[MR] OT: website for unclaimed property

[Karen Setze]

Good gentles,

I thought I ought to share this, since I'm again about to collect what feels like free money.

Probably many of you have seen those lists of names your state publishes of unclaimed property and figured there was nothing there for you. You might want to think again. Many states have changed their laws in the last 10 years or so, and require businesses to turn over checks that have been returned as undeliverable -- so even little things like utility deposit checks or final cash-outs of old insurance policies are just sitting around in state coffers waiting to be claimed.

The states changed the law, so they could collect interest on the money while holding it for the long-lost owners. Courtesy of the Internet, it's now pretty easy to see if there's any money due you. Go to www.naupa.org, it's the website for the Naional Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators -- it has links to each state's website for unclaimed property. Each site offers a search function that allows you to type in your name and it will search the database, and let you know if they're holding any money for you.

>From my experience with the Texas site, it was easy enough to print off a copy of the claim form, and I'm getting ready to mail it along with a copy of my ID and some documentation that I used to live at the old address. It's as simple as that.

Hope this helps a fellow Atlantian.

Lady Yseulte Trevelyn