Mississippi § 89-12-59 - Certain unclaimed United States savings bonds escheat to state; procedures.

§ 89-12-59. Certain unclaimed United States savings bonds escheat to state; procedures.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of law, United States savings bonds which are unclaimed property and subject to the provisions of this chapter shall escheat to the State of Mississippi three (3) years after becoming unclaimed property by virtue of the provisions of this chapter, and all property rights and legal title to and ownership of such United States savings bonds or proceeds from such bonds, including all rights, powers and privileges of survivorship of any owner, co-owner or beneficiary, shall vest solely in the State of Mississippi according to the procedure set forth in subsections (2) through (5) of this section. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the three (3) years prescribed in subsection (1) of this section, if no claim has been filed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for such United States savings bonds, the State Treasurer shall commence a civil action in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County for a determination that such United States savings bonds shall escheat to the State of Mississippi. The State Treasurer may postpone the bringing of such action until sufficient United States savings bonds have accumulated in the State Treasurer custody to justify the expense of such proceedings. If no person shall file a claim or appear at the hearing to substantiate a claim or where the court determines that a claimant is not entitled to the property claimed by such claimant, then the court, if satisfied by evidence that the State Treasurer has substantially complied with the laws of the State of Mississippi, shall enter a judgment that the subject United States savings bonds have escheated to the State of Mississippi, and all property rights and legal title to and ownership of such United States savings bonds or proceeds from such bonds, including all rights, powers and privileges of survivorship of any owner, co-owner or beneficiary, shall vest solely in the State of Mississippi. The State Treasurer shall redeem such United States savings bonds escheated to the State of Mississippi and the proceeds from such redemption of United States savings bonds shall be deposited in the State General Fund. The State Treasurer shall not deposit the proceeds from the redemption of the United States savings bonds in the Abandoned Property Fund or the Abandoned Property Claims Payment Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 89-12-37. Any person making a claim for the United States savings bonds escheated to the State of Mississippi under this subsection, or for the proceeds from such bonds, may file a claim in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Upon providing sufficient proof of the validity of such person’s claim, the State Treasurer may pay such claim in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.