Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Pennsylvania Statutes Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs § 1301.8. Property held by agents-in-fact and fiduciaries

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) The following property held by agents-in-fact or fiduciaries is presumed abandoned and unclaimed:

1. All property held by an agent-in-fact or in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another person, three (3) years after the holder has lost contact with the owner, unless the owner has, within that three (3) year period:

(i) increased or decreased the principal;

(ii) accepted payment of principal or income;  or

(iii) otherwise indicated an interest in the property or in other property of the owner in the possession, custody or control of the holder.

2. An individual retirement account, a retirement plan for self-employed individuals or similar account or a retirement plan created pursuant to Federal law or the laws of this Commonwealth, three (3) years after the holder has lost contact with the owner, unless the owner has, within that three (3) year period:

(i) commenced receiving distributions of principal or income;

(ii) increased or decreased the principal;

(iii) received payment of principal or income;  or

(iv) otherwise indicated an interest in the account or plan or in other property of the owner in possession, custody or control of the holder.

(b) Except as provided under subsection (c), the date on which the holder has lost contact with the owner is:

1. the date a second consecutive communication sent by the holder by first class United States mail to the owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service;  or

2. if the second communication is made later than thirty (30) days after the first communication is returned, the date the first communication is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service.

(c) If the owner does not receive communications from the holder by United States mail, the holder shall attempt to confirm the owner's interest in the property by sending the owner an electronic mail communication not later than two (2) years after the owner's last indication of interest in the property.  If the holder receives notification that the electronic mail communication was not received or if the owner does not respond to the electronic mail communication within thirty (30) days after the communication was sent, the holder shall promptly attempt to contact the owner by first class United States mail.  If the mail is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the holder shall be deemed to have lost contact with the owner on the date of the owner's last indication of interest in the property.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs § 1301.8. Property held by agents-in-fact and fiduciaries - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-72-ps-taxation-and-fiscal-affairs/pa-st-sect-72-1301-8/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard