Do you think that you or a loved one may have unclaimed property being held by the State? Finding unclaimed property can be difficult. Here are our quick tips on how to locate and identify your unclaimed property:
Tips To Locate Unclaimed Property
When locating unclaimed property, remember to be patient and detailed. The best way to locate unclaimed property is to be well-prepared.
Tip 1: Before you begin your search, write down all of the addresses you or the person you are searching for has lived at over the past 20 years.
This may take some time to collect if there have been multiple address changes in that time span. Include temporary addresses as well.
Tip 2: Write down all of the possible variants of the names of the people you are searching for.
For example:
- John Smith
- John L. Smith
- John Laurence Smith
- Johnny Smith
- Johnny L. Smith
If you or your loved one commonly went by a nickname rather than their given name, you will want to include those in your list.
Tip 3: Begin searching in the states where you or those you are searching for have lived.
Run a browser search for “( e.g., name of state ) California Unclaimed Property” and select the state unclaimed property site. This will typically end in .org. Some states will direct you to missingmoney.org to search for property. This means that these states do not maintain an in-house property search database for the public to search.
If you are searching for an unclaimed inheritance, search in the state where deceased relatives lived as well as the states in which you have lived.
Tip 4: Enter the name and review your results to make sure that you match a name with a known address.
A name match ONLY is not sufficient to determine that the property belongs to the person you are searching for.
With each new search, check the name against known addresses. Keep in mind that many states will not provide the full address. If you suspect that you have a match, you will need to call the state to determine with certainty if they are holding property for those you are searching for.
Tip 5: Many states will not display the full account value of your unclaimed property.
Some states decline to disclose the total amount of the unclaimed property they are holding on your behalf. You will need to contact the state to confirm property ownership in order to discover the full account value of the unclaimed property.
Next Steps: Work With an Unclaimed Property Speciality
Once you have located your unclaimed property, confirmed probable ownership with the state, and ascertained the value of the account, you are ready to begin the reclamation process. You can either file a claim on your own or hire a company to handle the claim on your behalf for a fee. The fee will depend upon the specific requirements that will be necessary to document your entitlement to the property. If the property belonged to a deceased relative, probate may be required. At Choice Plus, a government-regulated unclaimed property claimant’s representative and licensed private investigative agency, we are an excellent resource to assist you with your unclaimed property claim.
We specialize in administrative and judicial proceedings required to document entitlement, and secure the release of dormant and unclaimed assets held both in both and private trust accounts. Our unclaimed property experts also provide services for estate facilitation, inheritance distribution, asset purchases and transfers, and debt and dispute settlement solutions.
Many who discover they have unclaimed property are inclined to file a claim on their own. The decision to hire a claim specialist usually comes down to necessity or convenience. Bear in mind that nearly two-thirds of all unclaimed property claim attempts fail, leaving your money uncollected.
This is typically due to lack of acceptable proof, follow-through on proceedings, or lack of understanding of unclaimed property policies, procedures, and laws. It is the knowledge and experience of all these proceedings that are necessary to successfully complete a claim.
Choice Plus, LLC, provides experienced professional claim representation. We do not require any fees for our services in advance or if your claim is not successful. We front all costs for the gathering of evidence, including attorney and court filing fees, if required, and more to ensure the success of your claim.
When you need experienced professional representation, Choice Plus is your solution. We will do everything possible to get your claim paid.