§ 33-21.1-4. Travelers checks and money orders.
(a) Subject to subsection (d), any sum payable on a travelers check that has been outstanding for more than fifteen (15) years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within fifteen (15) years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.
(b) Subject to subsection (d), any sum payable on a money order or similar written instrument, other than a third party bank check, that has been outstanding for more than five (5) years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within five (5) years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.
(c) A holder may not deduct from the amount of a travelers check or money order any charge imposed by reason of the failure to present the instrument for payment unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the issuer and the owner of the instrument pursuant to which the issuer may impose a charge and the issuer regularly imposes these charges and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel them.
(d) No sum payable on a travelers check, money order, or similar written instrument, other than a third party bank check, described in subsections (a) and (b) may be subjected to the custody of this state as unclaimed property unless:
(1) The records of the issuer show that the travelers check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased in this state;
(2) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the travelers check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; or
(3) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state, the records of the issuer show the state in which the travelers check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased and the laws of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, subsection (d) applies to sums payable on travelers checks, money orders, and similar written instruments presumed abandoned on or after February 1, 1971, except to the extent that those sums have been paid over to a state prior to January 1, 1981.
History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 500, § 3.
Structure 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 33-21.1-4. - Travelers checks and money orders.
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 33-21.1-16. - 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 33-21.1-21. - 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 33-21.1-28.1. - 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 33-21.1-34. - 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 33-21.1-39. - Severability.
Section 33-21.1-40. - Uniformity of application and construction.