Chapter 177

177.0609(1) (1) If the administrator takes custody of property delivered under this chapter and later determines that the property has no substantial commercial value or that the cost of disposing of the property exceeds the value of the property, the administrator may return the property to the holder or destroy or otherwise dispose of the property.

177.0609(2) (2) An action or proceeding may not be commenced against the state, an agency of the state, the administrator, another officer, employee, or agent of the state, or a holder for or because of an act of the administrator under this section.

177.0609 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0610 177.0610 Periods of limitation and repose.

177.0610(1) (1) Expiration, before, on, or after November 7, 2021, of a period of limitation on an owner’s right to receive or recover property, whether specified by contract or court order, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, does not prevent the property from being presumed abandoned or affect the duty of a holder under this chapter to file a report or pay or deliver property to the administrator.

177.0610(2) (2) The administrator may not commence an action or proceeding to enforce this chapter with respect to the reporting, payment, or delivery of property reported to the administrator more than 5 years after the holder filed a nonfraudulent report and reported the property under s. 177.0401 to the administrator.

177.0610(3) (3) If a holder is required to file a report under s. 177.0401 and fails to do so, or if a holder files a report but does not report property required to be included with the report under s. 177.0401, the administrator may not commence an action, proceeding, or examination with respect to the reporting, payment, or delivery of the unreported property more than 7 years after the holder’s duty to report arose.

177.0610(4) (4) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply in the case of the filing of a fraudulent report or to any collection action or proceeding under s. 177.1201 or 177.1206.

177.0610(5) (5) For purposes of this section, the administrator and holder may extend any period of limitation by written agreement.

177.0610 History History: 2021 a. 87.

subch. VII of ch. 177 SUBCHAPTER VII

SALE OF PROPERTY BY ADMINISTRATOR

177.0701 177.0701 Public sale of property.

177.0701(1) (1) Except as provided in ss. 177.0702 and 177.1504, the administrator shall sell abandoned property within 3 years after receiving the property.

177.0701(2) (2) Before selling property under sub. (1), the administrator shall give notice to the public of the date of the sale and include with the notice a reasonable description of the property.

177.0701(3) (3) Except as provided under sub. (4), a sale under sub. (1) shall be to the highest bidder by any of the following means:

177.0701(3)(a) (a) At a public sale at a location in this state that the administrator determines to be the most favorable market for the property.

177.0701(3)(b) (b) On the Internet.

177.0701(3)(c) (c) On another forum that the administrator determines is likely to yield the highest net proceeds.

177.0701(4) (4) The administrator may decline the highest bid at a sale under this section and re-offer the property for sale if the administrator determines the highest bid is insufficient.

177.0701(5) (5) If a sale held under this section is to be conducted other than on the Internet, the administrator shall publish at least one notice of the sale, at least 3 weeks but not more than 5 weeks before the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is sold.

177.0701 History History: 2021 a. 87; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

177.0702 177.0702 Disposal of securities.

177.0702(1) (1) Unless the administrator determines that it is in the best interest of this state to do otherwise, the administrator shall hold all securities for at least one year before selling them.

177.0702(2) (2) The administrator may not sell a security listed on an established stock exchange for less than the price prevailing on the exchange at the time of sale. The administrator may sell a security not listed on an established exchange by any commercially-reasonable method.

177.0702 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0703 177.0703 Purchaser owns property after sale. A purchaser of property at a sale conducted by the administrator under this chapter takes the property free of all claims of the owner, a previous holder, a creditor, or a person claiming an interest through the owner or holder. The administrator shall execute documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership to the purchaser.

177.0703 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0704 177.0704 Military medal or decoration.

177.0704(1) (1) The administrator may not sell a medal or decoration awarded for service in the U.S. armed forces.

177.0704(2) (2) The administrator may deliver a medal or decoration as described under sub. (1) to any of the following entities, with the entity’s consent, to hold in custody for the owner:

177.0704(2)(a) (a) An entity organized under section 501 (c) (19) of the Internal Revenue Code.

177.0704(2)(b) (b) The agency that awarded the medal or decoration.

177.0704(2)(c) (c) A governmental entity.

177.0704(3) (3) The administrator is not responsible for the safekeeping of a medal or decoration after it is delivered to an entity under sub. (2).

177.0704 History History: 2021 a. 87.

subch. VIII of ch. 177 SUBCHAPTER VIII

ADMINISTRATION OF PROPERTY

177.0801 177.0801 Deposit of funds by administrator.

177.0801(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the administrator shall deposit in the common school fund all funds received under this chapter, including proceeds from the sale of property under subch. VII and amounts received from the redemption of U.S. savings bonds under s. 177.1504.

177.0801(2) (2) The administrator shall deposit in the general fund an amount that the administrator reasonably estimates is sufficient to pay claims allowed under this chapter and administrative expenses. For purposes of this subsection, “administrative expenses” means any of the following:

177.0801(2)(a) (a) Expenses for the disposition of property delivered to the administrator.

177.0801(2)(b) (b) Costs of mailing and publication in connection with property delivered to the administrator.

177.0801(2)(c) (c) Reasonable service charges.

177.0801(2)(d) (d) Expenses incurred in examining records of or collecting property from a putative holder or holder.

177.0801(2)(e) (e) Any costs in connection with the sale of abandoned property.

177.0801(2)(f) (f) Any costs in connection with the action under s. 177.1504 (1) and the redemption of a U.S. savings bond under s. 177.1504 (5).

177.0801(2)(g) (g) Salaries of the employees of the office of the state treasurer and the administrator that are attributable to the administration of this chapter.

177.0801(2)(h) (h) Any costs in connection with the payment of interest under s. 177.0607.

177.0801 History History: 2021 a. 87, 240.

177.0802 177.0802 Administrator to retain records of property. The administrator shall do all of the following:

177.0802(1) (1) Record the name, last-known address, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and date of birth of each person shown on a report filed under s. 177.0401 to be the apparent owner of property delivered to the administrator.

177.0802(2) (2) Record the name, last-known address, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and date of birth of each insured or annuitant and beneficiary shown on the report.

177.0802(3) (3) For each policy of insurance or annuity contract listed in the report of an insurance company, record the policy or account number, the name of the company, and the amount due or paid.

177.0802(4) (4) For each apparent owner listed in the report, record the name of the holder that filed the report and the amount due or paid.

177.0802(5) (5) For each U.S. savings bond, record the name and last-known address of each owner of the U.S. savings bond and the issue date, face amount, and serial number of the U.S. savings bond.

177.0802 History History: 2021 a. 87.

subch. IX of ch. 177 SUBCHAPTER IX

CLAIM TO RECOVER PROPERTY
FROM ADMINISTRATOR

177.0901 177.0901 Claim of another state to recover property.

177.0901(1) (1) If the administrator knows that property held by the administrator under this chapter is subject to a superior claim of another state, the administrator shall report and pay or deliver the property to the other state or return the property to the holder so that the holder may pay or deliver the property to the other state.

177.0901(2) (2) The administrator may enter into an agreement to transfer property to the other state under sub. (1).

177.0901 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0902 177.0902 When property subject to recovery by another state.

177.0902(1) (1) Property held under this chapter by the administrator is subject to the right of another state to take custody of the property if any of the following applies:

177.0902(1)(a) (a) The property was paid or delivered to the administrator because the records of the holder did not reflect a last-known address in the other state of the apparent owner and the other state establishes that the last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property was in the other state or, under the law of the other state, the property has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

177.0902(1)(b) (b) The records of the holder did not accurately identify the owner of the property, the last-known address of the owner was in another state, and, under the law of the other state, the property has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

177.0902(1)(c) (c) The property was subject to the custody of the administrator of this state under s. 177.0305 and, under the law of the state of domicile of the holder, the property has become subject to a claim by the state of domicile of the holder of abandonment.

177.0902(1)(d) (d) The property is a sum payable on a traveler’s check, money order, or similar instrument that was purchased in the other state and delivered to the administrator under s. 177.0306 and, under the law of the other state, has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

177.0902(2) (2) A claim by another state to recover property under this section must be presented in a form prescribed by the administrator, unless the administrator waives presentation of the form.

177.0902(3) (3) The administrator shall make a decision regarding each claim under this section no later than 90 days after the claim is presented to the administrator. If the administrator determines that the other state is entitled under sub. (1) to custody of the property, the administrator shall allow the claim and pay or deliver the property to the other state.

177.0902(4) (4) The administrator may require another state, before recovering property under this section, to agree to indemnify this state and its agents, officers, and employees against any liability on a claim to the property.

177.0902 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0903 177.0903 Claim for property by person claiming to be owner.

177.0903(1) (1) A person claiming to be the owner of property held under this chapter by the administrator may file a claim for the property on a form prescribed by the administrator. The claimant shall verify the claim as to its completeness and accuracy.

177.0903(2) (2) The administrator may waive the requirement under sub. (1) and may pay or deliver property directly to a person if the person receiving the property or payment is shown to be the apparent owner included on a report filed under s. 177.0401 and the administrator reasonably believes the person is entitled to receive the property or payment.

177.0903(3) (3) If a claim is submitted by a locator service that enters into an agreement under subch. XIII, a copy of the agreement shall be filed with the claim, otherwise the administrator shall deny the claim.

177.0903(4) (4) The administrator may use state tax information to assist in identifying the owner of property that has been abandoned as provided under this chapter or in verifying a claim filed under this subchapter.

177.0903 History History: 2021 a. 87.

177.0904 177.0904 When administrator must honor claim for property.

177.0904(1) (1) 

177.0904(1)(a) (a) The administrator shall pay or deliver property to a claimant under s. 177.0903 (1) if the administrator receives evidence sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the administrator that the claimant is the owner of the property.

177.0904(1)(b) (b) If a claim is made and allowed under subch. XIII, the administrator shall pay or deliver property to the apparent owner of the property.

177.0904(2) (2) Not later than 90 days after a claim is filed under s. 177.0903 (1), the administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice in a record of the decision. The administrator may refer any claim to the attorney general for an opinion. For each claim referred, the attorney general shall advise the administrator either to allow it or to deny it in whole or in part.

177.0904(3) (3) If the administrator denies a claim under sub. (2), the administrator shall inform the claimant of the reason for the denial and specify what additional evidence, if any, is required for the claim to be allowed. The claimant may file an amended claim with the administrator or commence an action under s. 177.0906. The administrator shall consider an amended claim filed under this subsection as an initial claim.

177.0904(4) (4) If the administrator does not take action on a claim during the 90-day period following the filing of a claim under s. 177.0903 (1), the claim is denied.

177.0904 History History: 2021 a. 87; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

177.0905 177.0905 Allowance of claim for property.

177.0905(1) (1) Not later than 30 days after a claim is allowed under s. 177.0904 (2), the administrator shall pay or deliver the property to the owner or pay to the owner the net proceeds of a sale of the property, together with interest, income, or gain to which the owner is entitled under s. 177.0607. Upon request of the owner, the administrator may sell or liquidate a security and pay the net proceeds to the owner, even if the security has been held by the administrator for less than one year or the administrator has not complied with the notice requirements under s. 177.0503.