Kentucky State Treasurer’s office brings unclaimed property road show to Lexington

Kentucky State Treasurer’s Office officials visited Lexington on June 24 to promote the return of unclaimed property to residents, holding a public outreach event at Davis Park as part of a statewide “road show.” The office said the effort is aimed at helping people search for money and other assets that may be in the state’s possession due to missing ownership information.

According to the state treasurer’s office, Fayette County residents are owed $45 million in unclaimed property. Officials said the figure reflects the value of property held by the Commonwealth that has not been claimed after notice requirements, and that in-person sessions are intended to reduce barriers for residents who do not know where to start.

At the Lexington event, staff members described how residents can check whether they have unclaimed property and how to proceed with a claim after a match is found. Officials said the outreach is focused on getting more money returned to communities rather than leaving assets dormant in government custody.

Unclaimed property generally includes a range of assets that businesses or other entities turn over to the state when they cannot locate owners, including items such as cash-related accounts and certain funds that remain unclaimed after extended periods. Under Kentucky law and related procedures, the state holds property until owners, or their heirs, provide information needed to verify claims.

The treasurer’s office said the road show format brings education and assistance directly to the public in different parts of the state. Officials said the Lexington stop is designed to help residents complete the steps required to file or advance claims, particularly for people who may not have immediate access to computers or may need help understanding documentation.

Officials did not indicate in the report how many Fayette County claims are expected to be processed as a result of the Davis Park event, but the office said the need for outreach remains substantial given the amount attributed to the county’s resident owners.

The treasurer’s office indicated that residents who believe they have unclaimed property can seek information through the state’s established claiming process and that continued public events are part of the strategy to increase awareness.

The next steps for residents, officials said, are to search for potential matches and then submit documentation needed for verification. The state’s office emphasized that once ownership is confirmed, unclaimed property is returned to the rightful owner or eligible heirs through the state’s claim process.