Wisconsin Statutes Organization of State Government (Ch. 13 to 22) § 20.909. Abandoned, lost or escheated property

(1) Lost or abandoned property. Except as provided in s. 170.12, any personal property lost or abandoned in any building or on any lands belonging to the state and unclaimed for a period of 60 days may be returned to the person finding the same or may be sold at private or public sale by the state agency having charge of the place where such personal property is found. All receipts from such sales, after deducting the necessary expenses of keeping such property and selling the same, shall be paid promptly into the state treasury and credited to the school fund.

(2) Escheated property. The secretary of revenue may sell either at public or private sale any personal property turned over to the secretary as an escheat. The proceeds of any such sale shall become a part of the school fund, and shall be subject to refund as specified by the provision of law pursuant to which the property escheated.