This is the preview version of the Wisconsin State Legislature site.
Please see http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov for the production version.
AB752,17,9 7177.0201 When property presumed abandoned. Subject to s. 177.0210,
8the following property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent
9owner during the period specified below:
AB752,17,10 10(1) A traveler's check, 15 years after issuance.
AB752,17,11 11(2) A money order or similar instrument, 5 years after issuance.
AB752,17,14 12(3) A state or municipal bond, bearer bond, or original-issue-discount bond,
133 years after the earliest of the date the bond matures or is called or the obligation
14to pay the principal of the bond arises.
AB752,17,15 15(4) A debt of a business association, 3 years after the obligation to pay arises.
AB752,17,20 16(5) A payroll card or demand, savings, or time deposit, including a deposit that
17is automatically renewable, 5 years after the maturity of the deposit, except a deposit
18that is automatically renewable is deemed matured on its initial date of maturity
19unless the apparent owner consented in a record on file with the holder to renewal
20at or about the time of the renewal.
AB752,17,23 21(6) Money or a credit owed to a customer as a result of a retail business
22transaction, other than in-store credit for returned merchandise, 5 years after the
23obligation arises.
AB752,18,3 24(7) An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment
25insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, 3 years after

1the obligation to pay arises under the terms of the policy or contract or, if a policy or
2contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death has not matured by proof of
3the death of the insured or annuitant, as follows:
AB752,18,84 (a) With respect to an amount owed on a life or endowment insurance policy,
53 years after the earliest of the date on which the insurance company has knowledge
6of the death of the insured or the date on which the insured attained, or would have
7attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table that forms the bases of
8the reserve for the policy.
AB752,18,109 (b) With respect to an amount owed on an annuity contract, 3 years after the
10date on which the insurance company has knowledge of the death of the annuitant.
AB752,18,12 11(8) Property that may distributed by a business association in the course of
12dissolution, one year after the property may be distributed.
AB752,18,15 13(9) Except as provided in ss. 800.095 (8), 852.01 (3), 863.37 (2), and 863.39,
14property held by a court, including property received as proceeds of a class action,
15one year after the property may be distributed.
AB752,18,20 16(10) Except as provided in ss. 40.08 (8), 852.01 (3), 863.37 (2), and 863.39,
17property held by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or
18instrumentality, including municipal bond interest and unredeemed principal under
19the administration of a paying agent or indenture trustee, 5 years after the property
20may be distributed.
AB752,18,23 21(11) Wages, commissions, bonuses, or reimbursements to which an employee
22is entitled, or other compensation for personal services, other than amounts held in
23a payroll card, one year after the amount becomes payable.
AB752,18,25 24(12) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the
25deposit or refund becomes payable.
AB752,19,3
1(13) Property not specified in this section or ss. 177.0202 to 177.0209, the
2earlier of 5 years after the owner first has a right to demand the property or the date
3on which the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises.
AB752,51 4Section 51. 177.0202 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,19,9 5177.0202 When tax-deferred retirement account presumed
6abandoned. (1)
Subject to s. 177.0210, property held in a pension account or
7retirement account that qualifies for federal income tax deferral under the Internal
8Revenue Code is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3
9years after the earliest of the following:
AB752,19,1310 (a) The date on which a 2nd consecutive communication sent by the holder by
111st class mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder by the U.S. postal
12service as undeliverable, if the apparent owner has reached the age for which an
13early withdrawal penalty does not apply.
AB752,19,1814 (b) If the 2nd communication is sent by the holder to the apparent owner later
15than 30 days after the date on which the first communication is returned to the
16holder by the U.S. postal service as undeliverable, the date on which the first
17communication was returned as undeliverable, if the apparent owner has reached
18the age for which an early withdrawal penalty does not apply.
AB752,19,2019 (c) The date on which the apparent owner becomes 70.5 years of age, if that can
20be determined by the holder.
