If you own shares through West Coast Stock Transfer and we lose contact with you, state law may require us to turn your shares, uncashed dividend checks and other payments over to a state. This is called escheatment. The property is not lost. The state holds it for you, and you or your heirs can claim it back. This page explains how to find property that was reported to a state, how to claim it, and how to keep it from being reported in the first place.
Quick start: Search MissingMoney.com (free, endorsed by the states) or the claim site for your state in the state contact list below. If your shares are still with us, contact us and we can update your account before anything is reported.
What is unclaimed property?
Every state has an unclaimed property law. If an owner has had no contact with the company or its transfer agent for a set number of years, the property is “presumed abandoned” and must be reported and delivered to the state. For stock, the period is generally three to five years, depending on the state. The clock usually starts with the last contact from you, or when mail sent to you is returned as undeliverable, or when dividend checks go uncashed.
For shareholders, unclaimed property can include:
- Shares held in your name on the company’s books (book-entry or DRS shares), and shares represented by stock certificates
- Uncashed dividend, interest or other distribution checks
- Payments from a merger, cash-out, reverse split or other corporate action that were never collected
- Shares and cash in a dividend reinvestment or similar plan
As the transfer agent, West Coast Stock Transfer is required to follow these laws. Before we report anything, we try to reach you, as described below.
Which state would have my property?
Property is generally reported to the state of your last known address on our records. If we have no valid U.S. address for you, it is generally reported to the state where the company is incorporated (often Delaware or Nevada). To be thorough, search:
- Every state where you have lived
- The state where the company that issued the shares is incorporated
- Any former names, such as a maiden name, and the names on joint accounts
- For a deceased relative, the states where that person lived
How do I search for property reported to a state?
- MissingMoney.com searches most states at once. It is free and is run with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA).
- Because a few states don’t take part in MissingMoney.com, also search each state’s own site, listed below, or start from NAUPA’s map at unclaimed.org.
- Search by your name, and by the company name if the site allows it. Try variations and partial names.
- If you find a match, file the claim directly with that state, following its instructions.
Searching and claiming are free. You never have to pay a person or company to find or claim your property. Some businesses (“finders”) offer to recover property for a fee. Many states limit those fees, and you can always file with the state yourself for free.
How can I keep my property from being turned over to a state?
The best protection is staying in touch with us:
- Keep your address current. Tell us in writing whenever you move. Returned mail is one of the most common reasons property becomes reportable.
- Cash your dividend and other checks promptly. In many states, uncashed checks start the clock even when your address is correct.
- Answer our letters. If you receive a letter from us saying your property may be reported to a state, sign and return it, or contact us, by the date shown. That response is usually enough to keep your account active.
- Contact us now and then if you don’t otherwise hear from us, for example once a year, so your account shows recent activity.
- Tell us about life changes, such as a name change, or a shareholder’s death so the estate or heirs can transfer the shares.
- Keep your stock certificates and statements in a safe place, with a note of the transfer agent’s name, so you or your family know where the shares are held.
Frequently asked questions
I received a letter from West Coast Stock Transfer about unclaimed property. Is it real?
Yes, if it came from us. State laws require us to send a “due diligence” letter to owners before we report their property. The letter lists the property and gives a date to respond by. Responding is free. If you’re not sure a letter is genuine, call us at the number on this website, not a number printed in the letter, and we’ll confirm it.
My property hasn’t been reported yet. What should I do?
Contact us before the date in the letter. We’ll confirm your identity, update your address and record your response, so your shares stay with us and are not reported.
My property was already turned over to a state. Can West Coast Stock Transfer give it back?
No. Once property is delivered to a state, only that state can return it, so you must file your claim with the state. We can tell you which state your property was reported to and when. After the state approves a claim for shares it still holds, it instructs us to re-register the shares to you.
How do I claim property from a state?
- Find the property on the state’s claim site, or on MissingMoney.com, and start a claim. Most states accept claims online, and some also take them by mail.
- Provide proof of identity, usually a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number.
