Is there any money for r. C. Moffett out there?
Executive summary
Searchable government and state databases exist to locate unclaimed money in a person’s name; national portals and state comptrollers each hold records you can query [1] [2]. There is no mention in the provided sources of any specific record for “r. C. Moffett” — available sources do not mention that name — so the next step is to search state and federal unclaimed-property databases by the exact name and likely jurisdictions [2] [1].
1. What “money out there” means: official unclaimed property programs
Most unclaimed money is handled by state unclaimed-property offices or federal agencies; these programs collect dormant accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds and similar items and try to reunite them with owners [1] [3]. NAUPA and state portals provide the principal searchable indexes; states returned $4.49 billion to owners in one reported 12‑month period, illustrating the scale of these programs [4]. Use state sites first because holders report abandoned property to the state where the company or organization is located [2].
2. Where to search first: national and state entry points
Two practical starting points are the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators’ search page and government lists that consolidate searchable databases. NAUPA’s site links directly to each state’s program and explains that unclaimed property is reported to the state where the holder resides [2]. The U.S. Treasury’s Fiscal Service also lists government agencies with searchable unclaimed‑assets databases to check federal holdings [1]. These are free, official resources — do not pay a “locator” unless you choose that route [5].
3. Which states or agencies to try based on likely connections
Because companies report to the state where the business is located, the best practice is to search the state where “r. C. Moffett” lived, worked, or did business, and the state where banks, employers or insurers were located [2]. If you do not know jurisdictions, use NAUPA’s centralized search to sweep multiple states quickly [2]. For federal sources — such as unclaimed tax refunds, U.S. Treasury assets or court-held funds — consult the Treasury and Fiscal Service listings [1] [5].
4. Practical mechanics and deadlines you should know
States generally require companies to report unclaimed property by set annual deadlines; for example, some filing deadlines fall in November [6]. Each state’s program has its own claim forms and required documentation; the New York State Comptroller’s office says once ownership is verified you’ll learn the account details and amount, and notes there is no fee to claim funds [3]. Beware of scams: official offices do not charge to return unclaimed funds [7].
5. When local notices or published lists matter
Some local agencies and utilities publish lists of unclaimed checks or customer refunds with filing deadlines — for example, county or district notices listing names and a last date to claim before funds are absorbed by the agency [8] [9]. If you suspect the money might be held by a local government entity (sheriff’s office, irrigation district, county), check those published notices and follow their specific claim procedures [8] [9].
6. Limits of available reporting and what’s not found in current sources
The sources provided do not mention any record for “r. C. Moffett” or variations of that name; therefore no authoritative confirmation exists here that money is owed to that person — available sources do not mention that name (search results list does not include it) [8] [2]. The databases are maintained independently; absence in one place does not prove absence everywhere. There is also no single, governmentwide centralized database for all unclaimed assets — records remain spread across state and federal systems [5].
7. Recommended next steps — a step‑by‑step plan
1) Run a name search at NAUPA/unclaimed.org to sweep state databases [2]. 2) Search the U.S. Treasury/Fiscal Service lists for federal holdings [1]. 3) Try state comptroller/treasurer sites for any states where the person had ties [3]. 4) Check local government public notices (sheriff, utility, district) for published unclaimed lists and deadlines [8] [9]. 5) If you find a hit, use the official claim process; do not pay fees to third‑party “locators” unless you choose their service [5] [7].
8. Competing perspectives and cautionary notes
Government sites present an open‑access, cost‑free path to recover funds and emphasize fraud warnings [3] [7]. Commercial locator services exist and sometimes advertise faster results; the Treasury notes such firms operate in the marketplace and some charge fees [5]. Evaluate the tradeoff: a free, official search versus paying a finder for convenience [5].
If you want, I can run through the exact search steps on NAUPA and the Treasury pages with guidance on what name permutations and jurisdictions to try.