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Unclaimed Funds

Unclaimed funds are funds held by the bankruptcy court for an owner or recipient who is entitled to the money, but who has failed to claim ownership of it. Unclaimed funds may arise out of a variety of circumstances. For example, delivery of a payment may not have been possible because of faulty or incomplete address information for the recipient. In other instances, distribution checks from bankruptcy cases may not have been cashed by the parties, agencies, next of kin, or other recipients entitled to them.

A link to the court's list of unclaimed funds, searchable by name of the person to whom the money is owed, is below.  To claim the funds, the party entitled to the funds, or the party’s agent, must file an Application for Unclaimed Funds on Local Bankruptcy Form B1340, along with the appropriate supporting documentation, and submit it to the Portland office of the court. A copy of the application must be sent to the United States Attorney at the address listed on the form.

Unclaimed Funds Search

An unclaimed funds public search utility is located at https://ucfl.uscourts.gov.

The unclaimed funds public search utility may be used to search unclaimed funds records maintained in several bankruptcy courts including Oregon. Each court maintains its own unclaimed funds records, and some may make their lists available only on their court websites or in the clerk's office. Please contact individual bankruptcy courts not listed in the public search utility for information regarding the availability of unclaimed funds lists. Procedures for applying for unclaimed funds deposited with each court are generally available on the court’s website.

Unclaimed Funds Application Form

Local Bankruptcy Form B1340.

Supporting Documentation

Applications for unclaimed funds will appear on the court’s public docket, but all supporting documentation will be sealed and unavailable for public viewing. All applications must have proper documentation, including the following:

  1. Legible photocopy of the applicant’s photo identification such as driver`s license or passport.
  2. If the person claiming the funds is not the person in whose name the funds were deposited, documents showing that the applicant is authorized to act on the original claimant's behalf (for example, a notarized power of attorney or guardianship appointment) or is otherwise entitled to the funds (for example, through death and inheritance).
  3. If the entity claiming the funds is not the entity in whose name the funds were deposited, documents establishing the chain of ownership and a notarized document indicating that the person applying for the funds is authorized to do so for the current owner of record.
  4. The claimant's social security or tax identification number is required for processing of all payments of unclaimed funds. A domestic claimant must use either the W-9 certification form (available on the Internal Revenue Service website at https://www.irs.gov) or the AO 213P (available at https://www.uscourts.gov). If a claimant wants payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), then the AO 213P form must be used. A foreign claimant must submit a W-8 certification form (available at https://www.irs.gov) accompanied by the AO-215 form.

Requirements for additional supporting documentation vary depending on the type of claimant and whether the claimant is represented. Sufficient documentation must be provided to the court to establish the claimant’s identity and entitlement to the funds. Proof of identity must be provided in unredacted form with a current address. If there are joint claimants, then supporting documentation must be provided for both claimants.

Owner of Record

The owner of record is the original payee entitled to the funds appearing on the records of the court. If the owner of record’s name has changed since the funds have been deposited with the court, then proof of the name change must be provided. If the claimant is the owner of record, the following additional documentation is required:

Owner of Record – Individual

  1. Proof of identity of the owner of record (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address); and
  2. A notarized signature of the owner of record (incorporated in application).

Owner of Record – Business or Government Entity

  1. Application must be signed by an authorized representative for and on behalf of the business or government entity;
  2. A notarized statement of the signing representative’s authority; and
  3. Proof of identity of the signing representative (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address).

Successor Claimant

A successor claimant may be entitled to the unclaimed funds as a result of assignment, purchase, merger, acquisition, succession or by other means. If the claimant is a successor to the original owner of record, the following documentation is required:

Successor Claimant – Individual

  1. Proof of identity of the successor claimant (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address);
  2. Documentation sufficient to establish chain of ownership or the transfer of claim from the original owner of record.

Successor Claimant – Business or Government Entity

  1. Application must be signed by an authorized representative for and on behalf of the successor entity;
  2. A notarized statement of the signing representative’s authority;
  3. A notarized power of attorney signed by an authorized representative of the successor entity;
  4. Proof of identity of the signing representative (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address); and
  5. Documentation sufficient to establish chain of ownership or the transfer of claim from the original owner of record.

Deceased Claimant’s Estate

  1. Proof of identity of the estate representative (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address);
  2. Certified copies of probate documents or other documents authorizing the representative to act on behalf of the decedent or decedent’s estate in accordance with applicable state law (for example, small estate affidavit); and
  3. Documentation sufficient to establish the deceased claimant’s identity and entitlement to the funds.

Claimant Representative

If the applicant is claimant’s attorney or other representative, the following documentation is required:

  1. Proof of identity of the representative (for example, unredacted copy of driver’s license or U.S. passport that includes current address);
  2. A notarized power of attorney signed by the claimant (or claimant’s authorized representative) on whose behalf the representative is acting; and
  3. Documentation sufficient to establish the claimant's identity and entitlement to the funds, as set forth above.

Omnibus Applications

To arrange for the submission of an omnibus application for unclaimed funds, contact the clerk’s office at (503) 326-1500.