T he government has more than $30 billion in cash and other assets that belong to millions of Americans -- including investments and bank accounts... Social Security payments and tax refunds... insurance proceeds... and more.

Assets are deemed abandoned in the eyes of the law when contact with the owner is lost -- typically due to a name change after marriage or divorce, an unreported change of address, incomplete or illegible records or clerical errors. States and the federal government make only limited efforts to find the owners and return the cash, so you'll have to find it on your own by contacting government or other sources directly. You also can use my Web site, www.unclaimedassets.com, to search for these assets for a fee. Here's where to look...

INSURANCE POLICIES

Life insurers are among the largest holders of unclaimed money. Hundreds of millions of dollars in policy benefits go unclaimed and unpaid every year upon the deaths of the insured because beneficiaries aren't aware that policies exist.

In addition to policy benefits, many policyholders and heirs are entitled to an unexpected windfall. As more mutual life insurance companies have demutualized, millions of current and former policyholders have become entitled to receive stock, cash and policy credits.

Demutualization is the process of converting a mutual life insurance company -- which is owned by its policyholders -- to a public company that is owned by shareholders. The compensation awarded after demutualization can be substantial. In addition, as a stockholder, you share in the company's dividends and benefit from its appreciated share price. (You can sell your shares at any time without affecting your policy benefits.)

Millions don't know that they are entitled to receive compensation. Companies that have demutualized include Anthem Life, AXA Equitable Life, John Hancock Life, MetLife, Mutual of New York, Nationwide, Phoenix Life, Principal Life and Prudential Insurance Company of America. Claims can be made at any time, but it's best to act fast. Unclaimed stock may be sold by a government-appointed custodian after a relatively short period of time. After that, you are entitled only to proceeds of the sale and you may be obligated to pay capital gains tax. For information on unclaimed policy and demutualization benefits, contact the individual insurance companies.

REBATE CHECKS

Manufacturers and retailers make rebate forms time-consuming and complex. Also, rebate applications may be rejected for any number of reasons, often without notification to the customer. Keep copies of your application. Send it "return receipt requested" so that you have proof that it was delivered. If you don't receive a check after applying for a rebate, follow up with a written inquiry. Include copies of the application and the mailing receipt. If this doesn't work, contact the merchant's customer service department. If all else fails, file a complaint with your state's attorney general. For a list of state attorneys general, contact the National Association of Attorneys General (202-326-6000, www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php) or the Federal Trade Commission (877-382-4357, www.ftc.gov).

If you receive a rebate check but fail to cash it within the specified period, call the payor and request a reissue. Often you will be asked to return the expired check before a new one will be sent. (Be sure to keep a copy of the expired check for your records.) If your request for a reissue is refused, ask whether the funds have been remitted to your state office of unclaimed property, as required by law. If they have not, you can contact unclaimed-property officials and request a compliance audit. Companies that have been found guilty of unclaimed-property reporting violations have been forced to pay penalties and interest
totaling millions of dollars.

OTHER SOURCES OF LOST FUNDS

State databases: Each state and the District of Columbia maintain a database of unclaimed property. All except Delaware may be searched on-line. To search by state, go to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators' Web site, www.unclaimed.org. Check every state in which you have lived, worked or conducted business. Search using maiden names and any previous married names as well as middle names and middle initials. Also search for names of deceased relatives.

Delaware, where hundreds of businesses are incorporated, holds millions of dollars for residents of other states. Why? When the owner of an asset can't be located, the assets are transferred to the merchant's state of incorporation. If you have lost track of stock in a Delaware corporation, contact the Delaware State Escheator, 800-828-0632, www.state.de.us/revenue/information/Escheat.shtml.

Federal databases: Contact the appropriate agency. Two common sources...

Bureau of Public Debt for US savings bonds. The value of unredeemed savings bonds -- those that have reached "final maturity" and are earning no interest -- currently exceeds $9 billion. In addition, newly issued bonds and interest payments are returned by the post office as undeliverable each year.

For information on undelivered bonds, go to www.publicdebt.treas.gov/sav/sbtdhunt.htm or call 800-722-2678.

To replace lost, stolen or destroyed savings bonds, you will need to submit Form 1048, Claim for Lost, Stolen or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds. You can get it on-line at ftp://ftp.publicdebt.treas.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf or request it by mail or phone -- Bureau of Public Debt, Box 1328, Parkersburg, West Virginia 26106-1328. 304-480-6112.

IRS for income tax refunds. Last year, more than 87,000 refund checks worth $73 million were returned to the IRS by the post office. If you have moved since filing your last return, file IRS Form 8822, Change of Address, to avoid this problem. Checks that were returned must be reissued upon request. If a request is not made, the IRS credits the amount to the return filed in the succeeding year.

Significantly more checks -- worth about $6 billion -- are delivered but never cashed. If your refund check has been lost, destroyed or voided due to the passage of time, contact the IRS and request a reissue. (Treasury checks generally are negotiable for up to one year after issue.)

If you don't file a tax return for any period during which you are due a refund, you lose the right to the refund after three years. This is particularly important to heirs of deceased taxpayers, who may be owed refunds as a result of overpayments made during the year of death.