Lake Havasu City Unclaimed Money

Lake Havasu City residents can search for unclaimed money through Arizona's state database at no charge. The city does not operate its own unclaimed property program. All lost funds from Lake Havasu City flow to the Arizona Department of Revenue. With a large population of retirees and seasonal visitors, Lake Havasu City likely has substantial unclaimed property in the system.

How to Search Lake Havasu City Unclaimed Property

Go to missingmoney.com to start. Enter your name and pick Arizona. Results appear instantly. Matches show the holder name and property type. Dollar amounts stay hidden until you file a claim. The search is free. You can check as many names as you want without paying anything.

Lake Havasu City has many retirees who moved from other states. If you retired here from California or elsewhere, search those states too since property reports based on your address when accounts went dormant. Seasonal visitors should also check their home states. Someone who spends winters in Lake Havasu and summers in Oregon should search both state databases. Property could be waiting in either location.

Try maiden names, nicknames, and business names. Database entries often contain spelling errors or old versions of names. Women should search under all married names they have used. Former business owners need to search company names and any DBAs they registered. Search for deceased family members too. Heirs can claim property left behind by relatives.

The database gets updated regularly. New property arrives every week as businesses report dormant accounts. A search that shows nothing today might find money next month. Make searching a habit. Check once or twice a year to catch new entries.

Types of Unclaimed Money in Lake Havasu City

Bank accounts are common. Checking and savings accounts go dormant after three years. Retirees who opened accounts and later stopped using them may have funds waiting. Some people open accounts when they first move to town, then switch banks and forget the old one. The balance sits there until the bank turns it over to the state. CDs that mature without renewal become unclaimed too.

Insurance proceeds make up a significant portion. Life insurance benefits go unclaimed when beneficiaries cannot be found. Insurance companies try to locate heirs but often fail, especially when policies are decades old. These claims can be worth thousands of dollars. Annuity payments and retirement distributions also become unclaimed when the owner dies and heirs do not know about the accounts.

Securities like stocks and bonds become unclaimed when companies lose contact with shareholders. Dividend checks that bounce back trigger escheatment of the underlying shares. Lake Havasu City retirees who invested years ago may have forgotten about small positions. Company mergers and name changes make tracking investments difficult.

Uncashed checks and utility deposits round out the list. Payroll checks become unclaimed after one year. Vendor payments, refund checks, and commission checks follow the same rule. Utility deposits from electric, gas, and water companies get turned over when the company cannot find the customer. Phone and cable deposits work the same way.

Filing Claims in Lake Havasu City

After finding property, file through ADOR:

• Form 600A for original owners
• Form 600B for heirs
• Form 600C for businesses
• Form 600D for agents

Download at azdor.gov/forms/unclaimed-property-forms. Processing takes about 90 days. Simple claims with clear documentation often move faster. Claims involving estates or multiple heirs take longer to verify and process.

Gather your documentation before filing. You need a government-issued ID like a driver license or passport. You also need proof that you lived at the address shown in the records. Old utility bills, bank statements, or tax returns work well for this. For larger claims, the state may require notarized signatures. Keep copies of everything you submit.

Heir claims require extra documentation. You need the death certificate of the original owner. You also need proof of your relationship to the deceased. A birth certificate, marriage certificate, or probate documents can establish this connection. If multiple heirs exist, the claim may need all their signatures or a court order assigning the property.

Mail completed claims to the Arizona Department of Revenue in Phoenix. The state sends confirmation when they receive your paperwork. After review, they send an approval or denial letter. Approved claims result in a check mailed to your address.

Avoiding Scams

Scammers target retiree communities like Lake Havasu City. They know seniors often have unclaimed property from long careers and multiple moves. Arizona never charges for searches or claims. The state does not ask for payment to release your money. Any request for fees upfront is a scam.

Real letters from ADOR do not include dollar amounts. Only you see the value after filing a claim. Be suspicious of letters or calls that mention specific sums of money. The state does not cold call residents about unclaimed property. Emails requesting bank account details or Social Security numbers are always fraudulent.

Legitimate heir finding companies do exist. They research unclaimed property and contact potential heirs. But they charge fees, sometimes up to 35% of the claim value. You can file the same claim yourself for free. If someone contacts you about unclaimed money, verify the claim exists on missingmoney.com before paying anyone. Call (602) 364-0380 to confirm any contact you receive about unclaimed property.

Lake Havasu City and Mohave County

Lake Havasu City is in Mohave County. Regular unclaimed money goes through the state.

Contact Information

ADOR hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone: (602) 364-0380 or (877) 492-9957. Email: UnclaimedProperty@azdor.gov.

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