Unclaimed property at $10.2 million

Friday, April 12, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.

Unclaimed property

To see the names on the unclaimed property list online, visit www.nevadatreasurer.com starting Wednesday. Those who see their name or the names of deceased relatives on the list should call (702) 486-4140 or (800) 521-0019.

CARSON CITY -- Many Southern Nevadans may find next week they are in line for a small windfall of forgotten cash.

The state Division of Unclaimed Property will advertise the names of 30,481 people who left money totaling $10.2 million lying in bank accounts, at casino cages or in never-cashed payroll checks.

Another 920,000 shares of stock and jewelry were never claimed.

Unclaimed property consists of money or other personal assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner cannot be located after a specific period of time.

They may include unpaid wages, gift certificates, certificates of deposits, dividends, refunds, vendor checks, death benefits, money orders or credit balances.

Steven McDonald, administrator of the division, said Thursday the 30,481 names are a record number.

Banks and financial institutions are required annually to notify the state of accounts that lie dormant for three years. The division tries to find the owner or relatives.

Casinos follow the same rule, McDonald said. A gaming customer may make a deposit at a casino cage but only use part of it and forget the rest. Or a customer may leave jewelry in a casino safe box.

The division will publish the names Wednesday in an insert in Las Vegas newspapers and on the Internet.