My wife has been contacted by an unclaimed property locator service
who wants to charge an exorbitant fee. I have been unsuccessful at
finding the unclaimed property using websites I've heard of. My
question is, "Can you put me in contact with the entity that is
holding her unclaimed property?"

The locator service says the property is held in the name of PEGGY
MUSTAIN ADKINS, IRA. This is my wife's correct proper name, and we've
lived in either Tennessee or Georgia our entire married lives.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 20 Dec 2003 19:16 PST

What other states has your wife lived or worked in during her life?

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Clarification of Question by bucky8657-ga on 20 Dec 2003 19:42 PST

My wife has always lived in either Tennessee or Georgia, but she has
worked for entities (as a consultant) in DC, MD, CA, TX, WV, IN, SD,
VA and AZ.


She had an IRA with a firm that was purchased by a larger firm that is
based in Texas, we think.

She was on the faculty of the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 20 Dec 2003 20:24 PST

Thanks for the added info.  For a moment, I thought I had it -- there
is an entry for unclaimed property for a Peggy Adkins in Paradise,
Texas, but alas, a different middle name of Thomas.

I don't suppose any of that rings any bells, eh?

I'll let you know if anything turns up in other states.

Hello bucky8657-ga,

I?ve searched the unclaimed property databases of Tennessee and
Georgia and I did not find your wife?s name listed.

Tennessee Treasury Department
Unclaimed Property
http://www.treasury.state.tn.us/unclaim/index-find.htm


Georgia Department of Revenue
Unclaimed Property Search
http://www2.state.ga.us/Departments/DOR/ptd/ucp/search.html


Also, I?ve listed some information below from the Tennessee and
Georgia websites regarding paying someone to find your unclaimed
property for you.


Tennessee Treasury Department
Unclaimed Property
Frequently Asked Questions 
http://www.treasury.state.tn.us/unclaim/faq.htm#charge
?If someone calls or writes me to help me get my property back before
it is turned over to the state and tries to charge me a fee, is that
fee permitted?

No, please see the following Tennessee Code Annotated Section
66-29-137. Agreements to ascertain whereabouts of property's owner.

Any holder of property not yet abandoned pursuant to this part may
enter into such agreements as may be necessary to ascertain the
whereabouts of the owner; provided, that no costs associated with such
agreements shall be deducted from the property nor charged to the
owner.

[Acts 1997, ch. 297, § 1.]?

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?Do I have to pay someone to help me find my property? 

Unclaimed Property services are offered at no cost by the State. It is
not necessary to pay anyone to help you find unclaimed property. If
you have property, the forms will be sent to you upon request. You are
not required to send money to collect unclaimed property.
The Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer's Office
provides this free service to citizens. You may contact the Unclaimed
Property Division Office and request a search of unclaimed property
that has been turned over to the State of Tennessee. The office is
open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM central time. You may also access the
Unclaimed Property database on the Internet to search for unclaimed
property at your convenience. If you find a potential name match, you
may print the form and mail the information to the address below.
 
Tennessee Treasury Unclaimed Property Division
10th Floor Andrew Jackson State Office Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0242?


Georgia Department of Revenue
Frequently Asked Questions
About Unclaimed Property in Georgia
http://www2.state.ga.us/Departments/DOR/ptd/adm/faq/ucp/owners.html#locate
?Should I send money to this company to assist me in locating unclaimed property?

There are several companies mailing postcards to Georgia citizens
requesting a fee ranging from $9.95 to $19.95 to assist you in finding
unclaimed accounts. PLEASE DO NOT SEND THE MONEY! For this fee you
will receive a photocopy of the addresses and phone numbers for the
unclaimed property offices throughout the U.S. This information can be
obtained at no charge by visiting the web site of the National
Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators at www.unclaimed.org
. This site also provides links to other states so you can personally
search for your name AT NO CHARGE!?

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?Should I do business with an asset recovery service in order to claim my property?

Georgia citizens are often contacted by asset recovery services. These
services work not only the lists of unclaimed accounts from the
states, but also assist companies in locating owners prior to their
sending accounts to the states as unclaimed property.

Owners contacted by these services have stocks, bonds and mutual funds
that are unclaimed but are still in the possession of the company. You
should review any and all records for any stocks, bonds or mutual
funds that may have been issued in your name. Be sure to review those
mutual funds that may have been included in 401K plans. Compile a list
and contact those companies regarding the status of your account.

It is not necessary for you to contract with this company to receive
your property because these accounts will eventually be delivered to
the State for custodial holding. We return the property to the owner
at no charge.?


For more information, visit the website of The National Association of
Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), http://www.unclaimed.org/ .


Good luck.

Googlenut

It is possible that it could be escheated funds or something like that
held by a financial institution in a state where its home office is
located. You might check past banks where you've had accounts and
check the unclaimed property in the states where their corporate
offices are.

I wouldn't recommend paying though, because that practice is illegal in most areas.