AB752,19,2221 (d) Any of the following, if distribution to avoid a tax penalty is required under
22the Internal Revenue Code:
AB752,19,2423 1. The date on which the holder receives confirmation of the death of the
24apparent owner in the ordinary course of the holder's business.
AB752,20,2
12. The date on which the holder confirms the death of the apparent owner under
2sub. (2).
AB752,20,6 3(2) If a holder in the ordinary course of its business receives notice or an
4indication of the death of an apparent owner and sub. (1) (c) or (d) applies, the holder
5shall attempt not later than 90 days after receipt of the notice or indication to confirm
6whether the apparent owner is deceased.
AB752,20,12 7(3) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner by 1st
8class mail, as described in sub. (1), the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent
9owner's interest in the property by sending the apparent owner e-mail not later than
102 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the property, except
11that the holder shall promptly attempt to contact the apparent owner by 1st class
12mail if any of the following applies:
AB752,20,1513 (a) The holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner
14e-mail or the holder believes that the apparent owner's e-mail address in the
15holder's records is not valid.
AB752,20,1616 (b) The holder receives notification that the e-mail was not received.
AB752,20,1817 (c) The apparent owner does not respond to the e-mail within 30 days from the
18date on which the e-mail was sent.
AB752,20,21 19(4) If 1st class mail sent under sub. (3) is returned to the holder by the U.S.
20postal service as undeliverable, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after
21the date on which the mail is returned.
AB752,52 22Section 52. 177.0203 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,21,4 23177.0203 When other tax-deferred account presumed abandoned.
24Subject to s. 177.0210, and except for property described under s. 177.0202 and
25property held in a plan described in section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code,

1property held in an account or plan, including a health savings account, that
2qualifies for federal income tax deferral under the Internal Revenue Code is
3presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the
4earliest of the following:
AB752,21,7 5(1) The date specified under the Internal Revenue Code or by federal regulation
6by which the distribution of property must begin in order to avoid a penalty, if no such
7distribution has been made.
AB752,21,8 8(2) Thirty years after the date on which the account was opened.
AB752,53 9Section 53. 177.0204 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,21,14 10177.0204 When custodial account for a minor presumed abandoned.
11(1)
Subject to s. 177.0210, property held in an account established under any state's
12uniform gifts to minors act or uniform transfers to minors act is presumed abandoned
13if it is unclaimed by or on behalf of the minor on whose behalf the account was opened
143 years after the earliest of the following:
AB752,21,1715 (a) The date on which a 2nd consecutive communication sent by the holder by
161st class mail to the minor's custodian is returned to the holder by the U.S. postal
17service as undeliverable.
AB752,21,2118 (b) If the 2nd communication is sent by the holder to the minor's custodian later
19than 30 days after the date on which the first communication is returned to the
20holder by the U.S. postal service as undeliverable, the date on which the first
21communication was returned as undeliverable.
AB752,21,2422 (c) The date on which the minor's custodian is required to transfer the property
23to the minor or the minor's estate in accordance with the uniform gifts to minors act
24or uniform transfers to minors act of the state in which the account was opened.
AB752,22,6
1(2) If the holder does not send communications to the custodian by 1st class
2mail, as described in sub. (1), the holder shall attempt to confirm the custodian's
3interest in the property by sending the custodian e-mail not later than 2 years after
4the custodian's last indication of interest in the property, except that the holder shall
5promptly attempt to contact the custodian by 1st class mail if any of the following
6applies:
AB752,22,97 (a) The holder does not have information needed to send the custodian e-mail
8or the holder believes that the custodian's e-mail address in the holder's records is
9not valid.
AB752,22,1010 (b) The holder receives notification that the e-mail was not received.
AB752,22,1211 (c) The custodian does not respond to the e-mail within 30 days from the date
12on which the e-mail was sent.
AB752,22,15 13(3) If 1st class mail sent under sub. (2) is returned to the holder by the U.S.
