Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 33-21.1 - Unclaimed Intangible and Tangible Property
Section 33-21.1-17. - Report of abandoned property.

§ 33-21.1-17. Report of abandoned property.
(a) 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.
(b) The report must be verified and must include:
(1) 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 fifty ($50.00) dollars or more presumed abandoned under this chapter;
(2) In the case of unclaimed funds of fifty dollars ($50.00) 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;
(3) 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;
(4) 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 fifty dollars ($50.00) each shall be reported in the aggregate;
(5) 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
(6) Other information the administrator prescribes by rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter.
(c) 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 his or her name while holding the property, he or she shall file with his or her report all known names and addresses of each previous holder of the property.
(d) The report must be filed before November 1 of each year as of June 30, next preceding, and the report of any life insurance company, including the report of unclaimed insurance company demutualization proceeds made pursuant to § 33-21.1-16.1, must be filed before November 1 of each year as of June 30 next preceding. On written request by any person required to file a report, the administrator may postpone the reporting date.
(e) Not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days before filing the report required by this section, the holder in possession of property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall send written notice to the apparent owner at his or her last known address informing him or her that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter if:
(1) The holder has in its records an address for the apparent owner which the holder’s records do not disclose to be inaccurate;
(2) The claim of the apparent owner is not barred by the statute of limitations; and
(3) The property has a value of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more.
(f) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the administrator may provide information in the form of a social security number or taxpayer identification number to the department of taxation and department of labor and training for the sole purpose of obtaining the name and current address of rightful property owner(s) to implement § 33-21.1-24. The information obtained and/or provided shall be kept confidential and the administrator shall be subject to the same confidentiality laws that apply to the state departments providing the information.
History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 500, § 3; P.L. 1987, ch. 36, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 33, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 57, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 129, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 189, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 319, § 2.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 33 - Probate Practice and Procedure

Chapter 33-21.1 - Unclaimed Intangible and Tangible Property

Section 33-21.1-1. - Definitions and use of terms.

Section 33-21.1-2. - Property presumed abandoned.

Section 33-21.1-2.1. - United States savings bonds unclaimed property escheat procedure.

Section 33-21.1-3. - General rules for taking custody of intangible unclaimed property.

Section 33-21.1-3.1. - Property originated or issued by this state, any political subdivision of the state or any entity incorporated, organized, created or otherwise located in this state.

Section 33-21.1-4. - Travelers checks and money orders.

Section 33-21.1-5. - Checks, drafts and similar instruments issued or certified by banking and financial organizations.

Section 33-21.1-6. - Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.

Section 33-21.1-7. - Funds owing under life insurance policies.

Section 33-21.1-8. - Deposits held by utilities.

Section 33-21.1-9. - Refunds held by business associations.

Section 33-21.1-10. - Stock and other intangible interests in business associations.

Section 33-21.1-11. - Repealed.

Section 33-21.1-12. - Property held by agents and fiduciaries.

Section 33-21.1-13. - Property held by courts and public agencies.

Section 33-21.1-14. - Gift certificates and credit memos.

Section 33-21.1-14.1. - Property held by police departments.

Section 33-21.1-14.2. - Property held by hospitals, private, nonprofit institution of higher education or other domestic charitable corporations.

Section 33-21.1-15. - Wages.

Section 33-21.1-16. - Contents of safe deposit box or other safekeeping repository.

Section 33-21.1-16.1. - Unclaimed demutualization proceeds.

Section 33-21.1-17. - Report of abandoned property.

Section 33-21.1-18. - Notice and publication of lists of abandoned property.

Section 33-21.1-19. - Payment or delivery of abandoned property.

Section 33-21.1-20. - Custody by state — Defense of holder — Payment of safe deposit box or repository charges.

Section 33-21.1-21. - Crediting of dividends, interest or increments to owner’s account.

Section 33-21.1-22. - Public sale of abandoned property.

Section 33-21.1-23. - Deposit of funds.

Section 33-21.1-24. - Filing of claim with administrator.

Section 33-21.1-25. - Claim of another state to recover property; procedure.

Section 33-21.1-26. - Action to establish claim.

Section 33-21.1-27. - Election to take payment or delivery.

Section 33-21.1-28. - Destruction or disposition of property having insubstantial commercial value — Immunity from liability.

Section 33-21.1-28.1. - Disposition of “de minimis” property.

Section 33-21.1-29. - Limitation periods.

Section 33-21.1-30. - Requests for reports and examination of records.

Section 33-21.1-31. - Retention of records.

Section 33-21.1-32. - Enforcement.

Section 33-21.1-33. - Interstate agreements and cooperation — Joint and reciprocal actions with other states.

Section 33-21.1-34. - Interest and penalties.

Section 33-21.1-35. - Agreement to locate reported property.

Section 33-21.1-36. - Foreign transactions.

Section 33-21.1-37. - Effect of new provisions — Clarification of application.

Section 33-21.1-38. - Rules.

Section 33-21.1-39. - Severability.

Section 33-21.1-40. - Uniformity of application and construction.

Section 33-21.1-41. - Short title.