Making the most of unclaimed property in Pennsylvania will require you to determine the holder of the property. Cities and counties may serve as custodians of unclaimed property until certain criteria are met. At that time, custodianship of the property is then turned over to the state. This allows claimants to search for their property in a central location.

Unclaimed property in Pennsylvania can be an inexpensive way to obtain business equipment as companies frequently lose property through misfortune or carelessness. The appropriate agency will require specific forms and procedures in order to approve your claim on the property. Unclaimed property generally falls into one of the following categories:

1. Liquid assets such as uncashed checks, a bank account or the contents of a safe deposit box.

2. PA abandoned property that the original owner is unlikely to claim. This is commonly a wrecked vehicle or real estate with delinquent taxes but may also include a treasure trove. Property owners usually have a superior claim to a treasure trove than a trespasser who discovers the property.

3. PA state unclaimed property that is confiscated by law enforcement. This is frequently the result of a drug or tax seizure.

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Find agencies that handle state of Pennsylvania unclaimed property

Start at the state level if you are looking for property that belongs to a specific person and work down.

I recommend: The Pennsylvania Treasury Department has a database of unclaimed property that you can search by name. cashunclaimed.com provides specific information on unclaimed money in Pennsylvania and also provides a search by name.

Learn more about the laws regarding Pennsylvania state unclaimed property

Each state has laws regarding the disposition of unclaimed property. These laws should specify the conditions that allow the state to assume custodianship of the property and any conditions that allow the property to revert to the state.

I recommend: Wolf, Baldwin & Associates in Pottstown provides an analysis of the laws on unclaimed property in Pennsylvania. McNees Wallace & Nurick practices tax law in Pennsylvania and issues a newsletter that discusses the Pennsylvania Disposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed Property Act.

Buy a vehicle in a PA unclaimed property auction

Look at the various auctions that occur regularly throughout Pennsylvania if you are interested in bidding on a car. Vehicles are typically the mainstays of unclaimed property auctions and consist of abandoned vehicles, vehicles seized by law enforcement and surplus vehicles.

I recommend: The Philadelphia Parking Authority auctions abandoned vehicles on a regular basis. The Pittsburgh Department of Finance holds scheduled auctions of abandoned vehicles twice each month.

Tips & Tactics

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• •  The process of turning over unclaimed property in Pennsylvania to the state is called escheatment and legal documents may therefore refer to the property as escheat. Pennsylvania businesses usually encounter escheat in the form of an unclaimed pay check and are generally required to make a good faith effort to find the owner.

A court may classify unclaimed property in Pennsylvania as abandoned, lost or mislaid. These classifications have their origins in common law and can be difficult to interpret under modern legal systems. Legal documents may refer to the common law doctrine that ensures property is not left ownerless as escheat. Pennsylvania property owners usually have a superior claim to escheat than a trespasser who discovers the property.

There are specific forms and procedures to follow when claiming PA abandoned property. Generally, the state serves as the custodian for abandoned property in Pennsylvania until the appropriate agencies approve the finder’s claim on the abandoned property. Pennsylvania companies frequently lose property through misfortune or carelessness. Unclaimed property can be an inexpensive way to obtain business equipment.

There are general types of Pennsylvania state unclaimed property:

1. Liquid assets such as a dormant bank account, safe deposit contents, unclaimed deposits or refunds, uncashed checks and unused insurance benefits;

2. Abandoned property the original owner is unlikely to return to claim. Certain property such as wrecked cars, ships or aircraft may belong to the state;

3. Property confiscated by law enforcement or repossessed by a loan company. These items are frequently auctioned off to the public.

Action Steps
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Find agencies that handle state of Pennsylvania unclaimed property

Beware of sites that charge you a fee to help you find contact information for the Pennsylvania unclaimed property division. This information should be available from your state government at no charge.

I recommend: UnclaimedMoney.us.com allows you to search for unclaimed property by name and allows you to select city and state. The Pennsylvania state treasurer keeps a database of unclaimed property that is searchable by name or company name.

Participate in an auction for unclaimed property in PA

Most states have their own auctions to allow prospective buyers to bid on unclaimed or otherwise abandoned property.

I recommend: Carsfrom500.com allows you to search for government auctions in your area. You can specify zip code and a search radius on its website. JustStolen.net provides a service that allows police departments to auction unclaimed evidence.

Search for Pennsylvania abandoned property in your community

Some communities in Pennsylvania have a department that attempts to reunite unclaimed property with its owner. This department can answer specific questions regarding lost or abandoned property.

I recommend: The Department of Court Records for Allegheny County keeps escheated property for five years before turning it over to the state treasury. The Philadelphia Parking Authority conducts regular auctions of abandoned vehicles.

Tips & Tactics

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• •  Unclaimed property in Pennsylvania that the owner deliberately hides or conceals may be a treasure trove instead of mislaid property. The property must remain concealed long enough for the owner to be dead or undiscoverable. A treasure trove may belong to the finder or the property owner.

