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