Unclaimed Stocks, Bonds, Dividends, or Mutual Funds
Unclaimed stocks, bonds, dividends, or mutual funds refer to financial assets that have not been claimed or delivered to their rightful owners within a specified period. These assets typically result from investments in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds where dividends, interest payments, or capital gains distributions have been issued but not collected by the intended recipients.
Several factors may contribute to stocks, bonds, dividends, or mutual funds becoming unclaimed or undelivered:
1. Change of Address: If investors fail to update their contact information with the financial institution or investment issuer, they may not receive notifications or correspondence regarding their investments.
2. Inactivity: Some investors may forget about their investments or fail to keep track of them over time, leading to unclaimed dividends or distributions.
3. Deceased Owners: In cases where the original owners of the investments have passed away, their heirs or beneficiaries may be unaware of the existence of the assets or how to claim them.
4. Lost or Forgotten Investments: Investors may misplace or forget about their investment holdings, leading to unclaimed assets.
When stocks, bonds, dividends, or mutual funds remain unclaimed or undelivered, they are typically held by the financial institution, investment issuer, or a designated custodian. These entities are responsible for safeguarding the assets until they are transferred to the OUF where they are held until claimed by the rightful owners or their representatives.
Investors who believe they may have unclaimed stocks, bonds, dividends, or mutual funds can often search for them through databases maintained by the OUF. Once located, investors can take steps to claim their assets by providing documentation and following the procedures outlined.
Transfer to Search
The Office of Unclaimed Funds Database is a Fast and Easy Way to see if you have Missing Money that is being held by the Government. We’ll instantly search the National Unclaimed Benefits database. You may also be contacted by an Unclaimed Funds Agent by email or telephone and receive personal service in retrieving your money.