Television celebrity and entertainer Dick Cavett received a check today for $682.70 from the Unclaimed Property Division of the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office for dividends and stock proceeds from his parents’ estate.
Cavett is one of 1,689 Nebraskans, former Nebraskans, and heirs to receive money from the Unclaimed Property program so far in 2017. More than $1.8 million has been paid to owners so far this year after a record $16.3 million was paid to owners in 2016. A total of 16,984 claims were paid in 2016
Cavett was presented the check at a news conference at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln. Presenting the check was Meaghan Aguirre, director of the Unclaimed Property Division of the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office. Cavett was in Nebraska for appearances in Lincoln, Wayne, and Hastings.
Cavett’s father, Alva Cavett, died in 1994, and his stepmother, Dorcas Cavett, died in 2007. Both were well-known Nebraska educators. Cavett Elementary School in Lincoln is named in honor of the couple.
“When we receive news coverage of these types of presentations, it substantially increases the number of claims that are filed with our office, which would not otherwise have been filed,” State Treasurer Don Stenberg wrote in a letter read to Cavett at the news conference. Stenberg was unable to attend.
“It is fair to say that your participation in this event will likely lead to the return of tens of thousands of dollars of unclaimed property to hundreds of our fellow Nebraskans (you will always be a Nebraskan). In some cases, this money is desperately needed by those who are receiving it,” Stenberg wrote.
“Mr. Cavett, thank you for working with our office to claim your unclaimed property and helping bring awareness to our program,” Aguirre said. “In 2016, our office returned more than $16.3 million in unclaimed property to Nebraskans and former Nebraskans, which is a record amount of unclaimed property returned in a single year in the State of Nebraska.”
Altogether, the Treasurer’s Office is holding more than $170 million in unclaimed funds for more than 350,000 owners. Common forms of unclaimed property are uncashed paychecks, refunds, rental deposits, utility deposits, stocks, dividends, insurance payments, savings bonds, matured CDs, and lost IRAs.
Aguirre said owners may search for unclaimed property anytime at treasurer.nebraska.gov. In instances in which property is $500 or less, owners may file claims online through the Treasurer’s website.
Aguirre offered these tips when searching for unclaimed property:
