Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Unclaimed property comes in many shapes and sizes. Finding money, jewelry, coins and even land has now been made easier for the public to access that information and claim those properties.

Kentucky State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach serves as custodian of all unclaimed property, surrendered to the state, which is presumed lost or abandoned.

“Most of the properties are in the form of cash,” said Hollenback in a recent press release. “From old insurance policies to stocks and bonds to leftover bank accounts are unclaimed. There are also more than 20,000 unclaimed items stored in the treasury vault including a Joe DiMaggio autographed baseball, some silver bullion, jewelry and gold coins. It’s our duty to help return these items to the rightful owners.”

According to the Harlan County Property Valuation Administrator’s (PVA) office, there are 20 parcels of land with unknown owners located across Harlan County. Staff said tax bills are mailed each year to last known addresses and the bills are returned unclaimed for various reasons.

“This procedure (of mailing tax bills) will continue as long as the PVA knows the property is there,” said Department of Revenue Office of Property Valuation Executive Director David Gordon. “In KRS 132.220 (4) it says ‘Real property shall be assessed in the name of the owner, if ascertainable by the property valuation administrator, otherwise in the name of the occupant, if ascertainable, and otherwise to unknown owner.”

Since 2008, Hollenbach’s Treasure Finder’s Program has returned a record $64 million in unclaimed property. Presently, there are 3,300 unclaimed properties with the name Franklin attached, 2,300 with Washington, 2,200 Jeffersons, 17 with the name Independence and seven with Patriot.

To check for unclaimed property at the treasury, you may go to http://www.kytreasury.com/ and click on the unclaimed property search. Then enter your name in the search box. To search nationwide you may click on the missing money icon on the unclaimed property search page. This will provide you with access to a national unclaimed property database. If you don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, you may call toll free 1-800-465-4722. You may also call the Harlan PVA office at 573-1990.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com