Stressed about Money? :: Advice, Solutions, Escapism
Unclaimed Money by Jeffrey Strain :: money saving advice :: ineedsomespace.com
Advice, Solutions, Escapism

Unclaimed Money

Missing Money
Links To Free Unclaimed Money Sites
US State links
US Federal links
Foreign (outside US) links

Missing Money top

Billions of dollars - yes, that's a "B" - in cash and property go unclaimed each year and it's quite possible that a portion of that may be yours. While the chances of finding a lottery size amount of money are slim, finding several hundred dollars is common. Estimates are that as many as 1 out of every 8 people in the US have an unclaimed asset lying around somewhere. Assets get lost for any number of reasons, but it's usually a result of a move, a change of jobs, a change of name through marriage or when a relative dies. The question is how do you go about finding out if one of the lost assets out there is yours?

Many people first become aware that there may be money out there that they didn't know about through snail or electronic mail. There are a growing number of businesses that search public databases for unclaimed property and attempt to locate the owners. When they do, they typically send a correspondence to the property owner saying that for a finder's fee of 20% to 30%, they will reunite the two.

There are also a number of business working on the Internet that have compiled databases on unclaimed assets. These companies usually charge a fee (usually around $20) for a search, or let you search for free, but then charge a fee to get access to information if your name is in their database. Either way, you have to cough up money on the chance that there is some money for you with no guarantee that the money is yours. What all these companies don't want you to know is the fact that you can save money by not using their service since all the information they use is available to you free of charge.

States currently hold in trust over $35 billion in unclaimed assets. To try and reunite these assets to their rightful owners, states have their own individual unclaimed asset website or belong to a free online database at MissingMoney.com which is sponsored by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. This database holds the unclaimed asset records of about a quarter of the states and the District of Columbia.

While most people simply type in their name and possible the names of a few family members, to really get the most out of the system and create the best chance of finding unclaimed assets, you should take a few minutes to jot down some information before diving into the searches. First, make a list of all the different states where you have lived or held a job. Next, make a list of all deceased relatives with the states where they lived and worked. Once you have these lists, you can begin to type your or your deceased relative's name into the appropriate state unclaimed asset search engine to see if a matching name comes up.

Links To Free Unclaimed Money Sites top

If a matching name does appear, you can usually begin the reclaiming process right on the site. There are also a number of federal government sites that hold unclaimed assets of which you may not have been aware. These include savings bonds, government-guaranteed mortgage insurance refunds and pensions. There currently is no central database to search for these federal missing funds, so you'll have to check the different government agency sites to see if any is holding money in your or a relative's name.

So what are you waiting for? It doesn't cost a penny to search any of the sites listed below and only takes a few clicks of the mouse to find out if you, too, have some money out there that you didn't know about.

US State Links top

MissingMoney.com : National free search database that includes the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Kansas
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

US Federal Links top

The National Unclaimed Property Database : Free search database and resource site for over $35 billion of unclaimed money and property held by U.S. federal and state government agencies, Canada and others.

Housing And Urban Development : Free search for funds for mortgage insurance obtained by government loan.

Pension Search : Free search for funds on retirement accounts.

US Savings Bonds : Free search for lost, stolen or destroyed saving bonds.

Foreign (outside the US) top

Canada : Free search for unclaimed accounts in Canada.

British Columbia : Free search for unclaimed accounts in British Columbia.

Swiss Bank Accounts : Free search for dormant Swiss Bank Accounts.


Article courtesy www.greedyfools.com - Please read our Disclaimer

Copyright Jeffrey Strain 2002, All Rights Reserved. If you find anything inaccurate with this article. please email us at greedyfool@greedyfools.com

[top of page] [advice] [solutions] [escapism] [goodies] [stress relief] [resources] [home] [go back]


[money] [love] [home]
[goodies] [stress relief]
[resources] [contact us]

I Need Some Space shortcuts and links

Money-related articles on www.ineedsomespace.com
Job Hunting: Boost Your Job Search with the Buddy System
Life Coaching Tips: The Great American Dream Challenge
Write a professional CV, Resume writing: Writing an Effective CV or Resumé; a Brief Guide
Freelance writing: Good Reasons Why You Can’t Rely on Your Spellchecker
Write a professional CV, Resume writing: 9 Tips on Creating a Professional E-mailed Job Application
Freelance employment: Putting Objectives in Check
Freelance employment: Amway: My Brush with the Great Pyramid
Freelance writing: An Interview with Nancy Hendrickson, author of "Secrets of a Successful Freelancer"
Freelance proofreading: So... You Think You Want to Be a Freelance Proofreader…
Freelance employment, making money at home: FAQ: The Reality of Working at Home
Career test: An Irreverent Critique of Career Testing
Career change: Is it Time for a Job Change?
Career change, career test: My Career is in The Doldrums. Do I need a Coach or a Therapist?
Career change, career test: Searching For Your Calling. Quest or Curse?
Fear of Meetings: Not Another Meeting!
Internet marketing: How to Successfully Network Online
Freelance graphic design: Sell Your Services to Businesses That Don't Have a Web Site
Sales copy writing, reading body language: It's Not What You Say But How You Say It
Web site marketing: What's Your Visitor's UPA?
Web site marketing: Simple Steps to Success
eBay UK, eBay auctions UK, make money off eBay: I Was An eBay Virgin!
Win UK competitions: Beginner To Winner
Win UK competitions: How I Raised My Family In 10 Words Or Less!
Saving money: Benefits Of Making A Budget
Saving money: Saving Money Games: Save Money
Unclaimed funds: Unclaimed Money
Create ebooks: The HOTTEST Way to Make Money Online Right Now
Create ebooks: "How to Write and Publish your own eBook... in as little as 7 Days"
Make money online: "The Lazy Man's Guide to Online Business"
Freelance writing: Writing Effectively: A Two-Part Guide to the Well-Written Text

Love-related articles on www.ineedsomespace.com
Flirting advice: When Is Flirting a Good Thing?
Relationship advice: Finding Your Soulmate
Relationship advice: You are killing US with YOUR jealousy
Relationship advice for women: Anger and Hurt; another lonely place!
Relationship advice for women: Jealousy, a lonely place to be!
Relationship advice for women: Being Dumped, just plain sucks!
Relationship advice: To Trust or not to Trust!
Relationship advice:
Tips For Moving Forward When Your Relationship has Ended
First date tips: First Date Faux Pas!
First date tips, relationship advice: Make Mine a Large!
Breaking up: Broken Hearted vs. Broken Lusted
Relationship advice: Lies Women Tell
Relationship advice for men: How and Where to Meet Eligible Women
Flirting tips, reading body language: The Signals of Flirting
Flirting tips, reading body language: The Keys to Successful Flirting
First date: First Date Tips
Online dating tips, relationship advice: Write a Better Online Personal Ad
Online dating tips, relationship advice: First Contact: Do's and Don'ts for Replying to Personal Ads
Online dating tips, relationship advice: Love on the Internet