Comptroller returns record $308 million in unclaimed property

A press release today from the Texas Comptroller touts the return of a record $308 million in unclaimed property during the past fiscal year.

Comptroller Glenn Hegar is quoted saying, “The hard-working team in our Unclaimed Property division has made this record-breaking year possible.”

They do deserve most of the credit, but The Vindicator can claim some tiny part of it, too. Last year this newspaper ran a story about the unclaimed property website and pointed out a number of local entities that had money coming to them. Lee College expressed their thanks particularly for our drawing their attention to the several thousands of dollars the college had waiting for it.

However, looking at the Comptroller’s unclaimed property website again, it seems many of the funds the newspaper mentioned last year are still there, waiting to be claimed. The government of Liberty County has had money there since 2012. The total of Liberty County’s money now held by the Comptroller is over $5,000. Maybe county officials don’t feel the county really needs that money. Or, maybe they just don’t read the newspaper.

If you missed The Vindicator’s story about it last year, the Comptroller’s office maintains a website called ClaimItTexas.org. To see whether you have a long-forgotten security deposit or a refund you never knew about waiting for you, go to that site and simply enter your name in the search field. You can then narrow the results by city or zip code.

The Comptroller’s press release says, “The $308 million in unclaimed property returned in fiscal 2019 includes forgotten utility deposits or other refunds, insurance proceeds, payroll checks, cashier’s checks, dividends, mineral royalties, dormant bank accounts and abandoned safe-deposit box contents. Businesses generally turn property over to the unclaimed property program after it has been considered dormant for one to five years.”

I never have found any money for me there, but someone named Fitzhugh Lee Stinnett has over $140,000 waiting to be claimed. I wonder if we’re related?