Nevada § 120A.500 - Presumption of abandonment
Full text of Nevada Nevada Revised Statutes § 120A.500 — Presumption of abandonment, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 120A.500. Presumption of abandonment
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 6, 7 and 8, property is presumed abandoned
if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner during the time set forth below for the particular
property: (a) A traveler's check, 15 years after issuance; (b) A money order, 7 years after issuance; (c) Any stock or other equity interest in a business association or financial organization,
including a security entitlement under NRS 104.8101 to 104.8511 , inclusive, 3 years after the date of the last indication by the owner of interest
in the property; (d) Any debt of a business association or financial organization, other than a bearer
bond or an original issue discount bond, 3 years after the date of the most recent
interest payment unclaimed by the apparent owner; (e) A demand or savings deposit, 3 years after the date of the last indication by
the owner of interest in the property; (f) Time deposits, 3 years after: (1) The date of maturity for time deposits that are not automatically renewable;
or (2) The date of maturity, after the first renewal of the time deposit, for time deposits
that are automatically renewable, unless the owner has consented to a subsequent renewal
at or about the time of any such subsequent renewal and the consent is in writing
or is evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the holder; (g) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 120A.520 , any money or credits owed to a customer as a result of a retail business transaction,
3 years after the obligation accrued; (h) Any amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy
or an annuity contract, including, without limitation, any amount in a retained asset
account, 3 years after the earliest of: (1) The date of the death of the insured or annuitant; (2) The maturity date of the insurance policy or annuity contract; or (3) The date that the insured would have attained, if living, the limiting age under
the mortality table on which the reserve is based; (i) Any amount owed by an insurance company on a policy or contract not described
in paragraph (h), 3 years after the obligation to pay arose under the terms of the
policy or contract; (j) Any property distributable by a business association or financial organization
in a course of dissolution, 1 year after the property becomes distributable; (k) Any property received by a court as proceeds of a class action and not distributed
pursuant to the judgment, 1 year after the distribution date; (l) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 607.170 and 703.375 , any property held by a court, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality,
1 year after the property becomes distributable; (m) Any wages or other compensation for personal services, 1 year after the compensation
becomes payable; (n) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, 1 year after the deposit
or refund becomes payable; (o) Any property in an individual retirement account, defined benefit plan or other
account or plan established for retirement purposes, 3 years after: (1) If the account or plan is tax-deferred or tax-exempt, the date that the owner
would have reached the age of required minimum distribution pursuant to the Internal
Revenue Code; or (2) If the account or plan is not tax-deferred or tax-exempt, the date that the property
becomes distributable; (p) The trust liability of a trust fund established with respect to a prepaid contract
for funeral services or burial services as required by chapter 689 of NRS , 3 years after the earliest of: (1) The date the holder has knowledge of the death of the beneficiary named in or
otherwise ascertainable from the prepaid contract; or (2) The date the beneficiary named in or otherwise ascertainable from the prepaid
contract has attained, or would have attained if living, the age of 105 years; and (q) All other property, 3 years after the owner's right to demand the property or
after the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises, whichever first occurs. 2. At the time that an interest is presumed abandoned under subsection 1, any other
property right accrued or accruing to the owner as a result of the interest, and not
previously presumed abandoned, is also presumed abandoned. 3. Property is unclaimed if, for the applicable period set forth in subsection 1,
7 or 8, as applicable, the apparent owner has not communicated, in writing or by other
means reflected in a contemporaneous record prepared by the holder or an agent of
the holder with the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property
is held and has not otherwise indicated an interest in the property. A communication with an owner by a person other than the holder or an agent of the
holder who has not in writing identified the property to the owner is not an indication
of interest in the property by the owner. 4. An indication of an owner's interest in property: (a) Includes: (1) The presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend or other
distribution made with respect to an account or underlying stock or other interest
in a business association or financial organization or, in the case of a distribution
made by electronic or similar means, evidence that the distribution has been received; (2) Activity directed by an apparent owner in the account in which the property is
held, including accessing the account or information concerning the account or a direction
by the apparent owner to increase, decrease or change the amount or type of property
held in the account; (3) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), the making of a deposit to or withdrawal
from a bank account; (4) The payment of a premium with respect to a property interest in an insurance policy,
but the application of an automatic premium loan provision or other nonforfeiture
provision contained in an insurance policy does not prevent a policy from maturing
or terminating if the insured has died or the insured or the beneficiary of the policy
has otherwise become entitled to the proceeds before the depletion of the cash surrender
value of a policy by the application of those provisions; (5) The signing of a return receipt by the apparent owner for notice provided pursuant
to NRS 120A.560 ; and (6) The execution of a Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United
States Tax Withholding and Reporting, Form W-8BEN of the Internal Revenue Service,
by the owner for purposes of a security where the last-known address of the owner
is in a foreign country; and (b) Does not include the making of an automatically renewable: (1) Deposit, if the deposit is made by the holder or an agent of the holder; or (2) Withdrawal, if the withdrawal is made by the holder or an agent of the holder. For the purposes of this subsection, an action by an agent or other representative
of the apparent owner, other than the holder or an agent of the holder acting as the
agent of the apparent owner, is presumed to be an action on behalf of the apparent
owner. 5. Property is payable or distributable for purposes of this chapter notwithstanding
the owner's failure to make demand or present an instrument or document otherwise
required to obtain payment. 6. The following property clearly designated as such must not be presumed abandoned
because of inactivity or failure to make a demand: (a) An account or asset managed through a guardianship; (b) An account blocked at the direction of a court; (c) A trust account established to address a special need; (d) A qualified income trust account; (e) A trust account established for tuition purposes; and (f) A trust account established on behalf of a client. 7. For property described in paragraph (p) of subsection 1, if the holder does not
have knowledge of the death of the beneficiary named in or otherwise ascertainable
from the prepaid contract for funeral services or burial services and the holder does
not know the date of birth of the beneficiary, the property described in that paragraph
is presumed abandoned: (a) Forty years after the date the prepaid contract for funeral services or burial
services was executed; or (b) Three years after the last indication by the owner of interest in the property, whichever is later. 8. For property described in paragraphs (c) to (f), inclusive, (o) and (q) of subsection
1, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after the date described in each of
those paragraphs or the date on which the holder has knowledge of the death of the
owner, whichever is earlier. 9. The provisions of paragraph (h) of subsection 1 apply to a life or endowment insurance
policy or an annuity contract, regardless of whether the policy or contract is matured,
unmatured, or terminated. 10. For purposes of this section, a person has knowledge of the death of a person
when the person: (a) Receives proof of death of the person; (b) Reasonably determines the death of a person pursuant to NRS 688D.090 ; or (c) Otherwise validates, in good faith, the death of the person. 11. As used in this section: (a) “ Proof of death ” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 672.210 . (b) “ Retained asset account ” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 688D.060 .
Source: official Nevada text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada § 120A.500
What does Nevada Revised Statutes § 120A.500 cover?
Section 120A.500 ("Presumption of abandonment") is part of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Nevada. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Nevada § 120A.500?
A common citation format is "Nevada Revised Statutes § 120A.500" (Nevada). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Nevada law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Nevada official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Nevada attorney.
How does Nevada § 120A.500 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Nevada can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Nevada.