2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate
Chapter 098 - Lost, Unclaimed or Abandoned Property; Vehicle Towing
Section 98.352 - Report of abandoned property.
(1) Every person holding funds or other property, tangible or intangible, presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992 shall report and pay or deliver to the Department of State Lands all property presumed abandoned as provided in this section, except that:
(a) Funds transferred to the General Fund under ORS 293.455 (1)(a) shall only be reported to the department.
(b) Funds in the possession of the Child Support Program described in ORS 180.345 shall only be reported to the department.
(c) Funds in lawyer trust accounts shall only be reported to the department.
(2) The report shall be verified as to the accuracy of the information contained and shall include:
(a) Except with respect to traveler’s checks and money orders, the name, if known, and address, if known, of each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the owner of any property of value of $50 or more presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992;
(b) In case of unclaimed funds of life insurance corporations, the full name of the insured or annuitant and last-known address according to the life insurance corporation’s records;
(c) The nature and identifying number, if any, or description of the property and the amount appearing from the records to be due, except that items of value under $50 each may be reported in aggregate;
(d) The date when the property became payable, demandable, or returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the owner with respect to the property; and
(e) Other information that the department prescribes by rule as necessary for the administration of ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992.
(3) If the person holding property presumed abandoned is a successor to other persons who previously held the property for the owner, or if the holder has had a name change while holding the property, the holder shall file with the report all prior known names and addresses and effective dates of changes if known of each holder of the property.
(4) The report shall be filed after October 1, but no later than November 1 of each year for accounts dormant as of June 30. The department may postpone the reporting date upon written request by any person required to file a report. All records are exempt from public review for 12 months from the time the property is reportable and for 24 months after the property has been remitted to the department. All lists of records or property held by a government or public authority under ORS 98.336 shall be exempt from public review until 24 months after the property is remitted to the department.
(5) If the holder of property presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992 knows the whereabouts of the owner and if the owner’s claim has not been barred by the statute of limitations, the holder shall, before filing the annual report, communicate with the owner and take necessary steps to prevent abandonment from being presumed. The holder shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the whereabouts of the owner.
(6) If the property presumed abandoned is a lawyer trust account established by an attorney or law firm, the report required by this section must indicate that the account is a lawyer trust account in addition to providing the information required by subsection (2) of this section.
(7) Verification, if made by a partnership, shall be executed by a partner; if made by an unincorporated association or private corporation, by an officer; and if made by a public corporation, by its chief fiscal officer. [1957 c.670 §13; 1967 c.357 §2; 1981 c.475 §4; 1983 c.716 §9; 1993 c.694 §6; 1997 c.86 §1; 1999 c.798 §2; 2003 c.73 §48; 2009 c.462 §1]
Note: The amendments to 98.352 by section 10, chapter 678, Oregon Laws 2019, become operative July 1, 2021. See section 85, chapter 678, Oregon Laws 2019. The text that is operative on and after July 1, 2021, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
(1) A holder of property presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992 shall deliver to the State Treasurer the report described in subsection (2) of this section and shall pay or deliver to the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Unclaimed Property Revolving Fund, all property presumed abandoned, except that for the following funds the holder is not required to deliver the funds presumed abandoned to the State Treasurer:
(a) Funds transferred to the General Fund under ORS 293.455 (1)(a).
(b) Funds in the possession of the Child Support Program described in ORS 180.345.
(c) Funds described in ORS 9.725 (3) or 98.386 (2) that are held in lawyer trust accounts or in the possession of the Oregon State Bar.
(2) A report must include:
(a) Except with respect to traveler’s checks and money orders, the name, if known, and address, if known, of each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the owner of any property of value of $50 or more presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992;
(b) In case of unclaimed funds of life insurance corporations, the full name of the insured or annuitant and last-known address according to the life insurance corporation’s records;
(c) The nature and identifying number, if any, or description of the property and the amount appearing from the records to be due, except that items of value under $50 each may be reported in aggregate;
(d) The date when the property became payable, demandable, or returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the owner with respect to the property; and
(e) Other information that the State Treasurer prescribes by rule as necessary for the administration of ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992.
(3) If the holder of property presumed abandoned is a successor to other holders or has had a name change while holding the property, the holder shall file with the report all prior known names and addresses and effective dates of changes.
(4) The holder shall file the report after October 1, but no later than November 1, of each year for accounts dormant as of June 30. Upon written request from any person required to file a report, the State Treasurer may postpone the reporting date. All records are exempt from public review for 12 months from the time the property is reportable and for 24 months after the property has been remitted to the State Treasurer. All lists of records or property held by a government or public authority under ORS 98.336 are exempt from public review until 24 months after the property is remitted to the State Treasurer.
(5) If the holder of property presumed abandoned under ORS 98.302 to 98.436 and 98.992 knows the whereabouts of the owner and if the owner’s claim is not barred by the statute of limitations, the holder shall, before filing the report, communicate with the owner and take necessary steps to prevent abandonment from being presumed. The holder shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the whereabouts of the owner.
(6) If the property presumed abandoned is a lawyer trust account established by an attorney or law firm, the report required by this section must indicate that the account is a lawyer trust account.
(7) The holder shall verify the accuracy of the information contained in the report. Verification must be executed by a partner if made by a partnership, by an officer if made by an unincorporated association or private corporation and by the chief fiscal officer if made by a public corporation.
