The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 27 : Property

Chapter 018 : Unclaimed Property

Subchapter 011 : Determination of Liability; Putative Holder Remedies

• § 1584. Judicial remedy

  (a) Not later than 90 days after receiving notice of the Administrator’s determination under section 1572 of this title, the putative holder may:

  (1) file an action against the Administrator in the Civil Division of the Washington County Superior Court challenging the Administrator’s determination of liability and seeking a declaration that the determination is unenforceable, in whole or in part; or

  (2) pay the amount or deliver the property determined by the Administrator to be paid or delivered to the Administrator and, not later than six months after payment or delivery, file an action against the Administrator in the Civil Division of the Washington County Superior Court for a refund of all or part of the amount paid or return of all or part of the property delivered.

  (b) If a putative holder pays or delivers property the Administrator determined must be paid or delivered to the Administrator at any time after the putative holder files an action under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, the court shall continue the action as if it had been filed originally as an action for a refund or return of property under subdivision (a)(2) of this section.

  (c) On the final determination of an action filed under subsection (a) of this section, the court may, on application, award to the prevailing party its reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses of litigation.

  (d) A putative holder that is the prevailing party in an action under subdivision (a)(2) of this section for refund of money paid to the Administrator is entitled to interest on the amount refunded, at the same rate a holder is required to pay to the Administrator under subsection 1594(a) of this title, from the date paid to the Administrator until the date of the refund. (Added 2019, No. 93 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2021.)