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Unclaimed Property in Missouri Basics

Locate MO unclaimed property for your business

By Emmet McMahan
Unclaimed property in Missouri basics hold that unclaimed property may be any financial asset that is abandoned for a specific period of time. Unclaimed property laws require businesses, financial institutions and government entities to report any personal property they have been holding for a certain period of time, known as the abandonment period.

The state administers Missouri state unclaimed property when the owner cannot be located and the appropriate abandonment period has expired. The state uses several methods to locate the owner, including newspaper advertisements and mailing notices to the owner's last known address. There are three general types of sources that provide additional information on unclaimed property in Missouri:
  1. The state government. These sources provide official information on Missouri abandoned property and also include the state’s official property database.
  2. Third parties. Commercial sites that sell unclaimed property services or independent sources may offer basic facts on unclaimed property in Missouri.
  3. Local governments. Specific cities and counties normally hold unclaimed property before turning it over to the state. Each local government will have its own specific procedures for allowing owners to recover unclaimed property.

 

Find state agencies that deal with unclaimed property of Missouri

The Missouri unclaimed property division administrates unclaimed property that it receives from businesses and government entities throughout the state. Missouri also has specific laws that regulate unclaimed property.
Try: The Missouri State Treasury provides official information about unclaimed property in Missouri. Chapter 447 of the Missouri Revised Statutes published by the Missouri General Assembly addresses lost and unclaimed property in Missouri.

Learn about unclaimed property in MO from private sources

There are many businesses that provide searches of unclaimed property in Missouri. While these companies may charge a fee for these services, they often provide free information about unclaimed property in Missouri.
Try: KSPR details the efforts of a private investigator to locate owners of unclaimed property in Missouri. MyKDKD.com provides the basic procedures for recovering unclaimed property in Missouri.

Look for Missouri unclaimed properties in local jurisdictions

Universities, cities and counties frequently hold unclaimed property temporarily. The property will eventually be turned over to the state, reclaimed, auctioned off or otherwise disposed of.
Try: The St. Louis City Municipal Court provides its procedures for handling the unclaimed funds in its jurisdiction. The City of Hollister provides a current list of unclaimed property owners in that city.

 

  • The process of turning over state of Missouri unclaimed property to the state is also called escheatment and this property may therefore be referred to as escheat. Missouri businesses frequently handle escheat in the form of an unclaimed pay check which requires the company to file an unclaimed property report. The company also must make a good faith effort to find the owner.

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