WYOMING — The Unclaimed Property Division of the Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office shattered the previous record for most money returned in a fiscal year, returning $10,641,765.47 to citizens and former citizens in fiscal year 2023.
According to a press release from the State Treasure’s Office, payments increased by 31.8% compared to the previous record of $8.072 million paid in fiscal year 2022. The $10.64 million was paid via 9,342 checks.
The largest Teton County claim totaled $125,448 and the largest remaining unclaimed property totals $73,916. Statewide the largest claim was $742,993 from Big Horn County.
While over $10 million was returned to Wyomingites, a record $16.28 million was added to the state’s unclaimed property fund in fiscal year 2023, which ended June 30. Wyoming law requires the state to hold unclaimed property in perpetuity until it is claimed by the rightful owner. More than $104 million remains in Wyoming’s Unclaimed Property Fund.
“Our Unclaimed Property Fund keeps getting bigger and bigger, no matter how much money we return to its rightful owners,” Wyoming State Treasurer Curt Meier said. “To me, that’s really eye-opening when you consider our payments to citizens of the Cowboy State are up more than 30% from the previous record.”
Unclaimed property is turned over when a business, agency or governmental entity owes money, securities and/or the contents of a safe deposit box, among other items, to someone and for whatever reason cannot locate the owner for a specified duration of time. The property typically is turned over to the state of last known address. If there was no last known address, it is turned over to the state in which the business was incorporated.
To make a claim or check to see if you are owed unclaimed property in Wyoming, visit www.mycash.wyo.gov or to check other states visit www.missingmoney.com.
“With so much new money getting added every year, we encourage residents and businesses to check our system every year or two to see if we are holding onto any of their money, securities or safe deposit box contents,” Meier said. “It is estimated that about 10% of the country’s population is entitled to unclaimed property totaling $20 billion.”
