What is Unclaimed Money in Kansas?
The provisions for Kansas unclaimed money are outlined in the Kansas Abandoned Property Act. The act provides for the escheat, or legal transfer, of unclaimed property to the state after a specified period of time has lapsed without the owner taking action to claim the property.
According to the Kansas Abandoned Property Act, unclaimed money includes:
- Uncashed payroll checks
- Abandoned bank accounts
- Unredeemed money orders and travelers' checks
- Unclaimed utility deposits
- Undelivered life insurance proceeds
- Contents of safe deposit boxes abandoned for more than three years
The state of Kansas is required to hold onto unclaimed money indefinitely until the rightful owner comes forward to claim it. The Kansas state treasurer's office is responsible for holding and safeguarding unclaimed money in the state of Kansas. It also maintains a searchable database of all unclaimed property in the state, which is available to the public.
How to Find Unclaimed Money in Kansas
Interested members of the public can search for Kansas unclaimed property using the Kansas Treasurer online database. To search the database, users will be required to provide their full names or business names. The results provided will detail the type of claim, account number and the initial holder of the unclaimed funds as well as the last known activity. Requests may also be made in person or via mail to the office of the state treasurer at:
Office of State Treasurer
900 SW Jackson, Suite 201
Topeka, KS 66612-1258
Phone: (785) 296-3171
Unclaimed Property: (785) 296-4165
It is also important to note that there are a number of private companies that claim to be able to help requestors search for and claim unclaimed money for a fee.
How Do I Find Kansas Unclaimed Money for Free?
Kansas residents can find unclaimed money for free through the state's treasury website. They can also access unclaimed money through federal agencies and databases such as:
- Unclaimed U.S securities and Payments: Using Treasury Direct, claimants may find uncashed savings bonds. Treasury Direct is a free online search engine maintained by the Bureau of Fiscal Services. The uncashed saving bonds on treasury direct are typically over 30 years old and have stopped acquiring interest.
Other types of securities and payments on Treasury Direct include treasury notes, series HH saving bonds, and missing series H payments.
To begin a search using Treasury Direct, the claimant would be required to provide their SSN or EIN and current state of residence. - Unclaimed Bankruptcy Funds: The U.S bankruptcy unclaimed funds locator may be used to find unclaimed funds held by federal courts following bankruptcy proceedings. There are several reasons why bankruptcy funds may remain unclaimed.
This includes:
- Recipients providing incorrect addresses or changing addresses
- A recipient's death
- Uncashed distribution checks.
To find an unclaimed bankruptcy fund using the U.S bankruptcy unclaimed funds locator, an inquirer would need to provide certain information about the bankruptcy funds. This information includes the name of the bankruptcy court, the creditor's name, the debtor's name, the case number, the bankruptcy fund amount, and the date the bankruptcy judgment was entered. Each of these pieces of information may be used individually or as a combination to find an unclaimed bankruptcy fund. Alternatively, the federal court finder may be used to find the contact information of Kansas bankruptcy courts to make in-person inquiries about bankruptcy funds currently in their possession.
- Unclaimed Credit Union Deposits: The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Asset Management and Assistance Center superintends the payments of liquidated federal insured credit union shared accounts to their members. A liquidated credit union deposit may remain unclaimed due to checks not being cashed or incorrect addresses provided by the union members. After the expiration of a share account insurance (which typically takes 18 months), if it remains unclaimed it would be considered uninsured and made to take on the loss of the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund.
In other cases, a credit union liquidation may result in surplus funds that may be required to be distributed amongst its shareholders. This distribution may take several years after a credit union liquidation. As a result, finding the credit union shareholders may prove difficult, leading to the NCUA retention of said surplus funds.
Generally, The NCUA unclaimed deposit listing may be used freely to review unclaimed deposits currently held by the NCUA. Furthermore, when an inquirer finds their name or their benefactor’s name in the listing, they would need to download and complete a member verification form. After appropriately filing the form, they may send it to the NCUA Asset Management and Assistance Center to lay a claim to the unclaimed money.
How to Claim Unclaimed Money in Kansas
After searching for and confirming the Kansas Unclaimed Property of interest, the requestor may claim the property by completing a Claim Form. Along with the form, the requestor will be required to provide supporting documentation such as a copy of their government-issued ID or drivers’ license, a copy of their social security card, and proof of their current mailing address. The state may require additional documentation in order to process your claim. Claims may be mailed or delivered in person to:
Kansas Unclaimed Property Division
900 SW Jackson St.,
Suite 451-N
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: (785) 296-3171
Unclaimed Property: (785) 296-4165
Once the claim form and supporting documentation have been received, it will be reviewed by the Kansas Unclaimed Property Division. If they determine that the claimant is the rightful owner of the property, they will issue a check for the full amount owed.
How Long Does It Take to Get Unclaimed Money in Kansas?
The process of claiming unclaimed money in Kansas can vary depending on the type and amount of money involved. For example, claimants who are owed less than $5,000 may be able to claim their money faster than those who are owed more than that amount. In general, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get unclaimed money in Kansas. The best way to ensure a speedy claims process is to follow all instructions carefully and provide all required documentation.
Who Can Claim Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives in Kansas?
In Kansas, unclaimed money from deceased relatives can be claimed by the surviving spouse, children, parents, or other heirs of the estate. If there is no will, the estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession. In order to claim unclaimed money from deceased relatives in Kansas, the heir must first prove their relationship to the deceased and that they are entitled to the money under Kansas law. The heir will also need to provide a death certificate and other supporting documentation to the unclaimed property office. Once the heir has submitted all of the required paperwork, they will be able to receive their unclaimed money from the deceased relative's estate.
What Happens to Kansas Unclaimed Money if No One Claims It?
If unclaimed money isn’t claimed in Kansas, it is retained under the management of the state treasurer until it is claimed. There is no statute of limitations for claiming Kansas unclaimed money.