- Show that you are the owner, for example with proof that you lived at the address on file, and statements, letters or stock certificates if you have them.
- If you are claiming for someone who has died, the state will also ask for a death certificate and proof that you have the right to claim, such as letters testamentary or a small-estate affidavit.
- Some claims, especially larger ones or claims for shares, may need a notarized signature or a medallion signature guarantee.
Processing time varies by state and by how complicated the claim is, from a few weeks to several months. The state does not charge you to file.
Will I get my shares back, or cash?
It depends on the state and on what it has done with the shares. If the state still holds them, it may return the shares to you. Many states sell escheated shares after holding them for a period set by state law. Once they are sold, the state generally pays you the amount it received from the sale, not the shares. Uncashed checks and other cash are returned as cash.
What happens if I don’t claim my property?
- The state keeps it in custody for you. In most states there is no deadline, and you or your heirs can claim it many years later.
- Shares may be sold. If the state sells your shares, you lose the shares themselves and any later rise in their price. You also lose dividends and voting rights after the sale. You can claim only the sale proceeds.
- Interest is usually not paid. Most states don’t pay interest on the cash they hold for you, or pay it only in limited cases.
- A few states set limits for small amounts. For example, Hawaii requires claims for funds under $100 to be made within 10 years.
- Meanwhile, the property shows up on public state databases in your name until it is claimed.
Can I claim property for a relative who has died?
Yes. Heirs and estate representatives can claim from the state. Each state lists the documents it needs, which usually include a death certificate and proof of your right to the estate. If the shares are still with us, contact us about transferring them.
Is there a deadline for responding to a due diligence letter?
Yes. Each letter gives a response date. State law sets the timing, which is generally a few months before we file our report with the state. After that date we may be required to report and deliver the property, and from then on you would need to claim it from the state.
State unclaimed property offices
The list below gives each state’s site for searching and claiming unclaimed property.
Important: The state contact information on this page is provided as a convenience and may be out of date. States change their websites, phone numbers and procedures from time to time, and West Coast Stock Transfer does not guarantee that this information is current or complete. If you have any question about searching for or claiming property that has been remitted to a state, please contact that state’s unclaimed property office directly. Only the state can answer questions about, or return, property it holds.
| State | Office | Search and claim online | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | unclaimed.alabama.gov | 1-888-844-8400 |
| Alaska | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program | unclaimedproperty.alaska.gov | 1-844-252-2741 |
| Arizona | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Unit | azdor.gov/unclaimed-property/owners-file-claim/search-for-property | (602) 364-0380 |
| Arkansas | Auditor of State, Unclaimed Property Division | claimitar.gov | 1-800-252-4648 |
| California | State Controller's Office, Unclaimed Property Division | claimit.ca.gov | (800) 992-4647 |
| Colorado | Department of the Treasury, Great Colorado Payback | unclaimedproperty.colorado.gov | 1-800-825-2111 |
| Connecticut | Office of the State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property | ctbiglist.gov | (800) 833-7318 |
| Delaware | Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property | unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov | (855) 505-7520 |
| District of Columbia | Office of Finance and Treasury, Unclaimed Property Unit | unclaimedproperty.dc.gov | (202) 442-8181 |
| Florida | Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property | claimyourcashfl.gov | No phone; claims online |
| Georgia | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Program | gaclaims.unclaimedproperty.com | (855) 329-9863 |
| Hawaii | Department of Budget and Finance, Unclaimed Property Program | unclaimedproperty.ehawaii.gov/lilo/property-search.html | (808) 586-1589 |
| Idaho | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Program | yourmoney.idaho.gov | (877) 388-2942 |
| Illinois | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property (I-Cash) | icash.illinoistreasurer.gov | (800) 961-8303 |
| Indiana | Attorney General, Unclaimed Property Division | indianaunclaimed.gov | (866) 462-5246 |
