177.21 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.22
177.22
Public sale of abandoned property. 177.22(1)
(1) Except as provided in
subs. (2) and
(3), the administrator, within 3 years after the receipt of abandoned property, shall sell it to the highest bidder at public sale in the city, village or town in this state which, in the judgment of the administrator, affords the most favorable market for the property. The administrator may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if, in his or her judgment, the bid is insufficient. If the administrator determines that the probable cost of sale exceeds the value of the property, it need not be offered for sale. Any sale held under this section shall be preceded by the publication of one notice, at least 3 weeks in advance of sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is to be sold.
177.22(2)
(2) Securities listed on an established stock exchange shall be sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale on the exchange. Other securities may be sold over the counter at prices prevailing at the time of sale or by any other method the administrator considers advisable.
177.22(3)
(3) Unless the administrator determines that it is in the best interest of this state to do otherwise, he or she shall hold all securities, other than those presumed abandoned under
s. 177.10, for at least one year before selling them.
177.22(4)
(4) Unless the administrator determines that it is in the best interest of this state to do otherwise, he or she shall hold all securities presumed abandoned under
s. 177.10, and delivered to the administrator, for at least 3 years before selling them. If the administrator sells any securities delivered under
s. 177.10 before the expiration of the 3-year period, any person making a claim under this chapter before the end of the 3-year period is entitled either to the proceeds of the sale of the securities or to the market value of the securities at the time the claim is made, whichever amount is greater, less any deduction for fees under
s. 177.23 (2). A person making a claim under this chapter after the expiration of the 3-year period is entitled to receive either the securities delivered to the administrator by the holder, if the administrator still has them, or to the proceeds from their sale, less any amounts deducted under
s. 177.23 (2). No person has any claim under this chapter against this state, the holder, any transfer agent, registrar or other person acting for or on behalf of a holder for any appreciation in the value of the property occurring after delivery by the holder to the administrator.
177.22(5)
(5) The purchaser of property at any sale conducted by the administrator under this chapter takes the property free of all claims of the owner or previous holder and of all persons claiming through or under them. The administrator shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership.
177.22 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1993 a. 246.
177.23
177.23
Deposit of funds. 177.23(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (2), the administrator shall deposit in the school fund all funds received under this chapter, including the clear proceeds from the sale of abandoned property under
s. 177.22. Before making the deposit, the administrator shall record the name and last-known address of each person appearing from the holders' reports to be entitled to the property and the name and last-known address of each insured person or annuitant and beneficiary and, with respect to each policy or contract listed in the report of an insurance company, its number, the name of the company and the amount due. The information recorded by the administrator under this subsection is not available for inspection or copying under
s. 19.35 (1) until 24 months after payment or delivery of the property is due under
s. 177.19 (1).
177.23(2)
(2) The administrator shall deposit in the general fund an amount necessary for the payment of claims under
ss. 177.24 to
177.26 and administrative expenses. Administrative expenses consist of any of the following:
177.23(2)(a)
(a) Any costs in connection with the sale of abandoned property.
177.23(2)(b)
(b) Costs of mailing and publication in connection with any abandoned property.
177.23(2)(d)
(d) Costs incurred in examining records of holders of property and in collecting the property from those holders.
177.23(2)(e)
(e) Salaries of the employes of the treasurer that are attributable to the administration of this chapter.
177.23 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1987 a. 399.
177.24
177.24
Filing of claim with administrator. 177.24(1)
(1) Any person, except another state, claiming an interest in any property paid or delivered under this chapter may file with the administrator a claim on a form prescribed by the administrator and verified by the claimant.
177.24(2)
(2) The administrator shall consider each claim within 90 days after it is filed and may refer any claim to the attorney general for an opinion. For each claim referred, the attorney general shall advise the administrator either to allow it or to deny it in whole or in part. The administrator shall give written notice to the claimant if the claim is denied in whole or in part. The notice may be given by mailing it to the last address, if any, stated in the claim as the address to which notices are to be sent. If no address for notices is stated in the claim, the notice may be mailed to the last address, if any, of the claimant as stated in the claim. No notice of denial need be given if the claim fails to state either the last address to which notices are to be sent or the address of the claimant.
177.24(3)
(3) If a claim is allowed, the administrator shall deliver the property to the claimant or pay the claimant the amount the administrator actually received or the net proceeds of the sale of the property, together with any additional amount required under
s. 177.21. If the claim is for property presumed abandoned under
s. 177.10 which was sold by the administrator within 3 years after the date of delivery, the amount payable for that claim is the value of the property at the time the claim was made or the net proceeds of sale, whichever is greater. If the property claimed was interest bearing to the owner on the date of surrender by the holder, the administrator shall pay interest at a rate of 6% per year or any lesser rate the property earned while in the possession of the holder. Interest begins to accrue when the property is delivered to the administrator and ceases on the earlier of the expiration of 10 years after delivery or the date on which payment is made to the owner. No interest on interest-bearing property is payable for any period before December 31, 1984.
177.24(4)
(4) Any holder who pays the owner for property that has been delivered to this state which, if claimed from the administrator, would be subject to
sub. (3) shall add interest as provided under
sub. (3). The added interest shall be repaid to the holder by the administrator in the same manner as the principal.
