Dear barbara7-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. Don?t panic. This is not at all an uncommon problem and the
state is prepared to deal with it.
Generally speaking when State Authorities contact someone to notify
them that they have unclaimed funds in the custody of the State, the
State has already assumed the property is yours (otherwise they would
not have gone to the trouble to notify you, as opposed to someone
else). Typically all that is necessary to claim the funds is to prove
that you are who the State already believes you to be.
You will find the Ohio statutes regarding the claim of funds on the
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE website:
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS
http://www.com.state.oh.us/unfd/revcodes.aspx
As outlined specifically in Ohio Revised Codes section § 169.08 the
Director may require your parents to attend a hearing to weigh the
facts ? one of which, I would imagine, is that the State notified you
based on evidence it has that you are the rightful owners.
§ 169.08. Procedure for claiming refund; public hearing.
http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll/PORC/4f4/335f/3394?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0
If I were in your position the first thing I would do is search the
records for unclaimed funds myself to make sure I was not being
scammed by a ?finder? or someone who is portraying themselves as a
state authority. You can do this online.
OHIO UNCLAIMED FUNDS TREASURE HUNT
http://www.unclaimedfundstreasurehunt.ohio.gov/
If you do find your names in the database, download the form and
follow the instructions. (The claim form is located in the first
column on the left when you complete a search.)
Have the form notarized and return it with the required documentation to:
The Division of Unclaimed Funds
77 South High Street, 20th floor
Columbus, Ohio
43215-6108.
Each case requires it?s own proof to establish ownership. The state of
Ohio says, in general:
?Documentation of the reported address of the original owner of the
funds or proof of relationship to the reporting company on each
property may be required to prove your claim. Additional documentation
may be required once we have reviewed your claim. Also, when sending
a copy of your personal identification, please make sure it is clear
and legible.?
So, as you can see, the initial task is to send the form in and then
you will be instructed on how to provide the necessary ?proof?
required to claim your specific funds. If the state already KNOWS that
you own the property (and apparently they do), ?proof? can often be as
little as proving that you are who you say you are and/or that you
live/lived at the address listed in their records. As a rule the state
contact's owner's in an effort to establish whether or not they are
still alive, and all they essentilay want is for the rightful owner to
come forward and identify himself/herself and claim the fund. The
bottom line is that you shouldn't rush to tear down your house looking
for certificates that might not even exist anymore because, frankly,
you may never be asked for them.
To make inquiries about your specific case, I recommend you contact
the state?s office at:
The Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Unclaimed Funds
77 South High Street, 20th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108
(614) 752-5078 (FAX)
email: unfd.claims@com.state.oh.us
If it?s any consolation I know two different people who have claimed
?unclaimed funds? in the custody of the state, one in Arkansas and one
in California. One fellow had $1200 waiting for him and the other one
had $20,000 in forgotten stocks waiting on him. Both of them were only
required to provide notarized copies of their identification (driver?s
license and social security card) and records proving that they once
resided at the address listed on the fund?s records (one fellow
provided his utility bill, because he still lived at the same address,
and the other fellow, who had long since moved to a different address,
provided his a copy of his tax return for the years that he lived at
his old address, as proof of prior residence).
Again, to summarize, do the search and fill out the forms. If the
state needs more from you they will ask or they will schedule a
hearing. Since they were the ones that initiated contact I suspect the
claim will be much easier than you fear.
I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher
OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES
Defined above
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINES USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
OHIO
REVISED CODES
UNCLAIMED FUNDS
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
STATE OF OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS |
