765 ILCS 1026/ Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

(765 ILCS 1026/Art. 2 heading) ARTICLE 2. PRESUMPTION OF ABANDONMENT (Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-201)

Sec. 15-201. When property presumed abandoned. Subject to Section 15-210, the following property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner during the period specified below:

(1) a traveler's check, 15 years after issuance;

(2) a money order, 5 years after issuance;

(3) any instrument on which a financial organization or business association is directly liable, other than a money order, 3 years after issuance;

(4) a state or municipal bond, bearer bond, or original-issue-discount bond, 3 years after the earliest of the date the bond matures or is called or the obligation to pay the principal of the bond arises;

(5) a debt of a business association, 3 years after the obligation to pay arises;

(6) financial organization deposits as follows:

(i) a demand deposit, 3 years after the date of the last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner;

(ii) a savings deposit, 3 years after the date of last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner;

(iii) a time deposit for which the owner has not consented to automatic renewal of the time deposit, 3 years after the later of maturity or the date of the last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner;

(iv) an automatically renewable time deposit for which the owner consented to the automatic renewal in a record on file with the holder, 3 years after the date of last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner, following the completion of the initial term of the time deposit and one automatic renewal term of the time deposit;

(6.5) virtual currency, 5 years after the last indication of interest in the property;

(7) money or a credit owed to a customer as a result of a retail business transaction, other than in-store credit for returned merchandise, 3 years after the obligation arose;

(8) an amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, 3 years after the obligation to pay arose under the terms of the policy or contract or, if a policy or contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death has not matured by proof of the death of the insured or annuitant, as follows:

(A) with respect to an amount owed on a life or endowment insurance policy, the earlier of:

(i) 3 years after the death of the insured; or

(ii) 2 years after the insured has attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve for the policy is based; and

(B) with respect to an amount owed on an annuity contract, 3 years after the death of the annuitant.

(9) funds on deposit or held in trust pursuant to the Illinois Funeral or Burial Funds Act, the earliest of:

(A) 2 years after the date of death of the beneficiary;

(B) one year after the date the beneficiary has attained, or would have attained if living, the age of 105 where the holder does not know whether the beneficiary is deceased;

(C) 40 years after the contract for prepayment was executed, unless the apparent owner has indicated an interest in the property more than 40 years after the contract for prepayment was executed, in which case, 3 years after the last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner;

(10) property distributable by a business association in the course of dissolution or distributions from the termination of a retirement plan, one year after the property becomes distributable;

(11) property held by a court, including property received as proceeds of a class action, 3 years after the property becomes distributable;

(12) property held by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, including municipal bond interest and unredeemed principal under the administration of a paying agent or indenture trustee, 3 years after the property becomes distributable;

(12.5) amounts payable pursuant to Section 20-175 of the Property Tax Code, 3 years after the property becomes payable;

(13) wages, commissions, bonuses, or reimbursements to which an employee is entitled, or other compensation for personal services, including amounts held on a payroll card, one year after the amount becomes payable;

(14) a deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable, except that any capital credits or patronage capital retired, returned, refunded or tendered to a member of an electric cooperative, as defined in Section 3.4 of the Electric Supplier Act, or a telephone or telecommunications cooperative, as defined in Section 13-212 of the Public Utilities Act, that has remained unclaimed by the person appearing on the records of the entitled cooperative for more than 2 years, shall not be subject to, or governed by, any other provisions of this Act, but rather shall be used by the cooperative for the benefit of the general membership of the cooperative; and

(15) property not specified in this Section or Sections 15-202 through 15-208, the earlier of 3 years after the owner first has a right to demand the property or the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 15-201, and subject to Section 15-210, a deceased owner cannot indicate interest in his or her property. If the owner is deceased and the abandonment period for the owner's property specified in this Section 15-201 is greater than 2 years, then the property, other than an amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, shall instead be presumed abandoned 2 years from the date of the owner's last indication of interest in the property.

(Source: P.A. 102-288, eff. 8-6-21; 103-148, eff. 6-30-23.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-202)

Sec. 15-202. When tax-deferred and tax-exempt retirement accounts presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to Section 15-210, property held in a pension account or retirement account that qualifies for tax deferral or tax exemption under the income-tax laws of the United States is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner after the later of:

(1) 3 years after the following dates:

(A) except as in subparagraph (B), the date a communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(B) if such communication is re-sent within 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the second communication was returned undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(2) the earlier of the following dates:

(A) 3 years after the date the apparent owner becomes 73 years of age, if determinable by the holder; or

(B) one year after the date of mandatory distribution following death if the Internal Revenue Code requires distribution to avoid a tax penalty and the holder:

(i) receives confirmation of the death of the apparent owner in the ordinary course of its business; or

(ii) confirms the death of the apparent owner under subsection (b).