177.24 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.25
177.25
Claim of another state to recover property; procedure. 177.25(1)(1) At any time after property has been paid or delivered to the administrator under this chapter, another state may recover the property under any of the following circumstances:
177.25(1)(a)
(a) The property was subjected to custody by this state because the records of the holder did not reflect the last-known address of the apparent owner when the property was presumed abandoned under this chapter, and the other state establishes that the last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property was in that state and that, under the laws of that state, the property escheated to or was subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
177.25(1)(b)
(b) The last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property, as reflected by the records of the holder, is in the other state and under the laws of that state the property has escheated to or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
177.25(1)(c)
(c) The records of the holder were erroneous in that they did not accurately reflect the actual owner of the property and the last-known address of the actual owner is in the other state and, under the laws of that state, the property escheated to or was subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
177.25(1)(d)
(d) The property was subjected to custody by this state under
s. 177.03 (6) and, under the laws of the state of domicile of the holder, the property has escheated to or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
177.25(1)(e)
(e) The property is the sum payable on a travelers check, money order or other similar instrument that was subjected to custody by this state under
s. 177.04, the instrument was purchased in the other state and, under the laws of that state, the property escheated to or became subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
177.25(2)
(2) The claim of another state to recover escheated or abandoned property shall be presented in a form prescribed by the administrator, who shall decide the claim within 90 days after it is presented. The administrator shall allow the claim if he or she determines that the other state is entitled to the abandoned property under
sub. (1).
177.25(3)
(3) The administrator shall require a state, before recovering property under this section, to agree to indemnify this state and its officers and employes against any liability on a claim for the property.
177.25 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.26
177.26
Action to establish claim. A person aggrieved by a decision of the administrator or whose claim has not been acted upon within 90 days after its filing may bring an action to establish the claim in the circuit court, naming the administrator as a defendant. The action shall be brought within 90 days after the decision of the administrator or within 180 days after the filing of the claim if the administrator has failed to act on it. If the person establishes the claim in an action against the administrator, the court shall award the person costs and reasonable attorney fees.
177.26 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.27
177.27
Election to take payment or delivery. 177.27(1)
(1) The administrator may decline to receive any property reported under this chapter if the administrator considers the property to have a value that is less than the anticipated expense of notice and sale. If the administrator elects not to receive custody of the property, the holder shall be notified within 120 days after filing the report required under
s. 177.17.
177.27(2)
(2) A holder may report and deliver property before the property is presumed abandoned with the written consent of the administrator and upon the conditions and terms prescribed by the administrator. Property delivered under this subsection shall be held by the administrator and is not presumed abandoned until the time it would be presumed abandoned under this chapter.
177.27 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.28
177.28
Destruction or disposition of property having insubstantial commercial value; immunity from liability. If the administrator determines after investigation that any property delivered under this chapter has insubstantial commercial value, the administrator may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property at any time. No action or proceeding may be maintained against this state or any of its officers or against the holder for or on account of any action taken by the administrator under this section.
177.28 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.29
177.29
Periods of limitation. 177.29(1)
(1) The expiration, before, on or after December 31, 1984, of any period of time specified by contract, statute or court order, during which an owner may make a claim for money or property or during which an owner may commence or enforce an action or proceeding to obtain payment of a claim for money or to recover property, does not prevent the money or property from being presumed abandoned or affect any duty to file a report or to pay or deliver abandoned property to the administrator as required by this chapter, subject to
sub. (2).
177.29(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no civil action or proceeding with respect to any duty of a holder under this chapter may be commenced more than 5 years after the duty arose.
177.29(2)(b)
(b) The expiration of any period of time during which an action or proceeding may be commenced or enforced to obtain payment of a claim for money or to recover property may not serve as a defense to an action or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the administrator against a governmental entity, or an officer or employe thereof, for the payment or delivery of abandoned property to the administrator or for the enforcement of a penalty.
177.29 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1991 a. 299.
177.30
177.30
Requests for reports and examination of records. 177.30(2)(2) The administrator, at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, may examine the records of any person to determine whether the person has complied with this chapter. The administrator may designate the division of banking or other appropriate regulatory authority to examine the records of regulated institutions to determine if the institutions have complied with this chapter. The administrator may conduct the examination even if the person believes it is not in possession of any property reportable or deliverable under this chapter.
177.30(3)
(3) If a person is treated under
s. 177.12 as the holder of the property only insofar as the interest of the business association in the property is concerned, the administrator may examine the records of the person as provided under
sub. (2) if the administrator has given the required notice to both the person and the business association at least 90 days before the examination.
177.30(4)
(4) If an examination of the records of a person results in the disclosure of property reportable and deliverable under this chapter, the administrator may assess the cost of the examination against the holder at the rate of $150 a day for each examiner, but the charges may not exceed the value of the property found to be reportable and deliverable. The cost of examination under
sub. (3) may be imposed only against the business association.
177.30(5)
(5) If a holder, after December 31, 1984, fails to maintain the records required under
s. 177.31, and the records of the holder available for the periods subject to this chapter are insufficient to permit the preparation of a report, a court may determine the liability of such holder based on the court's findings as to a reasonable estimate of the amount due.
177.30 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1995 a. 27.
177.31
177.31
Retention of records. 177.31(1)
(1) Every holder required to file a report under
s. 177.17 shall, as to any property for which it has obtained the last-known address of the owner, maintain a record of the name and last-known address of the owner for 5 years after the property is reported, unless a shorter time is provided in
sub. (2) or by rule of the administrator.
177.31(2)
(2) Any business association that sells in this state its travelers checks, money orders or other similar written instruments, other than 3rd party bank checks on which the business association is directly liable, or that provides such instruments to others for sale in this state, shall, for 3 years after the date the property is reportable, maintain a record of those instruments while they remain outstanding, indicating the state and date of issue.
177.31 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.32
177.32
Enforcement. The attorney general may bring an action in circuit court or in federal court to enforce this chapter.
177.32 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1991 a. 299.
177.33
177.33
Interstate agreements and cooperation; joint and reciprocal actions with other states. 177.33(1)
(1) The administrator may enter into agreements with other states to exchange information needed to enable this or another state to audit or otherwise determine unclaimed property that it or another state may be entitled to subject to a claim of custody. The administrator may by rule require the reporting of information needed to enable compliance with agreements made under this section and may prescribe the form of the required reports.
177.33(2)
(2) To avoid conflicts between the administrator's procedures and the procedures of administrators in other jurisdictions that enact the uniform unclaimed property act, the administrator shall, consistent with the purposes, policies and provisions of this chapter, before adopting, amending or repealing rules, advise and consult with administrators in other jurisdictions that enact substantially the uniform unclaimed property act and shall take into consideration the rules of administrators in other jurisdictions that enact the uniform unclaimed property act.
177.33(3)
(3) The administrator may join with other states to seek enforcement of this chapter against any person who is or may be holding property reportable under this chapter.
177.33(4)
(4) At the request of another state, the attorney general may bring an action in the name of the administrator of the other state in the circuit court to enforce the unclaimed property laws of the other state against a holder in this state of property subject to escheat or a claim of abandonment by the other state, if the other state has agreed to pay expenses incurred by the attorney general in bringing the action.
177.33(5)
(5) The administrator may request the attorney general of another state or any other person to bring an action in the other state in the name of the administrator. This state shall pay all expenses including attorney fees in any action under this subsection. The administrator may agree to pay the person bringing the action attorney fees based in whole or in part on a percentage of the value of any property recovered in the action. No expenses paid under this subsection may be deducted from the amount that is subject to the claim by the owner under this chapter.
177.33 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.34
177.34
Interest and penalties. 177.34(1)
(1) A person who fails to pay or deliver property within the time prescribed by this chapter shall pay the administrator interest at the annual rate of 18% on the property or value thereof from the date the property should have been paid or delivered.
177.34(2)
(2) A person who wilfully fails to file a report or perform any other duty required under this chapter is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 for each day the report is withheld or the duty is not performed, but not more than $5,000.
177.34(3)
(3) A person who wilfully fails to pay or deliver property to the administrator as required under this chapter is subject to a forfeiture equal to 25% of the value of the property that should have been paid or delivered.
177.34(4)
(4) A person who wilfully refuses, after written demand by the administrator, to pay or deliver property to the administrator as required under this chapter may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
177.34 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.35
177.35
Agreement to locate reported property. 177.35(1)(1) Except for agreements made under
s. 177.33, if a person agrees, for compensation and on behalf of the owner of property reported under
s. 177.17, to locate, deliver, recover or assist in the recovery of the reported property, the agreement shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:
177.35(1)(a)
(a) A description of the property and the value of the property.
177.35(1)(b)
(b) A clear and prominent statement of the fee or other compensation to be paid by or on behalf of the owner, which may not exceed 20% of the actual value of the property recovered.
177.35(1)(c)
(c) A clear and prominent statement disclosing the name and address of the holder and whether the property has been paid to the administrator.
177.35(2)
(2) An agreement entered into under this section is not enforceable if the agreement is entered into within 24 months after payment or delivery of the property is due under
s. 177.19 (1).
177.35 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1987 a. 399.
177.36
177.36
Foreign transactions. This chapter does not apply to any property held, due and owing in a foreign country and arising out of a foreign transaction.
177.36 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.37
177.37
Effect of new provisions; clarification of application. 177.37(1)(1) This chapter does not relieve a holder of a duty that arose before December 31, 1984 to report, pay or deliver property. A holder who did not comply with the law in effect before December 31, 1984 is subject to the applicable enforcement and penalty provisions that then existed and they are continued in effect for the purpose of this subsection, except as provided in
s. 177.29 (2).
177.37(2)
(2) The initial report filed under this chapter for property that was not required to be reported before December 31, 1984, but which is subject to this chapter, shall include all items of property that would have been presumed abandoned during the 10-year period preceding December 31, 1984 as if this chapter had been in effect during that period.
177.37 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.38
177.38
Rules. The administrator may adopt any rules necessary to administer this chapter.
177.38 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.40
177.40
Uniformity of application and construction. This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it.