14postal service as undeliverable, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after
15the date on which the mail is returned.
AB752,22,17 16(4) The property in the account described under sub. (1) is not subject to this
17section after the property is transferred to the minor or the minor's estate.
AB752,54 18Section 54. 177.0205 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,22,23 19177.0205 When contents of safe deposit box presumed abandoned.
20Tangible property held in a safe deposit box and proceeds from a sale of the property
21by the holder permitted by law of this state other than this chapter are presumed
22abandoned if the property remains unclaimed by the apparent owner 5 years after
23the earliest of the following:
AB752,22,24 24(1) The expiration of the lease or rental period for the box.
AB752,23,3
1(2) The earliest date when the lessor of the box is authorized by contract or law
2of this state other than this chapter to enter the box and remove or dispose of the
3contents without consent or authorization of the lessee.
AB752,55 4Section 55. 177.0207 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,23,6 5177.0207 When security presumed abandoned. (1) Subject to s. 177.0210,
6a security is presumed to be abandoned 3 years after the following:
AB752,23,97 (a) The date on which a 2nd consecutive communication sent by the holder by
81st class mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder by the U.S. postal
9service as undeliverable.
AB752,23,1310 (b) If the 2nd communication is sent by the holder to the apparent owner later
11than 30 days after the date on which the first communication is returned to the
12holder by the U.S. postal service as undeliverable, the date on which the first
13communication was returned as undeliverable.
AB752,23,19 14(2) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of the
15security by 1st class mail, as described in sub. (1), the holder shall attempt to confirm
16the apparent owner's interest in the security by sending the apparent owner e-mail
17not later than 2 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the
18security, except that the holder shall promptly attempt to contact the apparent owner
19by 1st class mail if any of the following applies:
AB752,23,2220 (a) The holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner
21e-mail or the holder believes that the apparent owner's e-mail address in the
22holder's records is not valid.
AB752,23,2323 (b) The holder receives notification that the e-mail was not received.
AB752,23,2524 (c) The apparent owner does not respond to the e-mail within 30 days from the
25date on which the e-mail was sent.
AB752,24,3
1(3) If 1st class mail sent under sub. (2) is returned to the holder by the U.S.
2postal service as undeliverable, the security is presumed abandoned 3 years after the
3date on which the mail is returned.
AB752,56 4Section 56. 177.0208 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,24,8 5177.0208 When related property presumed abandoned. At and after the
6time property is presumed abandoned under this chapter, any property right or
7interest accrued or accruing from property presumed abandoned under this chapter
8is presumed abandoned.
AB752,57 9Section 57. 177.0210 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,24,11 10177.0210 Indication of apparent owner interest in property. (1)
11Property is presumed abandoned from the earliest of the following:
AB752,24,1312 (a) The date on which the property is otherwise presumed abandoned under
13this subchapter.
AB752,24,1514 (b) The date on which the dormancy period has elapsed following the last
15indication of interest by the apparent owner in the property.
AB752,24,17 16(2) Under this chapter, an indication of an apparent owner's interest in
17property includes the following:
AB752,24,1918 (a) A record communicated by the apparent owner to the holder or the holder's
19agent concerning the property or the account in which the property is held.
AB752,24,2320 (b) An oral communication by the apparent owner to the holder or agent of the
21holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held, if the
22holder or the holder's agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the
23fact of the apparent owner's communication.
AB752,25,224 (c) Presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend,
25interest, or other distribution, or evidence of receipt of a distribution made by

1electronic or similar means, with respect to an account, underlying security, or
2interest in a business association.
AB752,25,63 (d) Activity directed by an apparent owner in the account in which the property
4is held, including accessing the account or information concerning the account, or a
5direction by the apparent owner to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the
6amount or type of property held in the account.
AB752,25,97 (e) A deposit into or withdrawal from an account at a financial organization,
8including an automatic deposit or withdrawal previously authorized by the apparent
9owner, other than an automatic reinvestment of dividends or interest.
