Unclaimed Money Vermont: How to Find Unclaimed Money in Vermont

In Vermont, unclaimed money refers to any financial asset that is transferred to the state treasury because the legitimate owner failed to claim it.

Whenever money or any financial asset goes unclaimed for a specific time, the government considers it abandoned and takes over it until the owner is found or the legitimate heir contacts the treasury. 

Common examples of Vermont unclaimed money, and unclaimed money in other states, include uncashed paychecks, the contents of safe deposit boxes, mutual funds, inactive checking accounts, stocks and dividends, unclaimed interest checks, unpaid invoices, rejected dividend checks, unused deposits, etc. 

Unclaimed Money in Vermont: How Does It Come to Be?

Even though people pay close attention to their money, money can be abandoned due to various reasons. 

Below are some common reasons why money becomes unclaimed:

* Death of account owners 
* Owners moving to a new place without updating their address information
* Forgetting about the money in a bank 
* Providing the wrong contact details in your account information 

Here are things you can do to prevent your funds from being turned over to the state:

* Cashing all received checks after receipts, including refunds, insurance settlement, wages, and dividends.

* Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of your bank accounts, stock certificates, safe deposit box locations, insurance policies, and utility and rent deposits.

* Remaining in active contact with the holders of your funds via telephone, in-person, and email inquiries.

* Paying every safe deposit box rental fee on time. 

The Unclaimed Property Division of the Office of the State Treasurer maintains a database of over 760,000 unclaimed assets valued at over $100 million. 

The division processed over 17,000 claims in 2020 and returned over $4.6 million to their legitimate owners.

Administration of Unclaimed Money in Vermont 

Every unclaimed money in Vermont has a dormancy period. 

The dormancy period refers to the timeframe when unclaimed funds in possession of holders, such as banks, government agencies, and insurance companies, are transferred to the custody of the state treasury. 

The dormancy period of Vermont unclaimed money is five years; however, this depends on the nature of the money. 

Following the expiration of the dormancy period, the money is transferred to the Office of the State Treasurer. 

The Vermont Statutes Title 27: Property, Chapter 18 of the unclaimed property law outlines the procedures holders must observe while reporting and turning over unclaimed monies in their care. 

According to the law, holders of unclaimed money must not include such money in their income statements. It also provides one source for the collection of unclaimed money. 

Vermont Unclaimed Property Search

Residents of Vermont who are searching for their unclaimed money can start by visiting the official website of the Vermont State Treasurer. 

The treasurer has an online database for every unclaimed money in the state. Interested parties can conduct a Vermont unclaimed property search using the steps below:

* Navigate to the site and click on “Search Unclaimed Property”
* Select “person, city, or business,” depending on the type of search
* Fill out the empty fields
* Select the properties you wish to claim by placing them in your claim cart
* Click on the cart icon
* Generate a claim by selecting the type of relationship you have with the property
* Log into your account and press “Continue Search”
* Click on the box to accept the terms of “Indemnification”
* Tap on “Create Claim.” 

It is important to note that by accepting the statement under indemnification, you accept the penalty of perjury for making a false claim. 
 

Claimants can also use the express claim feature of the platform. 

An express claim allows claimants to receive money faster. 

It is typically used when claiming money or financial assets valued at $200 or less. To fill an express claim:

* You must be the original owner
* You must complete and return a claim form
* The amount must be $200 or less
* If you presently live at the address listed on the website, sign the claim form before a notary and send it to the Unclaimed Property Division. If you don’t want to use a notary, include a copy of your current photo ID alongside a completed and signed claim form and mail both to the Unclaimed Property Division using the following address:

Vermont Unclaimed Property Division,
State Treasurer’s Office,
109 State Street, 4th Floor,
Montpelier, Vermont 05609-6200

You can also contact them for property and claims inquiries at [email protected] or [email protected] for holder resources and report questions, or by phone at: 

(802) 828-2884 – facsimile
(800) 253-0191 – TTY
(802) 828-2407 – phone
(800) 642-3191 – toll-free

Conclusion 

Vermont does not have a statute of limitation for unclaimed funds. 

Therefore, Vermont residents looking for their abandoned monies can submit claims at any time of interest. 

The duration for processing a claim for Vermont unclaimed money usually depends on the type of claim; however, the standard processing period is between two weeks to several months.