Newspaper readers throughout the state Sunday may have seen their names on the pages if they have unclaimed property.

Comptroller Susan Combs published the list of 152,000 people with at least $250 that's waiting to be claimed.

However, if you didn't pick up a paper or weren't on the list, that doesn't mean you're not entitled to some cash.

“You can easily find out how much, where it came from, and how to get it back by checking our unclaimed property Web site,” Combs said in a press release. “You can even print out a claim form and send it in immediately, so you will get your money back as quickly as possible.”

The online database shows unclaimed property owners from many years back. The list released Sunday only shows those people that were reported to the state over the last year.

“This money doesn’t belong in Austin,” Combs said. “It belongs to families and businesses in Dallas, Del Rio, Childress, Corpus Christi and every town in between. We’re making it simpler and faster for unclaimed property owners to get back what is rightfully theirs.

“Claims by original property owners for up to $5,000 can now be electronically processed within 24 hours,” Combs continued. “The computer compares information on claim forms with information in our database. If everything matches, the computer authorizes payment. Automating more claims frees our staff to work on more complex claims.”

According to the comptroller's office, nclaimed property includes:

- a dormant bank account
- a forgotten utility deposit
- an old uncashed check
- unclaimed investment income
- securities
- family heirlooms from an abandoned safe deposit box
- other valuable assets the original owners have forgotten.

About $119 million in unclaimed property was returned in Fiscal Year 2007 according to the comptroller's office.

You can click on the link below or call (800) 654-3463 and talk to a customer service representative for more on the unclaimed propery.