How To Avoid Having Your Property Become Unclaimed

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1. Keep accurate financial records.  Record all insurance policies, bank account numbers, types of accounts, stock certificates, utility and rent deposits, and bank names and addresses.
    
2. Every four years, write or call institutions that hold you money, asking them to make note of your call or place your letter in their files.  This indicates your interest and awareness of the account and holdings.
    
3. Cash all checks for dividends, wages and insurance settlements without delay.
    
4. Record all CD, stock, and bond registration numbers, dates of issue, and corporate issuer or stock broker names and addresses.  Make sure you've received and cashed all declared dividends.
    
5. Respond in writing to requests for confirmation of account balances from banks, stockbrokers, utility companies and others that owe you money.
    
6. If you have a safe deposit box, record its number, bank name and address and give the extra key to a family member or trusted adviser.
    
7. Prepare a checklist of all these items to be reviewed if you change your address.  Make sure you notify all concerned parties of your new address.  It's also a good idea to make a family member or trusted adviser aware of the location of your property.