There's several sites like missingmoney.com or so. Basically, stuff happens, someone owes you money, they can't find you and they give it to the state who does nothing but sits on it. Ex: You move out of an apartment, and cancel your cable. They issued you a refund for half a money, but you left no forwarding address, so the cable company just gives it to your state.
Years back, I search my families name, and my great grandpa turned up, a man long dead before I was born. It said a value $250+. Hmmm, $500? $5,000? $15,000? I told my grandpa and he insists after several months of letters back and forth, they won't give him the money because there was no will.
This has sort of bugged me for years, so I've finally started the process again. Grandpa is getting old at 93. It will be 10 times easier to do this now than later if he passes. I figure I can do 99% of the work, and he just signs for the money.
1. I filed a claim to the funds, and the state of KY sent me the forms. Problem 1, it's forms that have to be notarized and now it has the wrong name/address on them. I can get new forms, so no big deal. Cool thing, I now know the amount, just under $3,000.
2. I called up KY and spoke to a super awesome worker in that department about the how/what/etc. She talked me through some things. Yes he was married, yes he died first, my grandpa is the oldest and only surviving child, and there's no will. So there's actually 3 claims, a life insurance policy, stocks, and dividends. For the life insurance, I need to first know if there were beneficiaries listed.
3. I call up the insurance company. They suggest I email them. I email them. They reply saying it has to be a hand written request. WTF? I write up a letter, and fax it to them. I email asked if I will get a response via fax, email, or USPS? They said email since that it what I requested. It will take 5-10 business days. 11 business days later I get a call saying they need to know his DOB. I call them back with that 5 minutes later and they say they will send me the info I requested via USPS.
4. I get the information. The policy has a beneficiary, but policy was turned over to the state because it hit its max age.
5. Now I have to file a "petition to dispense with administration" in the county court of where my great grandpa lived. Seems to be doable without a court hearing, and costs $75, but I need some legal help(more like a signature on the form). Luckily my mom's cousin (via my grandpa's side) is a lawyer and lives within 30 minutes of there. I don't know the him, but I've met him a time or two. Time to email him for help.
I think I know why my Grandpa just gave up on this when the asked for a will, and he said one never existed. LOL
Years back, I search my families name, and my great grandpa turned up, a man long dead before I was born. It said a value $250+. Hmmm, $500? $5,000? $15,000? I told my grandpa and he insists after several months of letters back and forth, they won't give him the money because there was no will.
This has sort of bugged me for years, so I've finally started the process again. Grandpa is getting old at 93. It will be 10 times easier to do this now than later if he passes. I figure I can do 99% of the work, and he just signs for the money.
1. I filed a claim to the funds, and the state of KY sent me the forms. Problem 1, it's forms that have to be notarized and now it has the wrong name/address on them. I can get new forms, so no big deal. Cool thing, I now know the amount, just under $3,000.
2. I called up KY and spoke to a super awesome worker in that department about the how/what/etc. She talked me through some things. Yes he was married, yes he died first, my grandpa is the oldest and only surviving child, and there's no will. So there's actually 3 claims, a life insurance policy, stocks, and dividends. For the life insurance, I need to first know if there were beneficiaries listed.
3. I call up the insurance company. They suggest I email them. I email them. They reply saying it has to be a hand written request. WTF? I write up a letter, and fax it to them. I email asked if I will get a response via fax, email, or USPS? They said email since that it what I requested. It will take 5-10 business days. 11 business days later I get a call saying they need to know his DOB. I call them back with that 5 minutes later and they say they will send me the info I requested via USPS.
4. I get the information. The policy has a beneficiary, but policy was turned over to the state because it hit its max age.
5. Now I have to file a "petition to dispense with administration" in the county court of where my great grandpa lived. Seems to be doable without a court hearing, and costs $75, but I need some legal help(more like a signature on the form). Luckily my mom's cousin (via my grandpa's side) is a lawyer and lives within 30 minutes of there. I don't know the him, but I've met him a time or two. Time to email him for help.
I think I know why my Grandpa just gave up on this when the asked for a will, and he said one never existed. LOL
