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Ore. Web site helps people find $253 million in unclaimed property

08:51 AM PDT on Wednesday, May 16, 2007

By kgw.com Staff

You could be among more than 150,000 Oregonians with unclaimed property the state is trying to get back to you.

According to the Department of State Lands, there’s currently $253 million in unclaimed property in Oregon. That includes more than 10,000 reports last year along totaling $41 million.

"Unclaimed property typically includes uncashed payroll checks, state tax refunds, utility deposits, stock proceeds, dormant bank accounts -- any financial asset that has not been claimed by its owner, or that has not had any owner-generated activity for several years," DSL's Unclaimed Property Section Manager Cyndi Wickham said.

The funds are held indefinitely in trust in the Common School Fund until the rightful owner makes a claim, the agency said.

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Earnings from the fund are distributed twice yearly to Oregon's 198 K-12 public school districts.

"No amount of money is too little for us to send to the rightful owners," said Wickham.

Wickam said last year's smallest claim was $1.20 and the largest was $1.02 million.

To search DSL's unclaimed property database, go to OregonStateLands Web site

Or ask DSL staff to perform a search by sending an email to claims@dsl.state.or.us or writing a letter to 775 Summer St. NE, Suite 100, Salem, OR 97301-1279. Be sure to provide the full name in addition to previous and current addresses.

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