(a) Property is not presumed abandoned if the owner indicates an interest in the property during the applicable periods in this chapter.
(b) An indication of an owner's interest in property includes any of the following:
(1) A record communicated by the owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held.
(2) An oral communication by the owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held, if the holder or its agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the fact of the owner's communication.
(3) Presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend, interest payment, or other distribution.
(4) Activity directed by an owner in the account in which the property is held, including accessing the account or information concerning the account, or a direction by the owner to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the amount or type of property held in the account.
(5) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, payment of a premium on an insurance policy.
(c) A communication with an owner by a person other than the holder or the holder's representative is not an indication of the owner's interest in the property unless a record of the communication evidences the owner's knowledge of a right to the property.
(d) Application of an automatic-premium-loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision contained in an insurance policy is not an indication of the insured's interest in the policy and does not prevent the policy from maturing or terminating if the insured has died or the insured or the beneficiary of the policy otherwise has become entitled to the proceeds before depletion of the cash surrender value of the policy by application of the provision.
(e) If the property is either held within accounts established for automatic electronic deposit of dividends (“ACH Accounts”) or within accounts established as part of a dividend reinvestment plan, including mutual fund accounts and brokerage accounts (collectively, “DRP Accounts”), the mailing of an IRS Form 1099 relating to the investment or account by the holder or its agent to the owner that is not returned to the holder or its agent by the United States Postal Service is an indication of the owner's interest in the property.
(f) For purposes of a security where the last-known address of the owner is in a foreign country, an executed Form W-8 BEN from the owner dated within 3 years of the end of any calendar year on file with the holder or its agent is an indication of the owner's interest in the property.
(g) If an owner has more than 1 investment or account with a holder, an indication of owner interest with respect to 1 investment or account with that holder is an indication of the owner's interest in all accounts of the owner with respect to that holder.
Structure Delaware Code
Title 12 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Subchapter II. Unclaimed Property
§ 1131. Inapplicability to wholly foreign transaction.
§ 1133. When property presumed abandoned.
§ 1134. When contents of safe deposit box presumed abandoned.
§ 1135. When related property interest presumed abandoned.
§ 1136. Indication of owner interest in property.
§ 1138. Retained asset account for insurance policy or annuity contract.
§ 1139. Address of owner to establish priority.
§ 1140. Address of owner in this State.
§ 1141. Holder domiciled in this State.
§ 1142. Report required by holder.
§ 1144. When report to be filed.
§ 1146. When property reportable and payable or deliverable.
§ 1147. Limitation on assignment or transfer of liability.
§ 1148. Notice to owner by holder [For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 59, § 25].
§ 1149. Contents of notice by holder.
§ 1151. Cooperation among agencies to determine owner.
§ 1152. Payment or delivery of property to State Escheator.
§ 1153. Effect of payment or delivery of property to State Escheator.
§ 1154. Interest not to run after report of property and limitation on claims.
§ 1155. State Escheator's options as to custody.
§ § 1156. Periods of limitation.
§ 1158. Public sale of property.
§ 1159. Disposal of securities [For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 346, § 12].
§ 1161. Purchaser owns property after sale.
§ 1163. Deposit and disbursement of funds.
§ 1164. State Escheator to retain records of property.
§ 1165. Claim for property by person claiming to be owner.
§ 1168. Payment by State Escheator.
§ 1169. Allowance of claim for property.
§ 1170. Request for report of property; compliance reviews.
§ 1173. Voluntary property reporting outreach program.
§ 1174. Records obtained in examination or voluntary disclosure.
§ 1175. Evidence of debt or undischarged obligation.
§ 1176. Failure of person examined to retain records.
§ 1180. Judicial action to enforce liability.
§ 1181. Interstate agreement and cooperation.
§ 1182. Action involving another state.
§ 1183. Interest and penalties.
§ 1184. Other civil penalties.
§ 1186. When agreement to locate property enforceable.
§ 1187. When agreement to locate property unenforceable.
§ 1188. Right of owner's agent to recover property held by State Escheator.