$300,000 in unclaimed property added in 2013

Central Indiana residents have millions of dollars that's been forgotten -- $148,849,355 to be exact.

And that includes nearly $300,000 alone in unclaimed Putnam County property.

"For only the second time ever, more than $100 million has been turned over to the state," Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said, "which means even more people have missing or forgotten money to claim."

With more than $400 million to be claimed -- $73 million in Marion County alone, Zoeller said it is his goal "to try to make sure this money finds its way back to the rightful owner."

Making a claim with the Attorney General's Unclaimed Property Division is free and easy at www.IndianaUnclaimed.gov.

The Indiana Unclaimed Property database is also now mobile. Anyone can search for free through the mobile application -- using keyword Indiana Unclaimed to download. Business owners and charitable organizations should also check annually for unclaimed property.

Annually, the attorney general is required to advertise the list of unclaimed property turned over to the state during the previous year with announcements run twice in a two-week period in the newspaper closest to the last known address of the property owner.

That ad is set to run in the Saturday, Aug. 2 Banner Graphic.

Unclaimed property includes investment earnings, insurance proceeds and benefits, wages, and money from savings and checking accounts.

Less than one percent of unclaimed assets are tangible, physical items, such as those found in safe-deposit boxes. It is important to note that unclaimed property does not include abandoned vehicles or real estate.

In 2013, more than 246,000 new properties valued at nearly $36 million were reported and originate from the 32-county Central Indiana

region.

The money belongs to residents or former residents of the area or their heirs. The state holds these assets for 25 years after they are reported.

Total value and number of properties added to the Unclaimed Property database in 2013 and the sum of all unclaimed property from 2000-13 from area counties are listed below by county, 2013 property totals, total value added in 2013 and total value claimable:

Putnam -- 2,448 properties, $290,100 value added for 2013 with a $1,076,528 total for 2000-13.

Hendricks -- 9,790, $974,856, $3,911,926

Montgomery -- 2,726, $438,738, $1,618,256

Morgan -- 6,351, $759,750, $2,531,841

Owen -- 1,281, $136,914, $585,943

Marion -- 100,502, $16,362,089, $72,936,948

In total, the state's unclaimed property database holds more than $400 million in assets. In 2013, the Attorney General's Office returned a record 97,000 properties totaling more than $60.7 million in unclaimed property.

Last year, nearly $23 million was returned to individuals with last known addresses in Central Indiana.

The Unclaimed Property database can be searched 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.IndianaUnclaimed.gov.

The Unclaimed Property Division's toll-free number is 1-866-IN-CLAIM (1-866-462-5246). It is a free service of the Indiana Attorney General's Office.