There’s nothing better than putting on a jacket you haven’t worn in a bit or digging out your cycling vest in the spring and discovering some extra cash you forgot you stashed in a pocket, but is there a chance you’ve also forgotten about an old bank account? Maybe you moved and never got your security deposit back? Just recently, the Maine State Treasurer’s Office released its annual list of unclaimed property and every district in the state is represented on it, offering a potential opportunity for countless Mainers to be reunited with long-forgotten assets. You might be one of them.
The Maine State Treasurer’s Office releases a list of the unclaimed property in the state every year. The Unclaimed Property Program includes more than $360 million worth of Mainers’ property that was unable to be returned to the rightful owner. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the Treasurer’s Office processed 68,384 claims for a total of $28.4 million returned. Such property includes bank balances from old accounts, overpaid bills, uncashed checks and other assets.
The Treasurer’s Office holds these assets free of charge. You can search the list for your name, a family member or your business at www.maineunclaimedproperty.gov. Should you find something to claim, the beginning steps can be done right from the website. If you have any trouble at all, please call the Treasurer’s Office at 207-624- 7470 or email them at up.claimstatus@maine.gov and someone will assist you.
Many Mainers across the state are unaware they have unclaimed property in their name. This property should be returned to its rightful owner, so please take a moment to see if you, someone you know or a business in your community is listed.
I do urge residents to use caution regarding scams and unclaimed property. In recent years, the State Treasurer has issued warnings about phone calls, emails and letters in the mail asking recipients to pay a fee up front in order to claim their property. I want to emphasize again that the Treasurer’s Office holds these assets free of charge and there is no fee to file a claim and receive your property.
State Treasurer Joe Perry and my fellow lawmakers may use mail as one way to notify someone that they have unclaimed property waiting for them. However, such mail from the Treasurer’s Office will be sent with an Augusta return address, utilize the official State of Maine seal and have Treasurer Perry’s signature. Any web links related to the unclaimed property list will be official State of Maine websites, and you can tell if a link is official because it contains “.gov.”
If you think you are the target of a scam, please report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-800-436-2131.
As always, please feel free to contact me at Parnell.Terry@legislature.maine.gov with your questions and concerns. I can best represent our community by hearing your thoughts on legislation and issues both in our district and across the state.
Rep. Terry is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents part of Gorham.