The Office of the State Treasurer, today, announced the return of $16,117,529 of unclaimed property to Mainers during Fiscal Year 2016. This property consists of financial assets that have gone unclaimed by their owners. 

“FY’16 was a record year for unclaimed property claims,” said Maine Treasurer Terry Hayes. “Over the last 12 months, we have reunited Mainers with $16.1 million in unclaimed property that rightfully belongs to them. This total includes 107,978 individual properties. Mainers should check our website to see if we are holding property that belongs to them, or someone they know,” Hayes added.  Mainers can search for their lost assets on the Treasurer’s Website: www.maine.gov/upsearch.

The record amount returned in fiscal year 2016 can be directly attributed to Treasury’s collaboration with members of the Maine Legislature.  State Representatives and State Senators have been reaching out to constituents to encourage them to search Treasury’s online database.  “Our elected officials know their neighbors and have played a major role in helping Treasury return record sums to Mainers in the past two fiscal years,” Hayes noted.

Unclaimed property consists of cash and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specified period of time. It includes, among other items, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, over payments, gift certificates, paid-up life insurance policies, unpaid wages, uncashed checks, death benefits, dividends, insurance payments, refunds, savings accounts, stocks, and contents of safe deposit boxes. Unclaimed property does not include real estate, animals, or vehicles.

The State Treasurer may be holding unclaimed property which belongs to you. Millions of dollars are turned over each year to the Treasurer of Maine by businesses and organizations that have been unable to locate the owners. If your name is on the list, you can file your claim electronically at www.maine.gov/upsearch. There is no fee charged to process your claim. Also, you do not need to pay anyone to help you make your claim.

Link to Search Unclaimed Property List: http://www.maine.gov/upsearch

Link to Uniform Unclaimed Property Law: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/33/title33ch41sec0.html

To reach Unclaimed Property by telephone: (207) 624-7470