

Treasurer wants to return unclaimed money

1:06 AM, Dec. 3, 2012  |  Comments
  • Filed Under

You may have money hidden away in the state's coffers and not know it. And if you do, State Treasurer John Kennedy wants to send it back to you.

It's not hard to find out if you're one of the lucky ones, nor is it difficult to claim it.

There's no down side. Everyone should take a few minutes to find out if there's a hidden treasure, a private lottery, waiting for them.


But if the list is not available in your local newspaper, it can be found only a few mouse clicks away. The names of unclaimed property owners are available at A claim can be filed on the same website.

ABC News reported that one in 10 Americans have unclaimed property stashed away somewhere from credit unions, banks, former employers and government agencies.

It could be as little as a $10 overpayment to a doctor's office or a $100 credit at the local utility company. Or it could be much more.

In 2011, Missouri paid out the largest unclaimed cash award in U.S. history - $6.1 million. That broke the record previously held by New York state of $4 million, followed by Wisconsin's $1.4 million.

According to, the record-breaking check was paid to a Missouri woman who chose to remain anonymous and whose ancestors had invested in an obscure company generations ago. As sometimes happens, the paperwork was lost and the investment forgotten over the years, while it continued to grow.

Of course, most people who find lost money will find the more modest amounts.

But that doesn't mean it's not a thrill to find your name and learn that you have a couple of bucks coming to you.

State treasurers' offices around the United States are holding about $32 billion in trust for people who don't know it's there. Each state has its own list of unclaimed property owners, most of which can be accessed on the state's official website. The federal government also has unclaimed property, which can be searched at

There are some non-government websites that also provide free searches of state and private company databases. Just make sure that if you use one of them, it is a reputable site. And be aware that some professional "finders" do charge a fee, which in the vast majority of cases is not necessary.

So, check it out. There's nothing to lose.

The anticipation when you click on your name is like getting an instant-win scratch-off lottery ticket.

It costs at least $1 to play the lottery. This is free.

Go ahead. You might be a winner. And it's your money, after all.

Real Deals




Sign up for home delivery today

Reader Forums

ERROR: Macro ody_bottomforums is missing!