Unclaimed Money – Do You Have Any?
Have you lost track of old bank accounts, shares, superannuation or life insurance policies? Have you moved address and cannot recall whether you notified a company or firm who may be holding money on your behalf such as your lawyer, real estate agent or accountant? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may have unclaimed money.
There are two websites where you can search for unclaimed money free of charge. These websites are:
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission – This website will search for general unclaimed money (such as lost shares, bank accounts and life insurance policies etc). It will also provide you with a link to look for lost superannuation (note you will need your tax file number for this search).
- Public Trustee of Queensland – This website will search for unclaimed money from Queensland Government departments and agencies (such as hospitals and schools), real estate agents, accountants, solicitors and nursing homes etc.
There is approximately $1 billion in unclaimed money in Australia. In conducting complimentary searches on behalf of estate clients, ABKJ Lawyers has been successful in identifying unclaimed money on multiple occasions as well as assisting clients who have identified unclaimed money but required assistance in claiming it.
So on your next coffee break, take a moment to search each website and see whether your name is listed on the register. As it is a free search, what do you have to lose?