| Where do the billion and billions of | | | | heir to his entire estate of 2 million |
| unclaimed dollars all come from > Each and | | | | dollars. However no one, including the great- |
| every year hundreds of thousands of | | | | uncle knew where you were. After a |
| individuals across the United States and | | | | half-hearted search, the attorneys will take |
| Canada , leave their friends , family | | | | their fees from the estate and the balance |
| relatives and birthplace to follow a dream m | | | | will go to the states: unclaimed money |
| start another life and to consequently | | | | account". Or if you reside in Canada to the |
| relocate. The reasons they leave "home" are | | | | "Bank of Canada". It has been estimated that |
| as varied as there are people who do! But one | | | | over $ 250,000,000,000 in unclaimed money is |
| thing is certain; those who move away are | | | | being held by the U.S.'s individual states |
| looking towards the future. Not to the past. | | | | and upward of $ 500,000,000 by the Banks of |
| In turn many thousands lose contact either by | | | | Canada. In Canada, all financial institutions |
| chance or by choice with the passing of time. | | | | are required by law to submit the names and |
| Our forever changing society has resulted in | | | | last known address of accounts that have been |
| the fact that most people do not have the | | | | inactive for at least seven years. After that |
| slightest idea who, where most of their | | | | period of time, the financial institution has |
| relatives are! Think of it! Do you personally | | | | already sent out two notices. One is sent out |
| know all of your relatives? That includes | | | | after two years of inactivity, the next after |
| aunts, great- aunts, uncles and great-uncles, | | | | five years. After the limit is reached all |
| half- brothers and sisters, grandparents, | | | | unclaimed funds are released to the Bank of |
| great-grandparents etc etc. The answer for | | | | Canada, but each account, as in the case of |
| most people is an unequivocal now. | | | | U.S. accounts remains in the name of the |
| Grandparents generally have some sketchy | | | | original holder. In the United States, each |
| ideas about the long-range past, but if one | | | | state has a different standard of time |
| asks for information regarding missing or l | | | | variance, although many may be the same. |
| "long lost relatives" it never comes up. And | | | | However, all financial institutions including |
| once the grandparents are gone chances are | | | | retirement funds, insurance companies, banks, |
| that you will never know. So why is all this | | | | county government offices etc are also |
| important? Because "lost" works both ways. | | | | required by law to report unclaimed money to |
| Either you have long lost relatives or you | | | | the state. After a period of time as |
| yourself are a lost relative if someone who | | | | specified by law, the money is then turned |
| would like to get in touch with you. It could | | | | over to the state treasury department |
| well mean - "untold" wealth that is just | | | | unclaimed property division. In either case, |
| waiting to be discovered. Imagine for a | | | | to get their rightful money, all you need to |
| moment that a great-uncle, who has survived | | | | do is locate it, and then ask for it. Isn't |
| and aunt dies and has named you as the sole | | | | it time you claimed your long lost money? |