2008 Woodie Awards
The way we see it ...
Find your money before it's gone!
Arbiter Editorial Board
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Quick – double check what assets are yours. Make sure that you’ve gotten all of your tax refunds, cashed all of your paychecks and if your relatives aren’t all still living, stake your claim on all of your inheritances.
Why?
Because on July 1, the state of Idaho can take anything that you haven’t claimed (except for the change hiding in your couch). That is, if it became yours before or on July 1, 1996.
Idaho is one of only four states in our country with “escheat” laws. These laws give the state the authority to permanently claim any monetary or property assets that haven’t been claimed within a 10-year period. July 1 will mark the completion of the first 10-year segment since the laws were implement. So check to see if your dear aunt left you the money that she hid in her basement before the bandit called Idaho takes it away.
How can this be fair, you ask? The other 46 states will hold your money until you decide to come and get it – whether it takes you 20 minutes or 20 years. While it might seem a tid bit rude to limit the amount of time you have, give this some thought.
Why wouldn’t you claim what’s left for you? Who doesn’t need a little more cash? And 10 years is definitely a substantial amount of time to find out if you have money coming to you.
This year, the state stands to gain about (gasp!) $16.5 million in unclaimed assets. But don’t worry – officials are working to notify people of their unclaimed cash and property. More than 3,000 letters have been sent out each quarter. Advertisements have been placed in local newspapers, on radio and television stations. Booths have been set up at county fairs to aid people in discovering their unclaimed assets. Idaho isn’t sitting idly by, rubbing its hands together and waiting to steal your money out from under you. It’s trying to help.
So get your act together, or your money will be gone. Check those advertisements. Go to the booths. Look in your mail box, and open everything – all you have to lose is a few seconds of time sorting through junk mail. Who knows – you could be a millionaire, have a beach house in Cabo San Lucas or a paycheck from your first job 10 years ago that you didn’t know about. Go get it.
Why?
Because on July 1, the state of Idaho can take anything that you haven’t claimed (except for the change hiding in your couch). That is, if it became yours before or on July 1, 1996.
Idaho is one of only four states in our country with “escheat” laws. These laws give the state the authority to permanently claim any monetary or property assets that haven’t been claimed within a 10-year period. July 1 will mark the completion of the first 10-year segment since the laws were implement. So check to see if your dear aunt left you the money that she hid in her basement before the bandit called Idaho takes it away.
How can this be fair, you ask? The other 46 states will hold your money until you decide to come and get it – whether it takes you 20 minutes or 20 years. While it might seem a tid bit rude to limit the amount of time you have, give this some thought.
Why wouldn’t you claim what’s left for you? Who doesn’t need a little more cash? And 10 years is definitely a substantial amount of time to find out if you have money coming to you.
This year, the state stands to gain about (gasp!) $16.5 million in unclaimed assets. But don’t worry – officials are working to notify people of their unclaimed cash and property. More than 3,000 letters have been sent out each quarter. Advertisements have been placed in local newspapers, on radio and television stations. Booths have been set up at county fairs to aid people in discovering their unclaimed assets. Idaho isn’t sitting idly by, rubbing its hands together and waiting to steal your money out from under you. It’s trying to help.
So get your act together, or your money will be gone. Check those advertisements. Go to the booths. Look in your mail box, and open everything – all you have to lose is a few seconds of time sorting through junk mail. Who knows – you could be a millionaire, have a beach house in Cabo San Lucas or a paycheck from your first job 10 years ago that you didn’t know about. Go get it.
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