"Wyoming Windfall" is the catch name for the Unclaimed Property Division of the Wyoming State Treasurer's Office. The Unclaimed Property Act is a consumer protection law requiring unclaimed property be held in perpetuity until the owners or heirs collect the funds. Some types of unclaimed property include dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed money orders, cashiers checks, unclaimed insurance benefits, mineral royalty payments, safe deposit box contents, unused gift certificates, unclaimed security deposits, cash dividends, stock, court deposits, and utility deposits. Unclaimed funds which have been held by a company or by another state for a specified number of years and have not or cannot be paid to the owner are placed in protective custody at the state level to safeguard and make a diligent effort to return such funds to the rightful owner, at no cost to the owner.
Make sure you check with every state in which you have lived (unclaimed property is generally turned over to the state of your last known address as reflected on the records of the business holding your money, stock, etc.).
Another tip that may be helpful is to try various combinations of your name, try putting you first name last and your last name first. Don't forget that you may have assets in your maiden name.
Keep in mind that if someone calls or writes to you and asks that you pay them money for the successful return of your unclaimed property, you probably have some out there somewhere. The folks who are contacting you are called "heir finders." They are not likely to contact you unless they believe that they have found property belonging to you. Heir finders generally charge a fee to locate and help return unclaimed property to you.
In addition to money and securities, the state's holdings include tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles. Unclaimed money is deposited into a state school fund, and is used exclusively for public education. There are, however, no statute of limitations. Anyone has the right to claim property, at no cost to them, at any time, regardless of the amount or the length of time lapsed.
