Search Severance Unclaimed Money
Severance residents can look for unclaimed money held by the State of Colorado. The Great Colorado Payback program keeps funds that businesses could not return to owners. These funds come from old bank accounts, refunds, and other sources. If you lived or worked in Severance and moved, you might have money waiting. The state holds it until you claim it. Search online for free. File your claim at no cost. The town of Severance does not manage unclaimed property. All funds go to the state level. You keep 100 percent of what you claim with no fees taken out.
Severance Quick Facts
How to Find Your Money
Start your search at the Great Colorado Payback site. Enter your first and last name. The system pulls up all records that match. You can add the city of Severance to narrow down the list. Each result shows who sent the money to the state and when. Click on a result to see more info about the property.
The Town of Severance site at townofseverance.org has info about local services. For unclaimed money, you search through the state system. You can call Severance Town Hall at 970-686-2352 if you need help finding the right place to search.
Try different versions of your name. Use your full legal name. Use your nickname. Use your maiden name if you got married or divorced. The database might have your property under an old name or address. If you had a business in Severance, search for the business name too. Some records list the company instead of your personal name.
Things you can search for:
- Bank accounts you forgot to close
- Paychecks from old jobs in or near Severance
- Security deposits from rentals
- Utility refunds or deposits
- Insurance payments that never got cashed
The state adds new property all the time. Search at least once a year. What is not there today might show up next year. Businesses send money to the state on a schedule, so check back often to see if new funds appear under your name.
After finding a match, use the claim search tool to start your claim. Follow the steps on the screen. You prove your identity with an ID. For larger amounts, you may need extra proof like old account numbers or addresses. The site tells you what to send based on the size of your claim.
Types of Unclaimed Funds
Unclaimed money in Severance comes from many places. Bank accounts are the top source. You might have had a checking account at a local bank. You moved and forgot about it. After a few years with no activity, the bank sends the balance to the state. This happens with savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts. Credit unions do the same thing if you do not use your account.
Uncashed checks are common too. Maybe you got a refund from a store. Maybe a utility sent you a check when you closed your account. If you lost the check or forgot to cash it, the company sends it to Colorado. Employers also turn over paychecks if you never picked them up. This happens a lot when people move out of Severance and do not leave a new address.
Landlords in Severance send security deposits to the state if they cannot find you. When you move out of a rental, the landlord should mail your deposit back. If the check comes back as undeliverable, they hold it for a while. Then they send it to the state. The same thing happens with deposits you paid to utility companies. You get the deposit back when you cancel service. If the company cannot reach you, it goes to Colorado.
Other types include:
- Stock dividends or bond interest
- Contents of safe deposit boxes at Severance banks
- Court settlements or judgments
- Royalty payments from oil, gas, or minerals
- Life insurance payouts if the beneficiary was never located
- Escrow balances from property deals
The state does not take ownership of this money. They just hold it for you. When you claim it, they send it to you. There is no time limit. The law says it is always yours or your heirs' to claim. Even if the property sat with the state for many years, you can still get it back.
Filing Your Claim from Severance
Once you find unclaimed money, you file a claim through the state site. The claim process is online. You make an account, fill out a form, and upload documents. For small amounts, you just need a copy of your driver's license or state ID. For larger sums, you may need to prove where you lived when the property was yours.
The form asks for your current address in Severance or wherever you live now. It asks how you want to be paid. Most people pick direct deposit so the money goes right into their bank account. You can also choose to get a paper check mailed to you. Both ways are free. The state does not charge to process your claim or send your money.
If the money belonged to a business you ran in Severance, you need proof of that. A tax return showing the business name works. If you are claiming money for someone who died, you need a death certificate. You also need to show you have the legal right to the property. This could be a will, a letter from probate court, or proof that you are the next of kin. The state gives clear instructions on what to send for each type of claim.
After you submit your claim, the state reviews it. Simple claims get approved in a few weeks. More complex claims take longer. You can log in to check the status. The site shows if your claim is under review, approved, or if they need more info. If they ask for extra documents, send them fast to avoid delays. Most payments go out within 90 days of approval, but large claims can take a bit longer.
Note: You do not need to hire anyone to file a claim for you in Severance.
Weld County Unclaimed Property
Severance is in Weld County. The county does not run an unclaimed money program like the state does. But the Weld County Treasurer handles some local funds. If you overpaid property tax on a home or land in Severance, the refund might sit with the county for a while. Eventually it goes to the state unclaimed property system. Check both places if you think you have a tax refund waiting.
The county has a tax system where you can look up tax bills and payments. If you see a credit balance, that might mean you have a refund. Call the treasurer to ask how to get it. For unclaimed money that already moved to the state, use the Great Colorado Payback search.
For more on Weld County funds and how the county works with the state, visit the Weld County page.
No Deadline to Claim
Colorado law says unclaimed money does not expire. The state holds it forever. You can claim it today, next year, or 20 years from now. This is good news for Severance residents who may have moved away long ago. Even if you have not lived in Severance for many years, you can still claim money tied to an old address or job there.
If you pass away without claiming your money, your heirs can claim it. They need to prove they have the right to your estate. A will makes this simple. If there is no will, they may need to go through probate in Weld County to get a court order. Once they have the right paperwork, they file a claim just like you would. The state pays out the full amount. They do not keep any of it.
The state uses a small part of the unclaimed money fund to run the program. This pays for the website, staff, and outreach to find owners. But the bulk of the money stays in the fund waiting for claims. The state cannot just take it for general use. The law protects your right to claim what is yours. So do not worry that you waited too long. Search now and see what you might have.
New property gets added to the database every year. Businesses in Severance and across Colorado turn over funds each reporting period. So even if you searched before and found nothing, search again. Something new might have come in since your last search. It only takes a few minutes, and the payoff could be worth it.
Help and Resources
The Great Colorado Payback site explains unclaimed property and how it works. The FAQ section covers common questions about the search and claim process. If you still have questions, contact the state office through the contact page. Staff can help you find property or guide you through filing a claim.
Read the unclaimed property law to understand the legal side. The law sets the timeline for when property becomes unclaimed. It also explains the duties of businesses that hold your money and the rights you have to claim it. Knowing the law helps you understand why your funds ended up with the state and how to get them back.
Be careful of scams. Some companies say they will find your unclaimed money for a fee. You do not need them. The state search is free. Filing a claim is free. You can do it yourself from Severance. Do not pay anyone a percentage of your claim. If someone calls or emails saying they found money for you, hang up and check the state site on your own. Real unclaimed money does not require you to pay upfront fees.