My Vanguard account almost got nailed. I have been receiving postal mail on the account to my Idaho home address for years. It seems that one small part of the account communications had my old e-mail address attached. The other part had my old San Diego street address...except with a house number keying error made by Vanguard. At this point, they couldn't reach me by e-mail or postal mail. They were prepared to hand my retirement account to the state. I had to send them a notarized change of address form with all the information they already had to "officially" pry the hands of the state off of my retirement. The e-mail had gone "bad" when my ISP retired the domain and ceased forwarding mail. The incorrect entry of my house number was an error at Vanguard...not my fault..that could have cost my retirement.
Vanguard sent me the official change of address form. I filled it out and had it notarized and returned to Vanguard. They acknowledged the update.
it would not have cost you your retirement. if you prove yourself the owner of the money the state will return it reluctantly but they will return it. the alternative is to have vanguard bury the money and never give it to you. the states require accountability and notice to the owner. and the states are publishing the information online. vanguard isn’t. you got your money because vanguard was required to seek you out and notify you.