Stars of the 2017 Unclaimed Property Annual Report

Lincoln Journal Star News Story

• February 27, 2017
• Lincoln, NE

The annual Unclaimed Property tabloid will be published in 16 Nebraska newspapers in March and April, beginning this weekend in the Omaha World-Herald and the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, State Treasurer Don Stenberg said today. Stenberg said the 40-page tabloid contains 35,458 properties, valued at more than $20.3 million, turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office in 2016.

“I encourage Nebraskans to check the tabloid in their daily newspapers for their own names and the names of their businesses, as well as the names of family members and friends. We may have money for you, and we want to return it to you as quickly as possible. We love happy endings,” Treasurer Stenberg said.

“If you don’t see your name in this listing, you may still have unclaimed property that we received before 2016. You can check anytime on our website at treasurer.nebraska.gov. Our database includes many more names and properties than are listed in our tabloid, and our list is constantly changing,” he said.

Names in the tabloid are listed by county of last known residence. However, a large section at the end of the tabloid is devoted to Unknown County of residence so readers are encouraged to check that section as well.

Stenberg said 2016 was a milestone in the Unclaimed Property program. A record $16.3 million was returned to Nebraskans, former Nebraskans, and heirs – a 38 percent increase from the $11.8 million returned in 2015. Also significant is the fact that 16,984 claims were paid, raising the average claim from $725 to $962.

“In determining the success of our program, we look both at the total amount of money returned and the total number of claims paid, and based on both standards, 2016 was a very productive year,” Stenberg said.

“Even more important than records, though, are the thousands of Nebraskans, former Nebraskans, and heirs who found money that, in many cases, they didn’t know was missing. They were able to put the money to good use, paying bills, making once-in-a-lifetime purchases, donating to worthy causes, increasing their savings, or fulfilling deceased family members’ wishes,” he said.

Stenberg reminded owners that they may search for unclaimed property any time at treasurer.nebraska.gov. In instances in which property is $500 or less, owners may file claims online through the Treasurer’s website. A display featuring the unclaimed property tabloid will be set up March 13-17 on the first floor of the Capitol.

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.

Here are some interesting unclaimed property facts:

• The largest claim paid in 2016 was for two trusts for an Omaha couple valued together at $1.2 million.
• The largest property currently in the database is $602,086 for another Omaha trust.
• Sixty-eight claims over $25,000 were paid in 2016.
• Claims were paid in 2016 to owners in Nebraska and most other states as well as owners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
• In addition to individuals and trusts, claims were paid in 2016 to businesses, hospitals, schools, churches, organizations, and government entities.

Below is the publication schedule for the tabloid:

• March 5 – Omaha World-Herald, Scottsbluff Star-Herald
• March 18 – York News-Times, Beatrice Daily Sun, Columbus Telegram, Norfolk Daily News, Fremont Tribune
• March 19 – Lincoln Journal Star
• March 31 – Sidney Sun-Telegraph, Holdrege Citizen, McCook Gazette
• April 1 – Alliance Times-Herald, Kearney Hub, Hastings Tribune
• April 2 – North Platte Telegraph, Grand Island Independent

Ways to search for unclaimed property and file claims include the following:

• Check the Nebraska State Treasurer’s website at treasurer.nebraska.gov. Type a name in the search box on the home page. Use variations of the name, such as last name first or only the last name.
• For an amount less than $500, an owner may file a claim online through the website. The owner must include required information.
• For an amount greater than $500, an owner may complete the claim form on the website or in the tabloid and mail to the State Treasurer’s Office, Unclaimed Property Division, 809 P St., Lincoln, NE 68508-1390. The form must be notarized.
• Call the Unclaimed Property Division at 877-572-9688 toll free outside of Lincoln or 402-471-8497 in Lincoln. Calls are taken between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., CT, weekdays.
• Visit the Unclaimed Property office at 809 P Street in Lincoln or in the Treasurer’s Office in Suite 2005 of the State Capitol. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. An owner should bring a driver’s license and Social Security card.
• If filing on behalf of a deceased family member for an amount greater than $500, the heir will be asked for documentation to establish legal authority to file the claim, such a will, death certificate, obituary notice, and personal representative documents.