177.0503 (title) Notice and publication of lists of abandoned or escheated property by administrator. (1) Before July 1 of each year, the administrator shall publish on an Internet site maintained by the administrator a notice of the names of persons appearing to be apparent owners of abandoned property reported and remitted to the administrator. Except as provided in sub. (1m), the notice shall include the name and last-known address of each person identified in a report filed under s. 177.17 177.0401 since the publication of the previous notice. The administrator shall also publish the in a newspaper the names of apparent owners of abandoned property reported and remitted to the administrator in the previous reporting year. The notice as shall be a class 1 notice under ch. 985, and published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which is located the last-known address of the person to be named in the notice. If no address is listed or the address is outside this state, the notice shall be published in the county in which the holder of the property has its principal place of business within this state official state newspaper.

(1g) In addition to any notice required under sub. (1), the administrator shall also publish, in the notice described under sub. (1), the name and last-known address of each owner of a U.S. savings bond that has been presumed abandoned under s. 177.135 177.0206 since the publication of the previous notice.

(1m) If the address of a person to be named in a notice under sub. (1) is outside this state, and if the administrator has entered into an agreement under s. 177.33 (1) 177.1202 with the state in which the address is located, the administrator may omit the information specified in sub. (2) with respect to that person from the notice published under sub. (1).

(2m) For money or other property received under s. 852.01 (3), 863.37 (2) or 863.39 (1), a notice shall be published at least annually in the official state newspaper and shall include the name of the decedent, the time and place of the decedent's death, the amount paid to the administrator, the name of the decedent's personal representative, the county in which the estate is probated and a statement that the money will be paid to the heirs or legatees without interest, on proof of ownership, if claimed within 10 years from the date of publication as provided in s. 863.39 (3).

(4) This section does not apply to sums payable on travelers checks, money orders and other written instruments presumed abandoned under s. 177.04 177.0201.

177.1504 (1) (a) The U.S. savings bond has been presumed abandoned under s. 177.135 177.0206 for at least one year.

(b) The U.S. savings bond is subject to the custody of this state as unclaimed property under s. 177.03 subch. III.

(2) An action under sub. (1) may be commenced in the circuit court for Dane County or in any county that would be a proper place of trial under s. 801.50. Subject to sub. (3), service may be made under s. 801.11 (1) (c) by publication of a notice published as a class 3 notice under ch. 985. In determining which newspaper is likely to give notice as required under s. 985.02 (1), the administrator shall consider the conditions under s. 177.03 177.0503 that made the U.S. savings bond subject to the custody of this state as unclaimed property. The administrator may postpone commencing an action under this subsection until sufficient U.S. savings bonds meet the conditions under sub. (1) to justify the expense of the action.

177.0907 Claim to recover abandoned U.S. savings bond. Notwithstanding s. 177.225 177.1504, any person who could have claimed an interest in a U.S. savings bond immediately before this state became the owner of the U.S. savings bond pursuant to a judgment entered under s. 177.225 177.1504 (4) may file a claim under s. 177.24 177.0903, and another state may file a claim under s. 177.25 177.0901. Notwithstanding s. 177.24 (3) 177.0607 or 177.25 (2) 177.0902, if the claim is allowed, the administrator shall pay the claimant the amount the administrator received from redeeming the U.S. savings bond under s. 177.225 (5) 177.1504, minus any amounts that were deposited in the general fund to pay administrative expenses under s. 177.23 (2) 177.0801 that are attributable to the U.S. savings bond, or, if the U.S. savings bond has not been redeemed, the amount the administrator estimates the administrator will receive from redeeming the U.S. savings bond under s. 177.225 (5) 177.1504, minus any amounts the administrator estimates will be deposited in the general fund to pay administrative expenses under s. 177.23 (2) 177.0801 that are attributable to the U.S. savings bond.

177.1002 (1) The administrator, at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, may examine the records of any person to determine whether the person has complied with this chapter. The administrator may authorize an agent, under written contract with the administrator, to conduct any such examination. In addition, the administrator may designate the division of banking or other appropriate regulatory authority to examine the records of regulated institutions to determine if the institutions have complied with this chapter. The administrator may conduct the examination even if the person believes it is not in possession of any property reportable or deliverable under this chapter.