Answer:
As a private investigator who specializes in locating missing heirs from cases across the country and around the world, the answer is...it depends. The rules on this issue vary from state to state. Since probate is a state-by-state area of law, there is no uniformity.
For example, in Michigan, three years after the personal representative or trustee has deposited money for a missing heir with the county treasurer, the court can grant another heir's request to redistribute the money. If nobody has claimed the money though, the missing heir can still claim it for however long with no statute of limitations.
In Ohio, the missing heir has five years after the administrator or trustee deposits the money with the county. After five years, the money belongs to the county. Some counties strictly enforce this five year rule while others have paid our missing heir clients twenty or thirty years after the fact.
Ohio and Michigan are just two examples. If you would like more information, feel free to e-mail me at mzwick@assets-international.com, call me at 248-557-4960 or visit our website at www.assets-international.com.
Michael J. Zwick