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On hand for John Legge’s unclaimed property check presentation were local government specialist Roger Hughes, Margaret Legge, State Treasurer John Perdue and Mr. Legge.

CHARLESTON – State Treasurer John Perdue presented Hurricane resident John Legge and wife Margaret an unclaimed property check for $20,638 Wednesday, as yet another Mountain State resident became reunited with lost assets.

Legge, 77, received a check for the exact amount of $20,638.21 during a ceremony at the Treasurer’s Office. Local media turned out to document the event.

“Nothing pleases me more than to reunite people with their lost possessions, no matter what circumstances,” Perdue said. “People are afraid a government entity is going to take their money but we enjoy the pleasure of giving it back.”

The Hurricane man’s check was the result of liquidated stock shares and unredeemed dividends. After a certain period of dormancy, or lack of activity, such accounts are reported to the Treasurer’s Office, where the staff goes about finding the rightful owner. State law mandates liquidation of stock shares but forbids the expenditure of the proceeds.

Legge said he appreciated the effort Treasurer’s Office staff put into finding his lost assets. “I may put it into investments or we might use it, some of it, for taking a vacation.”

Wife Margaret said she was happy with the lost assets. “It sounds pretty good to me. It sounds like it’s a pretty substantial amount of money to work with.” 

Treasurer Perdue assumed office in January of 1997. Since then, his office has returned more than $100 million in unclaimed property to state residents – including $48 million in the last five years.

To search for your own unclaimed property, go to www.wvtreasury.com and click on the unclaimed property icon. A partial list of rightful owners is also published and inserted in newspapers twice a year.

“Like Mr. Legge, we may have unclaimed property waiting for you,” Treasurer Perdue said. “You never know. There is no cost to file a claim.”

The Treasury does not collect state taxes. Visit the The West Virginia State Tax Department for assistance.

West Virginia State Treasurer's Office
1900 Kanawha Boulevard
Capitol Complex Building #1, Room E-145
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
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