AB752,25,1010 (f) Subject to sub. (5), payment of a premium on an insurance policy.
AB752,25,1211 (g) Any other action by the apparent owner that reasonably demonstrates to
12the holder that the apparent owner knows that the property exists.
AB752,25,15 13(3) An action by an agent or other representative of an apparent owner, other
14than the holder acting as the apparent owner's agent, is presumed to be an action on
15behalf of the apparent owner.
AB752,25,19 16(4) A communication with an apparent owner by a person other than the holder
17or the holder's representative is not an indication of interest in the property by the
18apparent owner unless a record of the communication evidences the apparent
19owner's knowledge of a right to the property.
AB752,25,24 20(5) If an insured person dies or the insured or beneficiary of an insurance policy
21otherwise becomes entitled to the proceeds before depletion of the cash surrender
22value of the policy by operation of an automatic-premium-loan provision or other
23nonforfeiture provision contained in the policy, the operation does not prevent the
24policy from maturing or terminating for purposes of this chapter.
AB752,58 25Section 58. 177.0211 of the statutes is created to read:
AB752,26,5
1177.0211 Knowledge of death of insured or annuitant. (1) In this section,
2“death master file” means the federal social security administration death master
3file or other database or service that is at least as comprehensive as the federal social
4security administration death master file for determining that a person has
5reportedly died.
AB752,26,9 6(2) With respect to a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract
7for which an amount is owed on proof of death, but which has not matured by proof
8of death of the insured or annuitant, the insurance company has knowledge of the
9death of an insured or annuitant when any of the following occurs:
AB752,26,1110 (a) The insurance company receives a death certificate or court order
11determining that the insured or annuitant has died.
AB752,26,1512 (b) The insurance company or other person validates the death of the insured
13or annuitant by its performance of due diligence, as required under ch. 632 or other
14law, to maintain contact with the insured or annuitant to determine whether the
15insured or annuitant has died.
AB752,26,1916 (c) The insurance company compares for any purpose a death master file with
17the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that
18provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died, and the company validates
19the death.
AB752,26,2320 (d) The insurance company receives notice of the death of the insured or
21annuitant from a beneficiary, policy owner, relative, or trustee, or from the personal
22or legal representative of the insured's or annuitant's estate and the company
23validates the death.
AB752,26,25 24(3) The following applies to validating the death of the insured or annuitant
25under this section:
AB752,27,3
1(a) A death master file match occurs if the criteria for an exact or partial match
2is satisfied as provided by a law of this state other than this chapter or by a rule
3promulgated or policy adopted by the office of the commissioner of insurance.
AB752,27,74 (b) A death master file match does not constitute proof of death for the purpose
5of submission to an insurance company of a claim by a beneficiary, annuitant, or
6owner of the policy or contract for an amount due under an insurance policy or
7annuity contract.
AB752,27,118 (c) The death master file match or validation of the insured's or annuitant's
9death does not alter the requirements for a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the
10policy or contract to make a claim to receive proceeds under the terms of the policy
11or contract.
AB752,27,1712 (d) If no provision in a law of this state or a rule promulgated or policy adopted
13by the office of the commissioner of insurance establishes a time for validation of a
14death of an insured or annuitant, the insurance company shall make a good faith
15effort using other available records and information to validate the death, and
16document the effort taken for such validation, not later than 90 days after the
17insurance company has notice of the death.
AB752,27,23 18(4) This chapter does not affect the determination of the extent to which an
19insurance company before the effective date of this chapter had knowledge of the
20death of an insured or annuitant or was required to conduct a death master file
21comparison to determine whether amounts owed by the company on a life or
22endowment insurance policy or annuity contract were presumed abandoned or
23unclaimed.
AB752,59 24Section 59. 177.0212 of the statutes is created to read:
Loading...
Loading...