CHARLESTON – State Treasurer John Perdue’s office returned to Wood County the highest unclaimed property total amount and the largest average claim in the seven-county mid-Ohio Valley region.
Wood, bordering on Ohio and containing the population center of Parkersburg, enjoyed a cumulative total return of $245,083 in calendar year 2011 on 292 claims paid. That is an average of $839 for every county business, individual or estate for which the Treasurer’s Office paid a claim.
Unclaimed property is any asset from which a person has become separated. Examples could be a left-behind utility deposit or a forgotten paycheck. After a certain period of inactivity, holders of such property are required to surrender the assets to the State Treasury.
Through website access, newspaper inserts and the efforts of field staff, attempts are made to find owners. Once owners are found, the claim process starts. Real estate is not considered unclaimed property.
Other county totals for the region:
• Jackson -- $52,657, 111 claims, $474 average per claim
• Roane -- $16,180, 28 claims, $577 average per claim
&bull: Pleasants -- $9,905, 24 claims, $412 average per claim
• Ritchie -- $7,352, 34 claims, $216 average per claim
• Wirt -- $5,046, 15 claims, $336 average per claim
• Calhoun -- $2,968, 15 claims, $198 average per claim
The West Virginia Unclaimed Property Division currently holds approximately 860,000 accounts worth approximately $162 million.
“As always, we’re delighted to rejoin residents with their property, regardless of where they live in this great state,” Treasurer Perdue said. “Unclaimed property belongs to our citizens and we must do everything we can to get it back to them.”
- Office of The State Treasurer
