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2025 Code of Georgia
Title 44 - Property (Chs. 1 — 17)
Chapter 12 - Rights in Personalty (Arts. 1 — 8)
Article 5 - Disposition of Unclaimed Property (§§ 44-12-190 — 44-12-239.2)
Annotations
Notes
Editor’s notes.Ga. L. 1990, p. 1506, § 1, effective July 1, 1990, repealed the Code sections formerly codified in this article and enacted the current article. The former article consisted of Code Sections 44-12-190 through 44-12-222 and was based on Ga. L. 1972, p. 762, §§ 1 through 31 and § 33; Ga. L. 1976, p. 203, § 1; Ga. L. 1976, p. 556, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 977, §§ 1 and 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1330, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 44; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1787, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1984, p. 517, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 575, §§ 1 through 5; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 44; Ga. L. 1985, p. 283, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 912, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1097, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1986, p. 10, § 44; Ga. L. 1987, p. 541, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 14, § 44; Ga. L. 1989, p. 946, § 111, and Ga. L. 1989, p. 1115, §§ 1 through 3.
Research References & Practice Aids
Cross references.Archeological exploration, excavation, or surveying, § 12-3-52.
Submerged cultural resources, § 12-3-80.
Disposition of abandoned motor vehicles, § 40-11-1 et seq.
RESEARCH REFERENCES Am. Jur. 2d.1 Am. Jur. 2d, Abandoned, Lost, and Unclaimed Property, §§ 1 et seq., 6. 27 Am. Jur. 2d, Escheat, § 1 et seq.
C.J.S.1 C. J. S., Abandonment, § 1 et seq. 30A C. J. S., Escheat, § 1 et seq.
ALR.Constitutionality, construction, and application of statutes relating to disposition of old bank deposits, 151 A. L. R. 836.
Validity, construction, and application of lost or abandoned goods statutes, 23 A. L. R.4th 1025.
Hierarchy Notes:O. C. G. A. Title 44
O. C. G. A. Title 44, Ch. 12
Universal Citation:
O.C.G.A. Title 44, Ch. 12, Art. 5
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- § 44-12-190. Short title
- § 44-12-191. Construction of article
- § 44-12-192. [Effective July 1, 2026] Definitions
- § 44-12-193. When property held, issued, or owing in ordinary course of holder’s business presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-194. Conditions under which intangible property subject to custody of state as unclaimed property
- § 44-12-195. When sums payable on traveler’s checks or money orders deemed abandoned; conditions under which same may be subjected to custody of state as unclaimed property
- § 44-12-196. When instruments on which banking or financial organization directly liable presumed abandoned; service charges
- § 44-12-197. When certain deposits or other interests in banking or financial organization presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-198. When fund under life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-199. When funds held or owing by utility presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-200. When unclaimed court ordered refund from business association presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-201. When undistributed dividends and distributions of business associations presumed abandoned; when intangible interest in business associations presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-202. When unclaimed property distributed in course of dissolution or liquidation of a person presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-203. When intangible property held in fiduciary capacity for benefit of another, and income derived therefrom, presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-204. When intangible property held for owner by state or federal entity presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-205. When gift certificate or credit memo presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-206. When unpaid wages presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-207. When employee benefit trust distributions and income thereon presumed abandoned; exceptions
- § 44-12-208. When funds held or owing by insurer or hospital, medical, or dental service corporation presumed abandoned; when sums payable on negotiable instrument for payment of claim under insurance contract presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-209. Rent due on safe-deposit boxes; notice of opening of box and sealing of contents when contents deemed abandoned; delivery to commissioner; retention of documents by commissioner
- § 44-12-210. Commencement of abandonment for certain property described in Code Section 44-12-197
- § 44-12-211. When bequeathed property presumed abandoned; when person presumed dead without heirs or distributees and property presumed abandoned
- § 44-12-211.1. Excess funds from sale of abandoned motor vehicle; claim for funds; definitions
- § 44-12-212. When property described in Code Section 44-12-193 not subject to this article
- § 44-12-213. Cooperation with other states to audit or otherwise determine unclaimed property subject to claim; rules and procedure
- § 44-12-214. Report and remittance of persons holding property presumed abandoned under this article
- § 44-12-215. [Effective July 1, 2026] Publication of "Georgia Unclaimed Property List"; contents of notice
- § 44-12-216. Assumption of custody by state; legal proceedings instituted by other state; reimbursements for costs to safe-deposit box holders
- § 44-12-217. Sale or destruction of property
- § 44-12-218. Disposition of funds received under article
- § 44-12-219. When commissioner may decline to receive certain property
- § 44-12-220. [Effective July 1, 2026] Claims for property paid or delivered to commissioner; procedure; liability; attorney’s fees; applicability
- § 44-12-221. Appeal of commissioner’s decision
- § 44-12-222. Determination of claim; hearing
- § 44-12-223. Effect of periods of limitation
- § 44-12-224. Development and publication of unclaimed property forms by commissioner; use of forms to file claim; contents of forms; fees and costs; revocation of agreements; addendums; immunity from liability
- § 44-12-225. Confidentiality of information or records required by this article
- § 44-12-226. Expiration of limitation specified by contract, statute, or court order not to affect duties required by this article
- § 44-12-227. Penalties
- § 44-12-228. Maintenance and retention of records
- § 44-12-229. Investigations and examinations of claims, reports, and other records; commissioner may compel filing of report and may examine records; failure to maintain records
- § 44-12-230. Employment of independent consultant
- § 44-12-231. Enforcement of article; properties not paid over on a timely basis
- § 44-12-232. Article does not relieve holder of duty that arose before July 1, 1990
- § 44-12-233. Receipt of securities under this article
- § 44-12-234. Property in foreign country or arising out of foreign transaction
- § 44-12-235. Rules and regulations
- § 44-12-236. Alternative method of disposition with respect to certain dividends or capital credits which are presumed abandoned; definitions; procedures
- § 44-12-236.1. Donation of abandoned dividends or capital credits by rural telephone cooperatives for certain purposes
- § 44-12-237. Unclaimed United States Savings Bond
- § 44-12-238. Claim for United States savings bonds escheated to state
- § 44-12-239. Required fee and form; background checks; penalty for falsification; required notice; naming convention; registration term; adverse treatment of registration; hearings
- § 44-12-239.1. Data base for unclaimed accounts
- § 44-12-239.2. Grounds for administrative enforcement action
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