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State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. recently returned $4,837.78 in Unclaimed Property to Mayor Bill Carter on behalf of the City of Elizabethton.

Unclaimed property is money turned over to the State by businesses and organizations that were unable to locate the rightful owner. The Unclaimed Property Division is a consumer protection program of the Tennessee Department of Treasury that works to reunite the millions of missing dollars turned over every year with its rightful owners.

“We couldn’t be happier to receive a check for over $4,000 from the Tennessee Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division,” Mayor Carter said. “The City of Elizabethton is grateful to Treasurer Lillard for returning our money to us, and for the fact that they do it on behalf of all Tennesseans. I encourage all citizens to go to ClaimItTN.gov to search their name and see if they have any money waiting on them, too.”

Legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2017 allows for greater efficiency in reporting and returning unclaimed property to Tennesseans. Included in this law is a provision Treasurer Lillard is particularly proud of, allowing his office to return missing money to local governments and Tennessee schools without requiring them to file a claim.

Each year, businesses turn over thousands of unclaimed properties to the State. Last year, there were more than a million pieces of property turned over from businesses. The Unclaimed Property Division returned 78,305 claims, totaling $62.6 million, to the rightful owners during fiscal year 2024. In Carter County, there are over 60,000 instances of Unclaimed Property, totaling more than $3.8 million waiting to be claimed.

“I am grateful to our General Assembly for supporting the Unclaimed Property program, giving the Treasury the ability to proactively put money back into the hands of local governments,” Treasurer Lillard said. “The support of these legislators has allowed us to increase efficiency and return more money to your communities.”

Anyone can see if they are owed any missing money by searching their name at ClaimItTN.gov, and may file a claim online if they find unclaimed property belonging to them.