

The law was enacted to prevent holders of unclaimed funds from keeping money not belonging to them in their coffers.  The law gives the state an opportunity to locate citizens that are owed financial assets as well a providing a single repository for Vermont citizens to search for unclaimed property owed to them.

There is no fee for this service.  It is the Treasurer’s goal to make every reasonable effort to locate the rightful owners of these unclaimed funds.

Click here to search for Vermont Unclaimed Funds

To start your search, click on the link above.  If funds come up in your name check the address associated with them to determine if it is a current or former home or work address.  Then review the name of the organization shown to have reported it to determine if you ever had a business association with it.  For privacy reasons, social security numbers are omitted from the site.  Once you have confirmed that the funds most likely belong to you, make sure you have the proper documentation to prove ownership including official documentation, documents showing the address with your name, etc..

There are several things you can do to prevent funds from being turned over to the state including:

• Maintaining accurate and current records of bank accounts, insurance policies, stock certificates, utility and rent deposits, and safe deposit box locations
• Pay all safe deposit box rental fees on time
• Remain in active contact with the holders of your funds by mail, email, telephone or in person
• Cash all checks received promptly after receipt including dividends, wages, refunds, and insurance settlements

If you find property that belongs to you, you must print a claim form.  You must include the OID (owner number) that is listed with the property you are claiming. It is the number that is under the heading OID in the unclaimed property search function above.

If you are unable to print a claim form, you may request that a form be sent to you by clicking on the OID number of the property listed. An electronic form will appear on screen and allow you to enter your name and current mailing address. A form will then be mailed to you.

To claim property you must mail a claim form to:

Vermont Unclaimed Property Division
State Treasurer’s Office
109 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05609-6200

Express Claims

An express claim allows you to receive your money faster. It is only used when claiming property valued at $200 or less. To file an express claim:

1. You must be the original owner.
2. The amount must be $200 or less.
3. You must complete and return a claim form.
4. If you still live at the address listed on the web-site, sign the claim form in the presence of a notary and send it in. OR, If you prefer not to use a notary, include a copy of your current photo ID with the completed,signed claim form and mail both to the Unclaimed Property Division.

– OR –

If you no longer live at the address listed on the web-site, provide evidence you once lived at that address, a copy of your current photo ID and a signed claim form (no notary needed) and mail to the Unclaimed Property Division. OR If you prefer, sign the form in front of a notary(no ID needed), provide proof you once lived at that address and mail all to the Unclaimed Property Division.

•     Examples of former address include, but are not limited to: copy of an old ID, utility bill, tax form, bank statement.
•     If you no longer have any evidence, include a statement to that effect and indicate what years you resided at the address/addresses that are listed.

To claim property you must mail a claim form to:

Vermont Unclaimed Property Division
State Treasurer’s Office
109 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05609-6200

You Can Contact the Unclaimed Property Division

In Person

The Unclaimed Property Division of the Vermont State Treasurer Office is located on the fourth floor of The Pavilion Building, 109 State Street,  in Montpelier. It is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm.
Google Map: 109 State Street

By Mail

US Postal Service and Express Package Delivery

Unclaimed Property Division
Office of the State Treasurer
109 State Street, 4th Floor
Montpelier, VT 05609-6200

Email

Property and claims questions: unclaimed.property@vermont.gov
Holder resources and report questions: tre.upcompliance@vermont.gov

By Phone

(802) 828-2407 – phone
(800) 642-3191 – toll-free in Vermont only
(800) 253-0191 – TTY
(802) 828-2884 – facsimile

Did you know that there is a little known business where you can actually get paid to find unclaimed money for other people?

Unclaimed money finders search for people that have money being held for them and help them claim it. In return they charge a fee for their service, which is a percentage of the amount that they have recovered. It’s a very easy business that not too many people know about.

If you would like to learn more about it, please click here.