Unclaimed property in Pennsylvania laws and regulations are based partially on the common law of property. This generally means that unclaimed property is property which has left the rightful owner’s possession without directly entering another owner’s possession.

The disposition of Pennsylvania state unclaimed property depends on the specific circumstances under which it is found. There are three types of unclaimed property:

1. Lost property is found in a location where the owner did not intend to leave it and is not likely to find it. The finder of unclaimed property in PA is entitled to possession against everyone but the true owner. One exception to this rule occurs when a trespasser finds lost property while on private land.
2. Mislaid property is found in a location where the owner did intend to leave it and simply forgot to pick it up. Mislaid property must be returned to the owner.
3. PA abandoned property is found in a place where the owner intended to leave it. However, the condition of the property is such that it is unlikely that the true owner intends to reclaim it. Pennsylvania abandoned property belongs to the finder.
   

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Learn about the laws regarding the owners of Pennsylvania unclaimed property

Laws on unclaimed property are frequently used to determine the circumstances under which property must be returned to the owner. Unclaimed property laws and regulations are a resource for owners who wish to locate their unclaimed property. Contact the Pennsylvania Treasury Department to locate your own property.

I recommend: CashUnclaimed.com addresses expired gift cards for owners who are seeking unclaimed property in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General discusses a lawsuit concerning the return of unclaimed funds to the rightful owners.

Examine laws on holders of PA state unclaimed property

Unclaimed property laws describe the requirements for holders of unclaimed property to return the property to the rightful owner. They can determine when ownership of the unclaimed property passes to the holder.

I recommend: Chapter 951 of the Pennsylvania Code provides the regulations for holders of unclaimed property in Pennsylvania. Schneider Downs summarizes the regulations for holders of Pennsylvania unclaimed property.

Review Pennsylvania unclaimed property law for finders

Unclaimed property laws for finders address procedures for how finders charge owners for locating, delivering, recovering or assisting in the recovery of their unclaimed property. Unclaimed property laws for finders may also cover the rights of the state to recover compensation for unclaimed property.

I recommend: The Pennsylvania Treasury Department provides the requirements for unclaimed property finders in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Coroners Association publishes regulations for coroners that find unclaimed property on deceased persons in Pennsylvania.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act is a key piece of federal legislation that affects escheat in Pennsylvania. The Act seeks to address the problems of unclaimed property that arise from its origins in English common law. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws first drafted the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act in 1981 and last revised it in 1995.

Unclaimed property in Pennsylvania basics include the fact that a financial asset that has been abandoned for a certain amount of time may be considered unclaimed property. Businesses, such as financial institutions, may hold unclaimed property for a specified period of time before turning it over to the state of Pennsylvania. The period of time that a business may retain this property is known as the abandonment period.

The state must attempt to locate the owners of Pennsylvania state unclaimed property. These methods are specified by law and typically include mailing letters to the last known address of the owner and taking out advertisements in local newspapers. There are generally three types of information sources on unclaimed property in Pennsylvania:

1. Government websites. These sources of Pennsylvania abandoned property have official information on recovering unclaimed property in Pennsylvania.
2. Commercial websites. These sources may be commercial sites that sell unclaimed property services and also provide a summary of Pennsylvania unclaimed property.
3. Websites of local governments. Counties in Pennsylvania may attempt to locate the owners of unclaimed property on their own before handing it over to the state.
   

Action Steps
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Find state agencies that deal with unclaimed property in PA

The state of Pennsylvania administrates unclaimed property that it receives from businesses and government entities throughout the state. Pennsylvania also has specific laws that regulate unclaimed property.

I recommend: The Pennsylvania Treasury Department provides basic information on unclaimed property in Pennsylvania and also has a search capability on the unclaimed property database. The Pennsylvania Attorney General has a summary on recovering unclaimed property, such as gift certificates.

Learn about PA abandoned property from private sources

There are many businesses that provide searches of unclaimed property in Pennsylvania. While these companies may charge a fee for these services, they often provide free information about unclaimed property in Pennsylvania.

I recommend: Wolf, Baldwin & Associates provides a legal definition of unclaimed property and specific information on unclaimed property in Pennsylvania. Spencer Law Firm provides a post on the process by which safe deposit box contents are turned over to the state.

Look for state of Pennsylvania unclaimed property in local jurisdictions

Universities, cities and counties frequently hold unclaimed property temporarily. The property eventually will be turned over to the state, reclaimed, auctioned off or otherwise disposed of.

I recommend: Allegheny County provides its procedure for turning unclaimed Pennsylvania escheat to the state of Pennsylvania. Beaver County maintains a list of unclaimed property for residents in that county.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A treasure trove is a specific type of unclaimed property in Pennsylvania in which currency is intentionally hidden by the owner. In order to be a treasure trove, the property must have been hidden sufficiently long ago that the owner is assumed to be dead or cannot be located. American common law generally holds that a treasure trove belongs to the finder.