Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I don't want to provide a copy of my ID, can you still recover my unclaimed property?

Yes, absolutely! Please download the Notarized Sworn Statement of the Claimant using the link below and take the form, along with your valid identification to a notary to complete the form. If have any questions regarding the form or if you require assistance locating or paying for a notary, please contact your Account Executive who will be happy to assist. If you don’t have any form of valid identification please contact your Account Executive for assistance.
Notarized Sworn Statement form

Cases we investigate involve cash assets worth more than $20,000. It’s worth a few minutes of your time to get free information about your interest in the case we are calling you about. This is not a random call or a solicitation for you to pay money in advance. Considerable effort goes into determining who is entitled to the unclaimed property or inheritance. If you prefer, you can have us speak with a relative or trusted adviser.
  • Locate documents required to prove ownership
  • Facilitate estate administration and other judicial proceedings required to establish ownership and distribute assets
  • Contact all interested parties to coordinate cooperation necessary to achieved desired results
  • Facilitate settlement of disputes
  • Correct unclaimed property reporting errors and erroneous application of unclaimed property laws and rules
  • Appeal improper unclaimed property claim denials
  • Correct improper inheritance distributions
  • Facilitate enforcement of contracts, agreements, judgments, and judicial orders
  • Facilitate negligence actions against companies who fail to report complete and accurate account owner identification information to unclaimed property administrators
Yes you can. Filing a claim for the return of unclaimed property is similar to the concept of filing for a tax refund. The complexity of proving ownership of the property will depend upon the specific circumstances of your case. Success will depend on experience, knowledge of unclaimed property laws and rules, time availability, the degree of difficulty related to proving ownership and working with others who may have an interest in the property. Government data shows that more than half of all claims are rejected for failure to provide adequate proof of ownership. Unclaimed property administrators require that the documents provided to prove ownership meet a preponderance of evidence standard to avoid lawsuits. Our success rate is over 97.5%
Proving ownership of unclaimed property or an inheritance is a process that requires expertise, time, attention, and often includes upfront costs such as legal fees. People hire us (as they would H&R Block to get their tax refund) for our expertise and convenience. We work with people whose lives are busy, who want to reduce risk of losing money and time on a failed claim attempt, increase their odds of success and speed up payment. As our testimonials show, clients find our services to be effective and valuable. Our experience and persistence produces results where others have failed.

Each case is unique. Fees are determined by what is required to document ownership or to distribute inheritance, the risk we take relative to the amount time and financial resources we must expend to prove ownership and the anticipated difficulty involved to deliver your assets to you. Service fees are fully disclosed in advance – there are no upfront charges or fees. Fees are contingent upon success. If we fail you owe us nothing.

The complexity of the case will govern how long it will take to get paid. Contact us and we can provide an estimate based upon the specifics of your case. Simple claims may take as little as 60-90 days. Complex cases can take up to 2+ years. If you elect to sell your claim or inheritance rights, payment can occur in 10 days or less.

Perhaps 5 minutes. A few signatures and a copy of your ID is usually all that is required of you. Choice Plus will handle document retrieval, research, probates when required, weekly monitoring, defense against fraudulent claims and paying attention to all the numerous details necessary to get you paid.
Your check will be delivered directly to you from the fund holder, an attorney’s trust account or our trust account. Circumstances will determine how distribution occurs. Contact us for specifics regarding your case. Choice Plus provides services on a contingency basis. In other words, we only get paid when we are successful in recovering the unclaimed property or inheritance on your behalf. Service fee due to Choice Plus are paid directly from the fund holder, an attorney’s trust account or our trust account.
Dormant assets – are typically stocks, bonds, checking, savings or retirement accounts which have had no activity for an extended period of time. Unclaimed Property – is typically insurance policy benefits, inheritance, uncashed cashier’s checks, deposits, refunds, sales proceeds, escrow funds, judicial settlements, etc., that have never been claimed or the attempt to claim the asset failed.
  • Dormant assets often belong to people who have passed away.
  • Situations such as divorce, death, relocation, job loss, and business hardship are common reasons assets become dormant, lost, or forgotten.
  • A relative could have investments, insurance policies, or bank accounts that you did not know about.
  • Financial matters get overlooked or forgotten during times of stress.
Generally, recovering your property does not represent income. Inheritance is tax free up to the exemption amount. The amount of the inheritance exemption will depend on what the exemption amount was in the year the person you inherit from died. We are not qualified to provide tax advice. Check with you tax professional to determine if your circumstances create a tax liability.

We understand how frustrating and worrisome delays can be, and we truly appreciate your patience. Claim processing delays commonly occur due to staffing changes or training within state unclaimed property departments, periodic surges when companies remit unclaimed accounts (once or twice each year), and increases in claim volume when new types of property—such as cryptocurrency accounts—are added to the list of assets required to be reported to the state.