April 3, 2000: Treasurer Tavares Announces Release of 2000 Unclaimed Property List!

Providence, RI: Rhode Island General Treasurer Paul J. Tavares today announced that the General Treasurer's 2000 Unclaimed Property List, containing more than 7,500 new names and an additional $5 million, will be released tomorrow. This year’s list contains 12 unclaimed accounts worth more than $25,000. Treasurer Tavares urges Rhode Islanders to search the list and claim the property that is rightfully theirs.

Each year this list comes out at tax time – a time when it seems the government is only interested in taking your money. With the release of the unclaimed property list, we in the treasury are actually trying to return your money.

"This year we have 35 accounts with a value of $10,000-$25,000 and 12 accounts valued at more than $25,000. There's a good chance that a portion of the $5 million on this year’s new list may belong to you or someone you know," said Treasurer Tavares. "In total, our Unclaimed Property Division is holding more than $80 million in property. This is the people's money and I intend to return it to them."

Abandoned treasure is property left unclaimed by its rightful owners. Under Rhode Island's unclaimed property law, businesses left holding property after failing to locate its owner are required to turn the property over to the state within a certain period of years. This property may include items such as un-cashed checks, old insurance policies, unclaimed utility deposits, abandoned safe deposit box contents and forgotten bank accounts.