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New Mexico Disposition of Unclaimed Property Law – Abandoned Property
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New Mexico Disposition of Unclaimed Property Law	New Mexico Law Summary
Chapter 7 – Taxation
As used in the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978]:
(1) “administrator” means the taxation and revenue department, the secretary of taxation and revenue or any employee of the department who exercises authority lawfully delegated to him by the secretary;
(2) “apparent owner” means a person whose name appears on the records of a holder as the person entitled to property held, issued, or owing by the holder;
(3) “business association” means a corporation, joint stock company, investment company, partnership, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, business trust, trust company, land bank, safe deposit company, safekeeping depository, financial organization, insurance company, mutual fund, utility, or other business entity consisting of one or more persons, whether or not for profit;
(4) “domicile” means the state of incorporation of a corporation and the state of the principal place of business of a holder other than a corporation;
(5) “financial organization” means a savings and loan association, building and loan association, savings bank, industrial bank, bank, banking organization or credit union;
(6) “holder” means a person obligated to hold for the account of, or deliver or pay to, the owner property that is subject to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995);
(7) “insurance company” means an association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual benefit organization, whether or not for profit, engaged in the business of providing life endowments, annuities, or insurance, including accident, burial, casualty, credit life, contract performance, dental, disability, fidelity, fire, health, hospitalization, illness, life, malpractice, marine, mortgage, surety, wage protection, and workers’ compensation insurance;
(8) “mineral” means gas; oil; coal; other gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons; oil shale; cement material; sand and gravel; road material; building stone; chemical raw material; gemstone; fissionable and nonfissionable ores; colloidal and other clay; steam and other geothermal resource; or any other substance defined as a mineral by the law of New Mexico;
(iii) under an agreement or option, including a joint operating agreement, unit agreement, pooling agreement and farm-out agreement;
(10) “money order” includes an express money order and a personal money order, on which the remitter is the purchaser. The term does not include a bank money order or any other instrument sold by a financial organization if the seller has obtained the name and address of the payee;
(11) “owner” means a person who has a legal or equitable interest in property subject to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) or the person’s legal representative. The term includes a depositor in the case of a deposit, a beneficiary in the case of a trust other than a deposit in trust, and a creditor, claimant or payee in the case of other property;
(12) “person” means an individual, business association, financial organization, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity;
(13) “property” means tangible property described in Section 3 [7-8A-3 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) or a fixed and certain interest in intangible property that is held, issued, or owed in the course of a holder’s business, or by a government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, and all income or increments therefrom. The term includes property that is referred to as or evidenced by:
(i) money, a check, draft, deposit, interest or dividend;
(vii) an amount distributable from a trust or custodial fund established under a plan to provide health, welfare, pension, vacation, severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, profit sharing, employee savings, supplemental unemployment insurance, or similar benefits;
(14) “record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form;
(15) “state” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and
(16) “utility” means a person who owns or operates for public use any plant, equipment, real property, franchise, or license for the transmission of communications or the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity, water, steam, or gas.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-1.
(3) stock or other equity interest in a business association or financial organization, including a security entitlement under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code [Chapter 55, Article 8 NMSA 1978], five years after the earlier of (i) the date of the most recent dividend, stock split, or other distribution unclaimed by the apparent owner, or (ii) the date of the second mailing of a statement of account or other notification or communication that was returned as undeliverable or after the holder discontinued mailings, notifications, or communications to the apparent owner;
(6) money or credits owed to a customer as a result of a retail usiness transaction, three years after the obligation accrued;
(7) gift certificate, three years after December 31 of the year in which the certificate was sold, but if redeemable in merchandise only, the amount abandoned is deemed to be sixty percent of the certificate’s face value;
(15) all other property, five years after the owner’s right to demand the property or after the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises, whichever first occurs.
(e) Property is payable or distributable for purposes of the Uniform unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] notwithstanding the owner’s failure to make demand or present an instrument or document otherwise required to obtain payment.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-2.
Tangible property held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository in this state in the ordinary course of the holder’s business and proceeds resulting from the sale of the property permitted by other law, are presumed abandoned if the property remains unclaimed by the owner for more than five years after expiration of the lease or rental period on the box or other depository.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-3.
Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] or by other statute of this state, property that is presumed abandoned, whether located in this or another state, is subject to the custody of this state if:
(7) the property is a traveler’s check or money order purchased in this state, or the issuer of the traveler’s check or money order has its principal place of business in this state and the issuer’s records show that the instrument was purchased in a state that does not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property, or does not show the state in which the instrument was purchased.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-4.
A holder may deduct from property presumed abandoned a charge imposed by reason of the owner’s failure to claim the property within a specified time only if there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the holder and the owner under which the holder may impose the charge and the holder regularly imposes the charge, which is not regularly reversed or otherwise canceled. The amount of the deduction is limited to an amount that is not unconscionable.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-5.
A record of the issuance of a check, draft or similar instrument is prima facie evidence of an obligation. In claiming property from a holder who is also the issuer, the administrator’s burden of proof as to the existence and amount of the property and its abandonment is satisfied by showing issuance of the instrument and passage of the requisite period of abandonment. Defenses of payment, satisfaction, discharge and want of consideration are affirmative defenses that must be established by the holder.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-6.
(7) other information that the administrator by rule prescribes as necessary for the administration of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978].
(d) The report must be filed before November 1 of each year and cover the twelve months next preceding July 1 of that year, but a report with respect to a life insurance company must be filed before May 1 of each year for the calendar year next preceding.
(e) The holder of property presumed abandoned shall send written notice to the apparent owner, not more than one hundred twenty days or less than sixty days before filing the report, stating that the holder is in possession of property subject to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), if:
(f) Before the date for filing the report, the holder of property resumed abandoned may request the administrator to extend the time for filing the report. The administrator may grant the extension for good cause. The holder, upon receipt of the extension, may make an interim payment on the amount the holder estimates will ultimately be due, which terminates the accrual of additional interest on the amount paid.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-7.
(a) Except for property held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository, upon filing the report required by Section 7 [7-8A-7 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), the holder of property presumed abandoned shall pay, deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered to the administrator the property described in the report as unclaimed, but if the property is an automatically renewable deposit, and a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result, the time for compliance is extended until a penalty or forfeiture would no longer result. Tangible property held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository may not be delivered to the administrator until one hundred twenty days after filing the report required by Section 7 of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978].
(b) If the property reported to the administrator is a security or security entitlement under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code [Chapter 55, Article 8 NMSA 1978], the administrator is an appropriate person to make an indorsement, instruction, or entitlement order on behalf of the apparent owner to invoke the duty of the issuer or its transfer agent or the securities intermediary to transfer or dispose of the security or the security entitlement in accordance with Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
(c) If the holder of property reported to the administrator is the issuer of a certificated security, the administrator has the right to obtain a replacement certificate pursuant to Section 55-8-405 NMSA 1978, but an indemnity bond is not required.
(d) An issuer, the holder, and any transfer agent or other person acting pursuant to the instructions of and on behalf of the issuer or holder in accordance with this section is not liable to the apparent owner and must be indemnified against claims of any person in accordance with Section 10 of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
Chap. 7, §7-8A-8.
(b) The administrator is not required to advertise the name and address or location of an owner of property having a total value less than fifty dollars ($50.00), or information concerning a traveler’s check, money order or similar instrument.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-9.
Custody by state; recovery by holder; defense of holder.
(1) payment or delivery was made in a reasonable attempt to comply with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978];
(c) A holder who has paid money to the administrator pursuant to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) may subsequently make payment to a person reasonably appearing to the holder to be entitled to payment. Upon a filing by the holder of proof of payment and proof that the payee was entitled to the payment, the administrator shall promptly reimburse the holder for the payment without imposing a fee or other charge. If reimbursement is sought for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler’s check or money order, the holder must be reimbursed upon filing proof that the instrument was duly presented and that payment was made to a person who reasonably appeared to be entitled to payment. The holder must be reimbursed for payment made even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was barred under Section 19(a) [7-8A-19(a) NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
(d) A holder who has delivered property other than money to the administrator pursuant to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) may reclaim the property if it is still in the possession of the administrator, without paying any fee or other charge, upon filing proof that the apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder.
(g) Property removed from a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository is received by the administrator subject to the holder’s right to be reimbursed for the cost of the opening and to any valid lien or contract providing for the holder to be reimbursed for unpaid rent or storage charges. The administrator shall reimburse the holder out of the proceeds remaining after deducting the expense incurred by the administrator in selling the property.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-10.
Exercise of due diligence; liability; notice.
