Instructions for Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds

• Court: United States Federal Court
• Section: United States Federal Court

Instructions, Form 1340

12/23

1

Instructions for Filing Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds

These template instructions can be modified by a bankruptcy court as needed.1

Unclaimed funds are held by the court for an individual or entity who is entitled to the

money but who has failed to claim ownership of it. The United States Courts, as custodians of

such funds, have established policies and procedures for holding, safeguarding, and accounting

for the funds.

I. Searching Unclaimed Funds

To search unclaimed funds, use the Unclaimed Funds Locator at https://ucf.uscourts.gov/.

Select________ (name of court) from the dropdown list and enter the applicable search criteria. If

you need access to a computer to perform the search, you may use the court’s public computer

terminal(s) located at ________. Additionally, you may contact the Clerk’s office at xxx-xxx-

xxxx to verify unclaimed funds balances.

Note to court: If your court is not using the Unclaimed Funds Locator, please specify how your

court is making unclaimed funds data accessible to the public.

II. Filing Requirements for Payment of Unclaimed Funds

a. Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds

Any party who seeks the payment of unclaimed funds must file an Application for

Payment of Unclaimed Funds in substantial conformance with the court’s standard

application form and serve a copy of the application on the United States Attorney for the

District of ______________________. For purposes of this procedure, the “Applicant” is

the party filing the application, and the “Claimant” is the party entitled to the unclaimed

funds. The Applicant and Claimant may be the same.

b. Supporting Documentation

1. Payee Information

Funds are payable to the Claimant. In conjunction with the Application for Payment of

Unclaimed Funds, Claimant’s tax identification number (TIN) must be provided to the court on

a certification form signed by the Claimant to whom funds are being distributed.

A. Domestic Claimant

A Claimant who is a U.S. person2 must use either the AO 213P or W-9 certification form

(accessible by searching on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at: https://www.irs.gov/).

1 The notes to courts appearing in italics are for internal use only and are intended to be removed in a court’s final version of

the instructions.

2 “U.S. person” includes: an individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien; a partnership, corporation, company or

association created or organized in the U.S. or under the laws of the U.S.; an estate (other than a foreign estate); or a domestic

trust (as defined in 26 C.F.R. 301.7701-7).