A. A person, excluding another state, but including a claimant’s representative, claiming an interest in any property paid or delivered to the State Treasurer may file with the State Treasurer a claim on a form prescribed by the State Treasurer and verified by the claimant or the claimant’s representative. The date of filing of a claim shall be the date it is received by the State Treasurer with all supporting documentation from the claimant. Any information submitted by a claimant which is required to be submitted to the State Treasurer to establish a claim may be kept confidential by the State Treasurer if it contains personal financial information of the claimant, personal identifying information such as the address, date of birth, telephone number or email address of the claimant, Social Security numbers, birth certificates or similar documents related to the parentage of an individual, or any other document which is confidential by statute if in the custody of another public agency or person. Failure to use the claim form prescribed by the State Treasurer shall void the claim. The claim form shall require information the State Treasurer believes to be reasonably necessary to administer the requirements of this section, including, but not limited to: 1. A legible copy of the claimant’s valid driver license; 2. If the claimant has not been issued a valid driver license at the time the original claim form is filed, a legible copy of a photographic identification card of the claimant issued by the United States or a state or territory of the United States, a valid passport or national identification card issued by a foreign nation, or other evidence deemed acceptable by the State Treasurer; and 3. For claims submitted by a claimant’s representative, a duly executed copy of the written agreement between the claimant and the claimant’s representative, including a duly executed power of attorney. B. The State Treasurer may waive the requirements in subsection A of this section and may pay or deliver property directly to a person if: 1. The person receiving the payment or property is shown to be the apparent owner included on a report filed under this title; and 2. The State Treasurer reasonably believes the person is entitled to receive the payment or property and has validated the identity and address of the person receiving the payment or property. C. The State Treasurer shall consider each claim within ninety (90) days after it is filed and give written notice to the claimant and, if the person is utilizing the service of a claimant’s representative, to the claimant’s representative if the claim is denied in whole or in part. The notice may be given by email notification or by mailing it to the claimant’s representative, if any, and to the claimant’s last-known address, if any, as stated in the claim as the address to which notices are to be sent. If no address for notices is stated in the claim, the notice may be mailed to the last-known address, if any, of the claimant as stated in the claim. No notice of denial need be given if the claim fails to state either the last-known address to which notices are to be sent or the address of the claimant. D. If a claim submitted by the claimant is approved, the State Treasurer shall pay over or deliver to the claimant the property or the amount the State Treasurer actually received or the net proceeds if it has been sold by the State Treasurer, together with any additional amount required by Section 665 of this title, but no person shall have any claim under this section against the state, the holder, any transfer agent, registrar or other person acting for or on behalf of the state or a holder, for any appreciation or depreciation in the value of the property or any earnings that might otherwise accrue, after sale of the property by the State Treasurer. E. 1. If a claim submitted by a claimant’s representative is approved, the State Treasurer shall pay or deliver to the claimant the balance remaining after deduction and payment of the amount due to the claimant’s representative by the State Treasurer; provided, however, that any payments made directly to the claimant’s representative shall be made only pursuant to the terms of the written agreement between the claimant and the claimant’s representative that was submitted with the claim. 2. The State Treasurer is authorized to make distribution of the property or money in accordance with the terms of the agreement. 3. Payments of fees and costs to the claimant’s representative shall be made by paper check or other means approved by the State Treasurer on such periodic schedule as the State Treasurer may define; provided, however, payment for approved claims shall be made to both the claimant and the claimant’s representative within sixty (60) days of approval. F. The contents of safe deposit boxes shall be released directly to the claimant, claimant’s representative, or to a commercial carrier as provided in the written agreement if authorized in writing by the claimant. Any lien owed to the lessor of the safe deposit box shall be satisfied before the contents of the safe deposit box shall be released. At the claimant or claimant's representative's option, any lien owed to the lessor of the safe deposit box shall be deducted from the value of the contents of the safe deposit box obtained at the next scheduled auction with the remaining value to be distributed in accordance with this section. G. The State Treasurer shall maintain an electronic copy of all records related to the property received by the State Treasurer. Such records shall be retained pursuant to the State Treasurer’s retention schedules as provided by Title 67 of the Oklahoma Statutes. H. The State Treasurer shall consider any claim filed under this act and, in rendering a determination on the merits of any such claim, shall rely on the applicable statutes, regulations, and relevant court decisions and may hold a hearing and receive evidence concerning the claim. If a hearing is held, the State Treasurer shall prepare a finding and a decision in writing on each claim filed, stating the substance of any evidence heard and the reasons for the decision. The decision shall be a public record. I. If the claim is approved, the State Treasurer shall make payment pursuant to this section. The claim shall be paid without deduction for costs of notice. If a claim is denied, the State Treasurer may hold a hearing and receive evidence concerning any unclaimed property claim filed under this act. If a hearing is held, the State Treasurer, or his or her representative, shall consider evidence that would be admissible in contested cases under the Administrative Procedures Act. In any proceeding for determination of a claim to property, the burden shall be upon the claimant, or the claimant’s representative, including a claimant’s representative, to establish entitlement to the property by a preponderance of evidence. J. If a hearing is held, the State Treasurer, or his or her representative, shall prepare a finding and a decision in writing on each claim filed, stating the substance of any evidence heard by him or her and the reasons for his or her decision. The decision shall be a public record and deemed the final agency decision. K. If the claim is approved, the State Treasurer shall make payment pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection E of this section. Claims shall be paid without deduction for costs of notice. Added by Laws 1967, c. 107, § 24, emerg. eff. April 24, 1967. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 281, § 10, operative July 1, 1988; Laws 1991, c. 331, § 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Laws 1999, c. 10, § 20, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 136, § 6, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 133, § 9, emerg. eff. April 24, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 224, § 11, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2011, c. 261, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2019, c. 150, § 5, eff. July 1, 2019; Laws 2025, c. 421, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.
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