| Iowa | State Treasurer, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt | greatiowatreasurehunt.gov | (515) 281-5368 |
| Kansas | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | missingmoney.ks.gov | (785) 296-4165 |
| Kentucky | State Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | kyclaims.unclaimedproperty.com | (800) 465-4722 |
| Louisiana | Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | unclaimedproperty.la.gov | (888) 925-4127 |
| Maine | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | maineunclaimedproperty.gov | (207) 624-7470 |
| Maryland | Comptroller of Maryland, Unclaimed Property | claimitmd.gov | 1-800-782-7383 |
| Massachusetts | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | findmassmoney.gov | (617) 367-0400 |
| Michigan | Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov | (517) 636-5320 |
| Minnesota | Department of Commerce, Unclaimed Property Program | unclaimedproperty.mn.gov | (651) 539-1545 |
| Mississippi | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | ms.findyourunclaimedproperty.com | (601) 359-3600 |
| Missouri | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | treasurer.mo.gov/UnclaimedProperty | (573) 751-0123 |
| Montana | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property | revenue.mt.gov/unclaimed-property | (406) 444-6900 |
| Nebraska | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | nebraskalostcash.nebraska.gov | (877) 572-9688 |
| Nevada | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | nvup.gov | (702) 486-4140 |
| New Hampshire | State Treasury, Abandoned Property Division | findnhmoney.gov | (603) 271-2619 |
| New Jersey | Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Administration | unclaimedfunds.nj.gov | (609) 292-9200 |
| New Mexico | Taxation and Revenue Department, Unclaimed Property | nmclaims.unclaimedproperty.com | (505) 827-0668 |
| New York | State Comptroller, Office of Unclaimed Funds | ouf.osc.ny.gov | 1-800-221-9311 |
| North Carolina | Department of State Treasurer, NCCash | nccash.gov | 1-866-622-2741 |
| North Dakota | Department of Trust Lands, Unclaimed Property | unclaimedproperty.nd.gov | (701) 328-2800 |
| Ohio | Department of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds | unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov | (614) 466-4433 |
| Oklahoma | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | yourmoney.ok.gov | (405) 521-4273 |
| Oregon | State Treasury, Unclaimed Property Program | unclaimed.oregon.gov | (503) 378-4000 |
| Pennsylvania | Treasury Department, Bureau of Unclaimed Property | searchandclaimpa.gov | 1-800-222-2046 |
| Rhode Island | General Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | findrimoney.gov | (401) 462-7676 |
| South Carolina | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Program | treasurer.sc.gov/what-we-do/for-citizens/unclaimed-property-program | (803) 734-2101 |
| South Dakota | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | cash.sd.gov | (605) 773-3379 |
| Tennessee | Department of Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | unclaimedproperty.tn.gov | (866) 370-9429 |
| Texas | Comptroller of Public Accounts, Unclaimed Property | claimittexas.gov | 1-800-321-2274 |
| Utah | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | mycash.utah.gov | (801) 715-3300 |
| Vermont | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | vermont.unclaimedproperty.com | (802) 828-2407 |
| Virginia | Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property Division | vamoneysearch.gov | 1-800-468-1088 |
| Washington | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property | ucp.dor.wa.gov | (360) 534-1502 |
| West Virginia | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | wvunclaimedproperty.gov | (800) 642-8687 |
| Wisconsin | Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property | revenue.wi.gov/Pages/UnclaimedProperty/home.aspx | (608) 264-4594 |
| Wyoming | State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division | statetreasurer.wyo.gov/unclaimed-property | (307) 777-5590 |
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam also run unclaimed property programs. See unclaimed.org for their contacts.
Contact West Coast Stock Transfer
If your shares or payments are still with us, or you want to know whether they were reported to a state, contact our shareholder services team:
West Coast Stock Transfer, Inc.
721 N. Vulcan Ave., Ste. 106
Encinitas, CA 92024-2191
Phone: 619-664-4780
Email: cs@wcsti.com
Please don’t email your full Social Security number or account documents. Call us and we’ll explain how to send them securely.
This page gives general information only. It is not legal advice. Each state’s unclaimed property rules are different and change from time to time. State contact information on this page may be outdated. For the rules that apply to your property, or any question about searching for or claiming property remitted to a state, contact that state’s unclaimed property office.