The Unclaimed Property Division of the Vermont State Treasurer Office reunites Vermont residents with lost and/or abandoned assets. Our database contains over 900,000 properties valued at more than $119 million.
What is Unclaimed Property?
Any type of financial asset owed to an individual, business, agency, nonprofit, etc. and in possession of a holder for a specified amount of time without any contact from the “owner” (individual owed the credit, refund, rebate, etc.).Banks, credit unions, corporations, utilities, insurance agencies, retailers, states and state agencies, brokerage houses and other entities annually report forgotten bank accounts, uncashed pay checks, unrefunded security deposits, stocks returned by the US Postal Service, mutual funds, IRAs and and even the contents of safe deposit boxes to the unclaimed property departments in each of the 50 states in the United States of America, as well as in the District of Columbia, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The Vermont State Treasurer Office receives these assets and safeguards them until claimed by rightful owners or heirs.
How do I Claim my Unclaimed Property?
There are a number of ways to claim your property:
- If your property is under $200, and you are the original owner, you may file an online claim, without the need to mail in documentation in most cases. Once approved, your payment will be mailed within two business days.
- If you prefer, you may print your claim form and mail it to our office for processing.
- You may also request a claim form to be sent to you via mail.
All instructions are included on the claim form. Please note that if you choose not to provide your Social Security Number you can choose option 2 or 3. Once you file your claim, you may check the status of your claim by creating or logging into your account. Please note that you will be required to have the claim ID, which is found at the top right and bottom right of your claim form. You can also call our office to check the status of your claim or to find out what the best way is to file your claim.
How Much is Returned?
In fiscal year 2020, the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer Office processed 17,600 individual claims totaling more than $4.7 million. This represented cash only; it excluded distributions for mutual funds and other securities. Below you will find historical data detailing the number of claimants paid annually, the amount of unclaimed property returned to Vermonters annually, and the amount of unclaimed property annually turned over to the Treasurer's Office.
Returning Unclaimed Property is about Protecting Consumers
The Treasurer's Office team works daily to help Vermonters access their missing money. Check out the video below about one Vermonter who located a missing life insurance policy.
Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations Have Unclaimed Property Too.
Businesses and non-profit organizations also have unclaimed property. Search for your business, place of worship or community organization to see if it is on the list.
Reclaiming Your Property is a Free Consumer-Protection Service.
It only takes a moment to search and see if we have any unclaimed property in your name. Questions? Send an email to unclaimed.property@vermont.gov or call (802) 828-2407 (800/642-3191 - toll-free in Vermont only). We are always happy to assist you.
Which State Statutes Govern Vermont Unclaimed Property?
All processes for reporting and disbursing unclaimed assets are guided by Vermont Statutes Title 27: Property, Chapter 18: Unclaimed Property.
Stay Informed About Unclaimed Property.
Lost Life Insurance Benefits
Searching for a lost life insurance policy or payment? Use this Web page to search for lost benefits.
Fraud Protection
Some Web sites and phone solicitors claiming to want to assist you in obtaining the return your abandoned assets can be fraudulent. Review these helpful tips to evaluate such offers and avoid being defrauded.