A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], the holder of unclaimed intangible property in the form of checks in payment of royalty interests, working interests or other interests payable out of oil and gas production with a value of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more who fails to exercise due diligence in attempting to locate the apparent owner of such property during the running of the period specified under Section 2 [7-8A-2 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) constituting a presumption of abandonment of such intangible property is subject to payment to the owner if such property is successfully claimed within the time specified by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) or to the state of New Mexico upon payment or delivery of the property to the administrator, interest at the annual rate of interest computed as provided in Subsection B of Section 7-1-67 NMSA 1978 on the value of the intangible property, such interest running from the date commencing after the first year in which the property remained unclaimed to the date of payment or delivery.
B. Proof of the exercise of due diligence to locate the apparent owner shall be:
(1) evidence of written notice mailed to the last known address of the apparent owner; and
(2) proof of publication of notice to the apparent owner made between the end of the first year in which the property remained unclaimed and the end of the third year in which the property remained unclaimed. The publication of the notice required by this subsection for property presumed to be abandoned under the provisions of Section 7 [7-8A-7 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) shall be made at least thirty days, but not more than ninety days, prior to the due date on which the report of abandoned property is required to be filed.
C. Publication as required in Subsection B of this section consists of publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of this state in which is located the last known address of the apparent owner, or if no address is listed or the address is outside the state, in a newspaper published in the county in which the holder of the property has his principal place of business within the state. The notice shall be published at least once a week for two consecutive weeks and shall be entitled: “NOTICE OF THE NAME OF A PERSON APPEARING TO BE THE OWNER OF ABANDONED PROPERTY”.
D. The published notice shall contain:
(1) the name and last known address, if any, of the person entitled to notice as specified in this section;
(2) a statement that information concerning the unclaimed property may be obtained from the holder of the property;
(3) the name and address of the holder of the property; and
(4) a statement that if proof of claim is not presented by the owner to the holder and the owner’s right to receive the property is not established to the holder’s satisfaction before the expiration of the period specified by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) for the presumption of abandonment, the intangible property will be placed in the custody of the state of New Mexico and subject to escheat to the general fund of the state.
E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States or to the state of New Mexico or any agency or political subdivision of the state.
F. Any holder of property that has been presumed to be abandoned for more than three years as of January 1, 1990 shall not be presumed to be negligent by the failure to publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation as required by this section.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-10.1.
Crediting of dividends, interest and increments to owner’s account.
If property other than money is delivered to the administrator under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], the owner is entitled to receive from the administrator any income or gain realized or accruing on the property at or before liquidation or conversion of the property into money. If the property was an interest-bearing demand, savings, or time deposit, including a deposit that is automatically renewable, the administrator shall pay interest at a rate of five percent a year or any lesser rate the property earned while in the possession of the holder.
Interest begins to accrue when the property is delivered to the administrator and ceases on the earlier of the expiration of ten years after delivery or the date on which payment is made to the owner. Interest on interest-bearing property is not payable for any period before the effective date of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), unless authorized by law superseded by that act.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-11.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the administrator, within three years after the receipt of abandoned property, shall sell it to the highest bidder at public sale at a location in the state which in the judgment of the administrator affords the most favorable market for the property. The administrator may decline the highest bid and re-offer the property for sale if the administrator considers the bid to be insufficient. The administrator need not offer the property for sale if the administrator considers that the probable cost of sale will exceed the proceeds of the sale. A sale held under this section must be preceded by a single publication of notice, at least three weeks before sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is to be sold.
(b) Securities listed on an established stock exchange must be sold at prices prevailing on the exchange at the time of sale. Other securities may be sold over the counter at prices prevailing at the time of sale or by any reasonable method selected by the administrator. If securities are sold by the administrator before the expiration of three years after their delivery to the administrator, a person making a claim under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] before the end of the three-year period is entitled to the proceeds of the sale of the securities or the market value of the securities at the time the claim is made, whichever is greater, plus dividends, interest and other increments thereon up to the time the claim is made, less any deduction for expenses of sale. A person making a claim under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) after the expiration of the three-year period is entitled to receive the securities delivered to the administrator by the holder, if they still remain in the custody of the administrator, or the net proceeds received from sale, and is not entitled to receive any appreciation in the value of the property occurring after delivery to the administrator, except in a case of intentional misconduct or malfeasance by the administrator.