(b) If a holder in the ordinary course of its business receives notice or an indication of the death of an apparent owner and subsection (a)(2) applies, the holder shall attempt not later than 90 days after receipt of the notice or indication to confirm whether the apparent owner is deceased.

(c) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of an account described in subsection (a) by first-class United States mail on at least an annual basis, the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent owner's interest in the property by sending the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication not later than 2 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the property. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the apparent owner by first-class United States mail if:

(1) the holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner an electronic mail communication or the holder believes that the apparent owner's electronic mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) the holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) the apparent owner does not respond to the electronic-mail communication within 30 days after the communication was sent.

(d) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (c) is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after the later of:

(1) except as in paragraph (2), the date a communication to contact the apparent owner sent by first-class United States mail is returned to the holder undelivered;

(2) if such communication is re-sent within 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the second communication was returned undelivered; or

(3) the date established by subsection (a)(2).

(Source: P.A. 102-288, eff. 8-6-21; 103-148, eff. 6-30-23.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-203)

Sec. 15-203. When other tax-deferred account presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to Section 15-210 and except for property described in Section 15-202, property held in an account or plan, including a health savings account, that qualifies for tax deferral under the income-tax laws of the United States is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the earlier of:

(1) the date, if determinable by the holder, specified in the income-tax laws and regulations of the United States by which distribution of the property must begin to avoid a tax penalty, with no distribution having been made; or

(2) 30 years after the date the account was opened.

(b) If the owner is deceased, then property subject to this Section is presumed abandoned 2 years from the earliest of:

(1) the date of the distribution or attempted distribution of the property;

(2) the date of the required distribution as stated in the plan or trust agreement governing the plan; or

(3) the date, if determinable by the holder, specified in the income tax laws of the United States by which distribution of the property must begin in order to avoid a tax penalty.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-204)

Sec. 15-204. When custodial account for minor presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to Section 15-210, property held in an account established under a state's Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by or on behalf of the minor on whose behalf the account was opened 3 years after the later of:

(1) except as in subparagraph (2), the date a communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the custodian of the minor on whose behalf the account was opened is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service;

(2) if a communication is re-sent within 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the second communication was returned undelivered; or

(3) the date on which the custodian is required to transfer the property to the minor or the minor's estate in accordance with the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act of the state in which the account was opened.

(b) If the holder does not send communications to the custodian of the minor on whose behalf an account described in subsection (a) was opened by first-class United States mail on at least an annual basis, the holder shall attempt to confirm the custodian's interest in the property by sending the custodian an electronic-mail communication not later than 2 years after the custodian's last indication of interest in the property. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the custodian by first-class United States mail if:

(1) the holder does not have information needed to send the custodian an electronic mail communication or the holder believes that the custodian's electronic-mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) the holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) the custodian does not respond to the electronic-mail communication within 30 days after the communication was sent.

(c) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (b) is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after the later of:

(1) the date a communication to contact the custodian by first-class United States mail is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(2) the date established by subsection (a)(3).

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, money of a minor deposited pursuant to Section 24-21 of the Probate Act of 1975 shall not be presumed abandoned earlier than 3 years after the minor attains legal age. Such money shall be deposited into an account which shall indicate the date of birth of the minor.

(e) (Blank).

(f) When the property in the account described in subsections (a) or (d) is transferred to the minor on whose behalf an account was opened or to the minor's estate, the property in the account is no longer subject to this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-205)

Sec. 15-205. When contents of safe-deposit box presumed abandoned. Tangible property held in a safe-deposit box are presumed abandoned if the property remains unclaimed by the apparent owner 5 years after the expiration of the lease or rental period for the box.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-206)

Sec. 15-206. When stored-value card presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to Section 15-210, the net card value of a stored-value card is presumed abandoned on the latest of 5 years after:

(1) December 31 of the year in which the card is issued or additional funds are deposited into it;

(2) the most recent indication of interest in the card by the apparent owner; or

(3) a verification or review of the balance by or on behalf of the apparent owner.

(b) The amount presumed abandoned in a stored-value card is the net card value at the time it is presumed abandoned.

(c) However, if a holder has reported and remitted to the administrator the net card value on a stored-value card presumed abandoned under this Section and the stored-value card does not have an expiration date, then the holder must honor the card on presentation indefinitely and may then request reimbursement from the administrator under Section 605.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18; 100-566, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-208)

Sec. 15-208. When security presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to Section 15-210, a security is presumed abandoned upon the earlier of the following:

(1) 3 years after the date a communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; however, if such returned communication is re-sent within one month to the apparent owner, the 3-year period does not begin to run until the day the resent item is returned as undeliverable; or

(2) 5 years after the date of the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the security.

