Most states have a provision for unclaimed property. You have so long to claim it, then it becomes the property of the state. Each state defines the rules on how it should be dealt with by the holder of the property (all kinds of things show up), and the owner of the property.
My mother had four children, after each birth she took out a prepaid $1000.00 life insurance policy on the newborn. I am the youngest and had completely forgotten about the old policy. The oldest is ten years older then me.
I was investigating the Wisconsin unclaimed property web page for an acquaintance and stuck in our family name on a whim. Surprise, there we were, all four of us with a nice little nest egg waiting for us. In my case over sixty years (my sister's was over seventy! but that's telling tales). Regaining the funds was a simple one page form, the state sent a check w/in two weeks.
Regards,
GtG
PS The other three got theirs as well, no problem.
Everyone should check out their state dept of treasure lists on the net...my son found for me over 5 years almost 4000 dollars. it was from an old account that I figured had about 200 dollars in it, but the company went public and the small account I had had grown. I had to sent the state proof identification...copies of marriage license, social sec. card, drivers license. It was from an old insurance policy from my husbands death about 15 years earlier...It had had no movement in over 5 years so the company sent it to the state and the state has to publish the name. What was sent to the state was only the interest on the account. 2 years ago I got the actual account. It had almost 2000 dollars in it...