Statewide, DE – On Friday, October 30, 2015 the Delaware Department of Finance will officially launch delaware.findyourunclaimedproperty.com. The new website will provide the public easy access to the state’s unclaimed property database. It will allow users to search by name to find information regarding any unclaimed property they may have in Delaware. The website also allows visitors to submit and check claim status online.

“The new website is certainly a welcome and timely development,” remarked Governor Jack Markell. “We have a duty to return unclaimed funds to rightful owners and the website allows us to reunite owners with their funds with greater efficiency and customer focus.”

Unclaimed property can include forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and utility deposits and refunds. Most of these accounts are considered abandoned, and have been turned over to the state after years of inactivity.

With the introduction of new processing systems, the number of successful claims in Delaware has increased dramatically. Since July of 2013, the Department has processed over 22,000 claims – successfully reuniting citizens with more than $225 million in previously unclaimed funds.

“Delaware continues to seek new and innovative ways to reach unclaimed property owners,” says State Escheator, David Gregor. “Whether it’s a $50 deposit from a closed utility account, or $5,000 from a forgotten savings account, it’s your money – and it’s our job to get it back to you. We hope this new website will make that process even easier.”

In addition to launching delaware.findyourunclaimedproperty.com, the Department will publish the names and addresses of approximately 147,000 owners of unclaimed property in Friday’s editions of the Delaware State News and the News Journal. For more information, email escheat.claimquestions@delaware.gov, or call the Office of Unclaimed Property at (855) 505-7520.

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Leslie A. Poland
Public Information Officer
Department of Finance
Delaware Division of Revenue
(302) 577-8522
leslie.poland@delaware.gov

DE – Statewide (July 28, 2014) – Delaware’s State Escheator David Gregor warns today that postcards stamped “Unclaimed Property Notification” are suspicious and should be ignored. They have not been sent from Delaware’s Unclaimed Property department or by any other State of Delaware agency.

The postcards, which have been distributed in multiple states so far, instruct receivers to call a toll-free number and enter personal identification information. A recorded message instructs receivers to search for unclaimed property at www.unclaimed.org.

“Delaware has not sent these cards nor have they been sent on Delaware’s behalf,” Gregor said. “We would never ask an individual to provide personal information to a call-in number, and we would recommend anyone who receives these cards to remain cautious and to not respond in any way.”

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and unclaimed property administrators from other states report that they too have received numerous consumer complaints about the suspicious postcards, which are postmarked from Denver, Colo., and appear to have been sent by a debt collector. They have shown up in a variety of solid colors – green, blue, yellow, and orange.

Delaware’s Department of Finance received its first inquiry about the postcards this morning, but expects more to follow in the next few weeks.

As always, anyone who believes they may have had unclaimed property escheated to the State of Delaware should search http://finance.delaware.gov/unclaimedproperty.shtml or call 302-577-8220.

Images of the front and back of actual postcard:

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Media contact:

Angela Moffett-Batty
Community Relations Coordinator
Delaware Department of Finance
302-577-8522
angela.moffett@delaware.gov

In just over eight months, the Department of Finance’s Office of Unclaimed Property has reunited more individuals with their unclaimed property during Fiscal Year 2014 than it did in all of Fiscal Year 2013. 

As of March 6, 2014, the Office of Unclaimed Property has reviewed and fulfilled more than 9,700 claims for unclaimed cash and securities having a total value of $83.0 million.  This compares to Fiscal 2013’s full-year total of 3,047 claims valued at $19.2 million. 

Such growth is due to the State’s improved customer focus and its concentrated effort to increase owner outreach.  In addition to posting owner names online and in newspapers – as it does every year – the State mailed over 150,000 letters during the spring of 2013 informing individuals of their unclaimed assets in Delaware. 

The State also has the business community and the companies holding property and stock to thank for their continued assistance in finding, contacting, and reuniting individuals to unclaimed funds. 

“We are thrilled by the increase,” commented State Escheator, David Gregor.  “Whenever possible, the idea is to reunite individuals with their property.  We view companies and their agents as our partners in this endeavor.  Because these holders understand Delaware’s commitment to compliance, they take their outreach efforts seriously.”

Individuals are encouraged to visit the Unclaimed Property website to see if they may be entitled to recover property:  http://finance.delaware.gov/unclaimedproperty.shtml.

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Contact:

Angela Moffett-Batty
Community Relations Coordinator
Delaware Department of Finance
302-577-8522
angela.moffett@delaware.gov

Is your name on the list?

The Delaware Department of Finance will publish the names and addresses of over 100,000 owners of unclaimed property in today’s Delaware State News, the News Journal and on www.finance.delaware.gov.

Pursuant to Section 1143, Chapter 11, Title 12 of the Delaware Code, this property has been reported to the Delaware State Escheator by corporations and other entities unable to locate the property’s rightful owners.  Unclaimed property is not real estate but monetary items like stocks, wages, refunds, uncashed/undelivered/unclaimed dividends, interest, and more.

Today’s list will name property owners around the world. The list will remain online for one year to encourage increased claims.

To claim property on today’s list, a claimant must be the property’s rightful owner. The claimant’s name must appear on the list, or they must be an executor or heir of an estate whose owner’s name appears on today’s list. Claimants must then complete a Request Form available with the published list or on www.finance.delaware.gov.

Before a claim can be initiated, all claimants must include with their Request Form a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or other applicable identification. Claimants must also provide documentation demonstrating a legal right to claim any property listed in another name.  (Examples: For estates, certified Letter of Testamentary or Small Estate Affidavit. For another living person, a notarized Power of Attorney.) A Claim Form or request for additional information will then be mailed to the claimant for completion.

Due to the size of today’s publication and the expected response, Request Forms will be answered within approximately (12) weeks from the receipt of inquiry. Further information concerning a claim can be obtained by calling (302) 577-8782 or by sending an e-mail to escheat.claimquestions@delaware.gov.

Request Forms should be sent to:

Delaware Division of Revenue
Bureau of Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 8931
Wilmington, DE 19899

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