(b) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of a security by first-class United States mail on at least an annual basis, the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent owner's interest in the security by sending the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication not later than 3 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the security. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the apparent owner by first-class United States mail if:

(1) the holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication or the holder believes that the apparent owner's electronic-mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) the holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) the apparent owner does not respond to the electronic-mail communication within 30 days after the communication was sent.

(c) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (b) is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the security is presumed abandoned in accordance with subsection (a)(2) above.

(d) If a holder in the ordinary course of its business receives notice or an indication of the death of an apparent owner, the holder shall attempt not later than 90 days after receipt of the notice or indication to confirm whether the apparent owner is deceased. Notwithstanding the standards set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), if the holder either receives confirmation of the death of the apparent owner in the ordinary course of its business or confirms the death of the apparent owner under this subsection (d), then, the property shall be presumed abandoned 2 years after the date of death of the owner.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-209)

Sec. 15-209. When related property presumed abandoned. At and after the time property is presumed abandoned under this Act, any other property right or interest accrued or accruing from the property and not previously presumed abandoned is also presumed abandoned.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-210)

Sec. 15-210. Indication of apparent owner interest in property.

(a) The period after which property is presumed abandoned is measured from the later of:

(1) the date the property is presumed abandoned under this Article; or

(2) the latest indication of interest by the apparent owner in the property.

(b) Under this Act, an indication of an apparent owner's interest in property includes:

(1) a record communicated by the apparent owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held;

(2) an oral communication by the apparent owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held, if the holder or its agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the fact of the apparent owner's communication;

(3) presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend, interest payment, or other distribution with respect to an account, underlying security, or interest in a business association;

(4) activity directed by an apparent owner in the account in which the property is held, including accessing the account or information concerning the account, or a direction by the apparent owner to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the amount or type of property held in the account;

(5) a deposit into or withdrawal from an account at a financial organization, except for a recurring Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit or credit previously authorized by the apparent owner or an automatic reinvestment of dividends or interest; and

(6) subject to subsection (e), payment of a premium on an insurance policy.

(c) An action by an agent or other representative of an apparent owner, other than the holder acting as the apparent owner's agent, is presumed to be an action on behalf of the apparent owner.

(d) A communication with an apparent owner by a person other than the holder or the holder's representative is not an indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner unless a record of the communication evidences the apparent owner's knowledge of a right to the property.

(e) If the insured dies or the insured or beneficiary of an insurance policy otherwise becomes entitled to the proceeds before depletion of the cash surrender value of the policy by operation of an automatic-premium-loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision contained in the policy, the operation does not prevent the policy from maturing or terminating.

(f) If the apparent owner has another property with the holder to which Section 201(6) applies, then activity directed by an apparent owner in any other accounts, including loan accounts, at a financial organization holding an inactive account of the apparent owner shall be an indication of interest in all such accounts if:

(A) the apparent owner engages in one or more of the following activities:

(i) the apparent owner undertakes one or more of the actions described in subsection (b) of this Section regarding any of the other accounts the apparent owner has with the financial organization;

(ii) the apparent owner increases or decreases the amount of funds in any other account the apparent owner has with the financial organization; or

(iii) the apparent owner engages in any other relationship with the financial organization, including payment of any amounts due on a loan; and

(B) the foregoing apply so long as the mailing address for the apparent owner in the financial organization's books and records is the same for both the inactive account and the active account.

(g) For an amount held on a payroll card, an indication of owner interest includes wages from an employer pursuant to Section 14.5 of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act in the form of a recurring ACH credit previously authorized by the apparent owner; however, an ACH credit is not an indication of owner interest if the holder assesses fees for account inactivity on the payroll card account.

(Source: P.A. 102-288, eff. 8-6-21; 102-734, eff. 1-1-23; 103-148, eff. 6-30-23.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-211)

Sec. 15-211. Knowledge of death of insured or annuitant.

(a) In this Section, "death master file" means the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File or other database or service that is at least as comprehensive as the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File for determining that an individual reportedly has died.

(b) With respect to a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death, but which has not matured by proof of death of the insured or annuitant, the company has knowledge of the death of an insured or annuitant when:

(1) the company receives a death certificate or court order determining that the insured or annuitant has died;

(2) the company:

(A) receives notice of the death of the insured or annuitant from the administrator or an unclaimed property administrator of another state, a beneficiary, a policy owner, a relative of the insured, a representative under the Probate Act of 1975, or from an executor or other legal representative of the insured's or annuitant's estate; and

(B) validates the death of the insured or annuitant;

(3) the company conducts a comparison for any purpose between a death master file and the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died; or

(4) the administrator or the administrator's agent conducts a comparison for the purpose of finding matches during an examination conducted under Article 10 between a death master file and the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died.

