What is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed Property, also known as Abandoned Property, refers to property held by an organization that has not had contact with the rightful owner for a specific period of time.

Below is a sampling of the different types of Unclaimed Property typically held by the University:

Payroll Checks                                                   Retirement Checks

Benefits Checks                                                 Travel and Expense Checks

Student Account Credit Balances                       Student Stipend Checks

Rent Deposits or Overpayments                        Royalty Payments

Vendor Payments                                              Patient Refunds

Patient Credit Balances

What is the law regarding Unclaimed Property?

Columbia University is required by law to report and remit any property that is considered abandoned pursuant to the Unclaimed Property laws and regulations of the state of domicile through a process known as Escheatment.  The state of domicile is defined as the owner’s last known state of residence. 

What attempts are made  by the University to find the rightful owners?

Columbia University’s Unclaimed Property Office is committed to reuniting rightful owners with their unclaimed property.  Pursuant to jurisdictional regulations the Unclaimed Property Office mails letters to property owners informing them of property in their name held by the University.  The University is successful in reuniting a significant amount of owners with their unclaimed property.

What happens when property owners cannot be located?

Property that remains unclaimed is escheated to the state of domicile in accordance with the laws of that state.  The rightful owner retains his rights to the property in perpetuity and may contact the state’s Unclaimed Property Department to file a claim for escheated property at any time. 

How do I claim property as the rightful owner?

If you have received a letter indicating that the University is holding unclaimed property in your name you must respond affirmatively to claim your property.   Please return the signed, completed form to our office within 30 days of receiving your letter.  It is important that you include your Federal Tax Identification Number or the last four digits of your Social Security number as that information is used to verify ownership.

Claims for escheated funds should be directed to the state to which the funds were reported.  A free, nationwide search for unclaimed property held by the states is available at www.missingmoney.com.  A list of links to all state Unclaimed Property websites is available via the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) website, www.unclaimed.org.

What do I do if I received a notice and the property does not belong to me or is no longer outstanding?

If you receive correspondence regarding property that is not in your name there is no need to reply. 

If you receive correspondence regarding property that is no longer owed to you, for example, payment of an invoice that was settled by another means, we ask that you reply accordingly and inform us that the funds are no longer owed.    

What do I do if I receive a refund check from your office and I do not know how to apply payment?

Please contact our office using the information below if you are unsure of how to apply payment of an unclaimed property refund.  We will gladly provide all available payment information to assist you in resolving this matter. 

Contact Us

Columbia University

Office of the Controller

Unclaimed Property

615 W 131st Street, Mail Code 8799

New York, NY 10027

212-851-0427 (Select: Option 1)

Although we can be contacted by phone, you will be best served by using our email address at unclaimedproperty@columbia.edu.  You will receive a response within 2 business days.

Reissuance of Stale Dated Checks

The Unclaimed Property Office is happy to reissue your stale dated checks.  The Unclaimed Property Office is currently holding uncashed Accounts Payable and Payroll checks dated 06/30/2008 and prior.  To request reissuance of a check from this period please complete our Stale Check Reissuance Form as indicated and return to our office. 

For reissuance of checks dated after 06/30/2008 please contact either the AP Service Center for Accounts Payable checks or the HR Processing Center (HRPC) for Payroll checks.

Fill Out the Unclaimed Property Office Stale Check Reissuance Form