§ 471-C:19 — Report of Abandoned Property

New Hampshire § 471-C:19

• Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
• Title XLVI: LOST PROPERTY; STRAYS
• Ch. 471-C: CUSTODY AND ESCHEAT OF UNCLAIMED AND ABANDONED PROPERTY

Text

I. A person holding property, tangible or intangible, presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall report to the administrator concerning the property as provided in this section. Reports containing 20 or more items shall be remitted in an electronic format as prescribed by the administrator. The administrator may waive this requirement when he or she determines that it creates an undue hardship.
II. The report shall be notarized and shall include:
(a) Except with respect to travelers checks and money orders, the name, if known, and last known address, if any, of each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the owner of property of the value of $50 or more presumed abandoned under this chapter;
(b) In the case of the unclaimed funds of $50 or more held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, the full name and last known address of the insured or annuitant and of the beneficiary according to the records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds;
(c) In the case of the contents of a safe deposit box or other safekeeping repository or of other tangible property, a description of the property and the place where it is held and may be inspected by the administrator and any amounts owing to the holder;
(d) The nature and identifying number, if any, or description of the property and the amount appearing from the records to be due, but items of value under $50 each may be reported in the aggregate;
(e) The date the property became payable, demandable, or returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the apparent owner with respect to the property; and
(f) Other information the administrator prescribes by rules adopted, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the administration of this chapter.
III. If the person holding property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property is a successor to other persons who previously held the property for the apparent owner, or the holder has changed such holder's name while holding the property, the holder shall file with the holder's report all known names and addresses of each previous holder of the property.
IV. The report shall be filed before November 1 of each year for property presumed to be abandoned as of June 30 of that year, but the report of any insurance company, including the report of unclaimed demutualization proceeds under RSA 471-C:7-a, shall be filed before May 1 of each year for funds owing under insurance policies presumed to be abandoned as of December 31 of the preceding year. On written request by any person required to file a report, the administrator may postpone the reporting date.
V. Not more than 120 days before filing the report required by this section, the holder in possession of property abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter, except for demutualization proceeds under RSA 471-C:7-a, shall send written notice to the apparent owner at such owner's last known address informing the owner that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter if:
(a) The holder has in its records an address for the apparent owner which the holder's records do not disclose to be inaccurate;
(b) The claim of the apparent owner is not barred by the statute of limitations; and
(c) The property has a value of $50 or more.

Legislative History

1986, 204:1. 1990, 105:2, 3. 1995, 84:6; 295:10-12. 2003, 218:6. 2008, 120:28, eff. Aug. 2, 2008.