(c) The following rules apply under this Section:

(1) A death-master-file match under subsection (b)(3) or (4) occurs if the criteria for an exact or partial match are satisfied as provided by either:

(A) the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act or other law of this State other than this Act; or

(B) a rule or policy adopted by the Director of the Department of Insurance.

(2) The death-master-file match does not constitute proof of death for the purpose of submission to an insurance company of a claim by a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract for an amount due under an insurance policy or annuity contract.

(3) The death-master-file match or validation of the insured's or annuitant's death does not alter the requirements for a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract to make a claim to receive proceeds under the terms of the policy or contract.

(4) An insured or an annuitant is presumed dead if the date of his or her death is indicated by the death-master-file match under either subsection (b)(3) or (b)(4), unless the insurer has competent and substantial evidence that the person is living, including, but not limited to, a contact made by the insurer with the person or his or her legal representative.

(d) This Act does not affect the determination of the extent to which an insurance company before the effective date of this Act had knowledge of the death of an insured or annuitant or was required to conduct a death-master-file comparison to determine whether amounts owed by the company on a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract were presumed abandoned or unclaimed.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-212)

Sec. 15-212. Deposit account for proceeds of insurance policy or annuity contract. If proceeds payable under a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract are deposited into an account with check or draft-writing privileges for the beneficiary of the policy or contract and, under a supplementary contract not involving annuity benefits other than death benefits, the proceeds are retained by the insurance company or the financial organization where the account is held, the policy or contract includes the assets in the account.

(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)

(765 ILCS 1026/15-213)

Sec. 15-213. United States savings bonds.

(a) As used in this Section, "United States savings bond" means property, tangible or intangible, in the form of a savings bond issued by the United States Treasury, whether in paper, electronic, or paperless form, along with all proceeds thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act to the contrary, a United States savings bond subject to this Section or held or owing in this State by any person is presumed abandoned when such bond has remained unclaimed and unredeemed for 5 years after its date of final extended maturity.

(c) United States savings bonds that are presumed abandoned and unclaimed under subsection (b) shall escheat to the State of Illinois and all property rights and legal title to and ownership of the United States savings bonds, or proceeds from the bonds, including all rights, powers, and privileges of survivorship of any owner, co-owner, or beneficiary, shall vest solely in the State according to the procedure set forth in subsections (d) through (f).

(d) Within 180 days after a United States savings bond has been presumed abandoned, in the absence of a claim having been filed with the administrator for the savings bond, the administrator shall commence a civil action in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County for a determination that the United States savings bonds has escheated to the State. The administrator may postpone the bringing of the action until sufficient United States savings bonds have accumulated in the administrator's custody to justify the expense of the proceedings.

(e) The administrator shall make service by publication in the civil action in accordance with Sections 2-206 and 2-207 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which shall include the filing with the Circuit Court of Sangamon County of the affidavit required in Section 2-206 of that Code by an employee of the administrator with personal knowledge of the efforts made to contact the owners of United States savings bonds presumed abandoned under this Section. In addition to the diligent inquiries made pursuant to Section 2-206 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the administrator may also utilize additional discretionary means to attempt to provide notice to persons who may own a United States savings bond registered to a person with a last known address in the State of Illinois subject to a civil action pursuant to subsection (d).

(f) The owner of a United States savings bond registered to a person with a last known address in the State of Illinois subject to a civil action pursuant to subsection (d) may file a claim for such United States savings bond with either the administrator or by filing a claim in the civil action in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County in which the savings bond registered to that person is at issue prior to the entry of a final judgment by the Circuit Court pursuant to this subsection, and unless the Circuit Court determines that such United States savings bond is not owned by the claimant, then such United States savings bond shall no longer be presumed abandoned. If no person files a claim or appears at the hearing to substantiate a disputed claim or if the court determines that a claimant is not entitled to the property claimed by the claimant, then the court, if satisfied by evidence that the administrator has substantially complied with the laws of this State, shall enter a judgment that the United States savings bonds have escheated to this State, and all property rights and legal title to and ownership of such United States savings bonds or proceeds from such bonds, including all rights, powers, and privileges of survivorship of any owner, co-owner, or beneficiary, shall vest in this State.

(g) The administrator shall redeem from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service of the United States Treasury the United States savings bonds escheated to the State and deposit the proceeds from the redemption of United States savings bonds into the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund.

(h) Any person making a claim for the United States savings bonds escheated to the State under this subsection, or for the proceeds from such bonds, may file a claim with the administrator. Upon providing sufficient proof of the validity of such person's claim, the administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, pay such claim. If payment has been made to any claimant, no action thereafter may be maintained by any other claimant against the State or any officer thereof for or on account of such funds.

(Source: P.A. 102-288, eff. 8-6-21.)