Ohio Department of Commerce Director David Goodman urges Lawrence County residents to join in the 2012 Unclaimed Funds Treasure Hunt by checking The Tribune on Tuesday, June 12.

By checking the newspaper advertisement, readers can find out if they are entitled to unclaimed funds turned over to the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds in the past year.

Unclaimed funds are money or the rights to money that have been dormant or forgotten. Some common examples include: dormant checking and savings accounts, forgotten rent and utility deposits, uncashed checks, undelivered stock certificates, and uncashed insurance policies.

“There could be money sitting here with your name on it. Check the Lawrence County list to see if you, your family or your friends have unclaimed funds,” said David Goodman, Director of the Ohio Department of Commerce. “This money can help Ohioans buy a tank of gas, pay off some bills, make a needed home repair or take a vacation.”

In Fiscal Year 2011, the Division paid 46,222 claims worth more than $60.9 million. The average claim was for $1,318.

The Lawrence County advertisement will include 782 unclaimed funds accounts worth $254,064.02.

The advertised accounts, each valued at $50 or more, were turned over to the Division within the past year for individuals whose last known address was in Lawrence County.

The advertised names will appear in alphabetical order by the owner’s last known city and then in alphabetical order by the owner’s last name.

A comprehensive list of all unclaimed funds accounts is available on the Department of Commerce’s Online Treasure Hunt website at www.unclaimedfundstreasurehunt.ohio.gov along with forms for individuals and organizations to use in claiming their money.

Lawrence County Information For All Accounts (Includes Those Being Advertised and Other Accounts):

Total number of Lawrence County accounts: 17,099

Value of Lawrence County accounts: $1,816,150.27

Division Superintendent Yaw Obeng encourages Ohioans to visit www.unclaimedfundstreasurehunt.ohio.gov to see if they have funds waiting to be claimed. Individuals without Internet access can write to the Division of Unclaimed Funds and provide the full name(s) to be researched, along with the counties in which the person(s) might have resided. The Division’s address is 77 South High Street, 20th Floor, Columbus, OH, 43215. Anyone with questions about unclaimed funds can call the Division toll free at 1-877-644-6823 (OHIO UCF).