The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 27 : Property

Chapter 018 : Unclaimed Property

Subchapter 006 : Taking Custody of Property by Administrator

• § 1515. Recovery of property by holder from Administrator

  (a) A holder that under this chapter pays money to the Administrator may file a claim for reimbursement from the Administrator of the amount paid if the holder:

  (1) paid the money in error; or

  (2) after paying the money to the Administrator, paid money to a person the holder reasonably believed entitled to the money.

  (b) If a claim for reimbursement under subsection (a) of this section is made for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler’s check, money order, or similar instrument, the holder must submit proof that the instrument was presented and payment was made to a person the holder reasonably believed entitled to payment. The holder may claim reimbursement even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was made after expiration of a period of limitation on the owner’s right to receive or recover property, whether specified by contract, statute, or court order.

  (c) If a holder is reimbursed by the Administrator under subdivision (a)(2) of this section, the holder may also recover from the Administrator income or gain under section 607 that would have been paid to the owner if the money had been claimed from the Administrator by the owner to the extent the income or gain was paid by the holder to the owner.

  (d) A holder that under this chapter delivers property other than money to the Administrator may file a claim for return of the property from the Administrator if:

  (1) the holder delivered the property in error; or

  (2) the apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder.

  (e) If a claim for return of property under subsection (d) of this section is made, the holder shall include with the claim evidence sufficient to establish that the apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder or that the property was delivered by the holder to the Administrator in error.

  (f) The Administrator may determine that an affidavit submitted by a holder is evidence sufficient to establish that the holder is entitled to reimbursement or to recover property under this section.

  (g) A holder is not required to pay a fee or other charge for reimbursement or return of property under this section.

  (h) Not later than 90 days after a claim is filed under subsection (a) or (d) of this section, the Administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice of the decision in a record. If the Administrator does not take action on a claim during the 90-day period, the claim is deemed denied.

  (i) The claimant may initiate a proceeding under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 for review of the Administrator’s decision or the deemed denial under subsection (h) of this section not later than:

  (1) 30 days following receipt of the notice of the Administrator’s decision; or

  (2) 120 days following the filing of a claim under subsection (a) or (d) of this section in the case of a deemed denial under subsection (h) of this section.

  (j) A final decision in an administrative proceeding initiated under subsection (i) of this section may be appealed to the Civil Division of the Washington County Superior Court, which shall hear the appeal de novo. (Added 2019, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2021.)