Found Money: Unclaimed Property List Includes Local Businesses

Every so often, it's a nice diversion to take a whiz through the state's unclaimed property listings. It's like playing the lottery, but it's free. You plug in your name and hope to hit the jackpot. 

But you can also search business entities. Here are 17 listings that came up when I searched on the words "Eatontown" and "Tinton Falls." Each one has a unique property ID listed (not included here.) The site says its listings are updated monthly. Although some of them have the same address as active businesses, they usually refer to accounts held by entities that have gone out of business.

Want to check your own family name or business? You can search the NJ Unclaimed Property listings at this link.

The Unclaimed Property Administration (UPA) is organized under the state Dept. of the Treasury. According to the agency's own description, it recovers and records abandoned or lost intangible and tangible property and holds onto it until it can be returned to its rightful owners.