I don't recall if this subject has been discussed here before, but regardless a periodic reminder is a good thing.

Louisiana, like many or most states, holds unclaimed property. Google "your state" with "unclaimed property", and you'll likely find your state's department that handles this. You can search your name to see if anything is there. Here is a link to Louisiana's site, for example:

https://louisiana.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/

Unclaimed property can be small amounts or decent sized-anything from utility deposits that weren't claimed to uncashed checks. Companies are required to pay these amounts to the states, which hold the funds waiting for you to one day claim them.

It's pretty painless, and I recommend that you check every few years to see if there is anything there for you.

Lastly, I want to emphasize that I am talking about your state's official department that handles these things. I'm not talking about any site, or services, that offer to find money for you for a fee. I don't know anything about those. On Louisiana's site there is some info about other resources, and they have a link to a nationwide search. I suppose that means that it's a legit thing, but I can't personally vouch for it. I feel safe dealing with Louisiana's official website.

Good luck!

EDITED TO ADD:

Don't forget to check under any business name that you were involved with. Also, I see lots of money for attorneys, and I imagine that may be true for other professionals as well.

Whackyland has that.

https://ucpi.sco.ca.gov/UCP/

I’ve used it for several clients. Old bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, escrow funds, utility refunds, etc.

Authenticating your identity is fairly rigorous, but if you are really you, not impossible.

I found $7,000 for my sister.

Texas has it https://claimittexas.org

Couldn’t find anything for me or my family.

My brother and I found $700 in NC that was owned to my dad.

However, after doing all of the astounding things you had to do to establish your identity and your right to the funds, I discovered the real pain...

In order to get them to issue a check, we have to open the estate of my dad who passed away 29 years ago. Once you open the estate you have to get a couple of forms completed. Not only do neither one of us live in that state right now, but we also have to do all of it in person. (Perhaps POA for one of us).
To travel down there/back would likely cost more than $700 so we're planning on doing it next time we're in town. They don't make it easy-

I just did it through the Texas Comptroller's office--will get $559.74 in a few days! The claim process was fairly simple and all done on-line.

flashguy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: flashguy,

Yes the hoops you have to jump through to get money from the state government. It makes you wonder if the decision makers go to seminars on how to hold onto the money forever by creating an incredible bureaucracy that only the intelligent can follow.

The latest in my state has to do with turning in your license plate after you have sold the car. After standing in line for about an hour you produce your plate and then are given a sheet of paper with the amount of the credit owed. The credit can only be redeemed when you purchase another vehicle and a new plate. Considering that Mississippi taxes vehicles at a very high rate we are often talking about several hundred dollars. My insurance agent joked that half of the people given credit lose the form.

My Dad's name popped up in his state. Sent him a link.

Cool found $180 for my wife, $70 for my dad, and $15 for the MIL. Did the claim for wife, see what happens. Dad thinks it's a scam so he didn't go for it, even though it's through ca.gov

After a protracted effort over the past couple of years, my bride was able to get $13,000 in oil royalties held in escrow by the state of Oklahoma. They belonged to her grandfather, who died in 1968. Oklahoma made it so difficult she very nearly gave up.

I'll be damned. After reading this thread checked for my bride and I and lo and behold she has $100 in a money order never cashed from when she was a teenager. State of Arkansas claim form was fairly easy, we'll see how hard it is to get the cash.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
Texas has it https://claimittexas.org

Couldn’t find anything for me or my family.

I checked this a couple of weeks ago and had an almost $150 waiting for me from when we changed auto insurance providers in 2014.

That’s not much but it’s $150 that can go toward ammo or something.

I've recovered a few hundred dollars. It's amazing what you forget.

I'm glad some of you guys are finding it worthwhile! It's definitely worth checking out.

For those who have commented about the hoops you have to jump through, I'm sure that's true for some, and better or worse depending on the state or the situation. It's still worth looking at and finding out what's out there. Then you can make an intelligent decision if it's worth jumping through the hoops to get it.

I do think that some of the issues with inherited property, or unclaimed property of ancestors, may not be too bad to claim if the amount is small. A lot of places now with let you do smaller things with just affidavits, etc., versus having to actually open an estate and do a full succession proceeding.

https://www.missingmoney.com

pretty sure this one checks pretty much every state for you.

Just found one for my uncle that says clearing house cash. They could be interesting.

I did it in Florida a couple of years ago. I got 700 samoleans for my trouble. An old E trade account had it in the cash reserve.

Dunno about other states but here's what made NC lost funds claiming challenging for us-

After I submitted the initial claim. I then had to send per NC's requirements:
-Completed Claim form(s) to NC Dept of State Treasurer
-Certificate of dad's death (funds were in my dad's name)
-Proof I was executor of his estate
-Proof of his residence for the address stated on funds found (this was for two places as he had moved- VERY challenging as he passed away 29+ years ago. A small miracle was finding a few bills and titles listing the other address)
-Certificate of death for my mom
-Proof I was executor of her estate

AFTER ALL THAT...
Then they sent me back a letter saying I had to reopen dad's estate (again, he passed over 29 years ago) and have the Wilmington NC judge/probate court generate a letter stating how the discovered funds were to be divided between my brother and I.

Still haven't been able to get down there during a weekday to do this. Neither of us were living in NC.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
https://www.missingmoney.com

pretty sure this one checks pretty much every state for you.

I got a hit on that one from an old address in NJ. Let's see what it is!

I checked last year and ended up $9000.00 ahead. It was an old account of my Dad's that we missed when he passed away. Certainly pays to check!