What is unclaimed property?

It's money and other assets that are considered lost or abandoned after an owner cannot be located for a specific period of time. It includes bank accounts; stocks and dividends; wages; refunds; safe deposit boxes; insurance payments; gift certificates; credit memos; account receivable credits and payables, etc.

How can you tell if there is unclaimed property that's owed to you?

By checking here: http://www.unclaimed.org/mainframe.asp?VisitorType=owner

NAUPA is a free national search site that reunites you with your unclaimed property. There are dozens of websites that charge you a finders fee for information on how to retrieve your unclaimed property. NAUPA isn't like that.

NAUPA connects you directly to the unclaimed property section of your state government website. It's totally free. Just type your name into the search box and make sure you try all variations of your name. I found money under both Beth and Elizabeth. If you find unclaimed property in your name, the website tells you how to retrieve it for free.

Linda located $1138 in unclaimed property. Andrea found $921 and I found $242.

Neat, huh?