Duff to Norwalk Residents: Check for Unclaimed Property

Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents have unclaimed property they are eligible to claim from the state, free of charge. 

State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) reminds constituents they can quickly check for their unclaimed property at www.ctbiglist.com. There is no charge.

“It sounds too good to be true, but thousands of Norwalk and Darien residents can collect on money that is owed to them today, free of charge, simply by picking up the phone or going online," Duff said in a release. "Most people probably don’t even know that they are owed anything, so I encourage everyone to take a moment and check. It’s as simple as giving your name,” added Senator Duff. 

"Last year, I reached out to a number of Norwalk and Darien residents who had no idea they were on the list. Their refunds ranged from a hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Go and check, it could make your day," Duff said. 

Norwalk ranks sixth amongst all Connecticut municipalities in terms of the total value of unclaimed property owed its residents, with a total of $467,617 owed to 2,049 local owners. Statewide $13,806,071 is owed to 54,845 people.

Unclaimed property is usually money, and does not pertain to real estate of any kind, such as land or homes. Property is considered unclaimed or abandoned if someone—other than the owner—holds the property and has not had any contact with the owner, usually for three years. Common sources of unclaimed property include:

• Inactive savings and checking accounts

Connecticut law requires the holders of unclaimed property, such as banks, credit unions, insurance companies, utilities and businesses to report and remit those assets annually to the Office of the Treasurer, which safeguards the property until the rightful owner comes forward and claims it. The owners or heirs have a single source where they can locate unclaimed funds.

There is no fee or time limit for claiming unclaimed property, which remains forever available to the owners or their heirs. Claimants may need to provide photo identification, a social security number, proof of address or previous address, or additional information to prove their ownership of the unclaimed property.

For more information, click this link www.ctbiglist.com and follow the easy directions. Or call toll free 1-800-833-7318 Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m..