(c) A purchaser of property at a sale conducted by the administrator pursuant to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) takes the property free of all claims of the owner or previous holder and of all persons claiming through or under them. The administrator shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-12.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the administrator shall promptly deposit in the tax administration suspense fund for distribution to the general fund of this state all funds received under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], including the proceeds from the sale of abandoned property under Section 12 [7-8A-12 NMSA 1978] of that act. The administrator shall retain in the unclaimed property fund at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from which the administrator shall pay claims duly allowed. The administrator shall record the name and last known address of each person appearing from the holders’ reports to be entitled to the property and the name and last known address of each insured person or annuitant and beneficiary and with respect to each policy or annuity listed in the report of an insurance company, its number, the name of the company, and the amount due.
(b) Before making a deposit to the tax administration suspense fund, the administrator may deduct:
Chap. 7, §7-8A-13.
(a) After property has been paid or delivered to the administrator under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], another state may recover the property if:
(4) the property was subjected to custody by this state under Section 4(6) [7-8A-4(6) NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), and under the laws of the state of domicile of the holder the property has escheated or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state; or
(5) the property is a sum payable on a traveler’s check, money order or similar instrument that was purchased in the other state and delivered into the custody of this state under Section 4(7) [7-8A-4(7) NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), and under the laws of the other state the property has escheated or become subject to a claim of abandonment by that state.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-14.
Filing claim with administrator; handling of claims by administrator.
(b) Within ninety days after a claim is filed, the administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give written notice of the decision to the claimant. If the claim is denied, the administrator shall inform the claimant of the reasons for the denial and specify what additional evidence is required before the claim will be allowed. The claimant may then file a new claim with the administrator or maintain an action under Section 16 of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978].
(c) Within thirty days after a claim is allowed, the property or the net proceeds of a sale of the property must be delivered or paid by the administrator to the claimant, together with any dividend, interest or other increment to which the claimant is entitled under Sections 11 and 12 [7-8A-11 and 7-8A-12 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
(d) A holder who pays the owner for property that has been delivered to the state and which, if claimed from the administrator by the owner would be subject to an increment under Sections 11 and 12 of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), may recover from the administrator the amount of the increment.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-15.
Appeal; action to establish claim.
A. A person aggrieved by a decision of the administrator may file an appeal pursuant to the provisions of Section 39-3-1.1 NMSA 1978.
B. A person whose claim has not been acted upon within ninety days after its filing may maintain an original action to establish the claim in the district court for the first judicial district, naming the administrator as a defendant.
C. If the aggrieved person establishes the claim in an action against the administrator, the court may award the claimant reasonable attorney fees.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-16.
(a) The administrator may decline to receive property reported under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] which the administrator considers to have a value less than the expenses of notice and sale.
(b) A holder, with the written consent of the administrator and upon conditions and terms prescribed by the administrator, may report and deliver property before the property is presumed abandoned. Property so delivered must be held by the administrator and is not presumed abandoned until it otherwise would be presumed abandoned under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
Chap. 7, §7-8A-17.
Destruction or disposition of property having no substantial commercial value; immunity from liability.
If the administrator determines after investigation that property delivered under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] has no substantial commercial value, the administrator may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property at any time. An action or proceeding may not be maintained against the state or any officer or against the holder for or on account of an act of the administrator under this section, except for intentional misconduct or malfeasance.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-18.
(a) The expiration, before or after the effective date of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], of a period of limitation on the owner’s right to receive or recover property, whether specified by contract, statute or court order, does not preclude the property from being presumed abandoned or affect a duty to file a report or to pay or deliver or transfer property to the administrator as required by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
(b) An action or proceeding may not be maintained by the administrator to enforce the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) in regard to the reporting, delivery, or payment of property more than ten years after the holder specifically identified the property in a report filed with the administrator or gave express notice to the administrator of a dispute regarding the property. In the absence of such a report or other express notice, the period of limitation is tolled.
The period of limitation is also tolled by the filing of a report that is fraudulent.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-19.
(a) The administrator may require a person who has not filed a report, or a person whom the administrator believes has filed an inaccurate, incomplete or false report, to file a verified report in a form specified by the administrator. The report must state whether the person is holding property reportable under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978], describe property not previously reported or as to which the administrator has made inquiry, and specifically identify and state the amounts of property that may be in issue.
(b) The administrator, at reasonable times and upon reasonable otice, may examine the records of any person to determine whether the person has complied with the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995). The administrator may conduct the examination even if the person believes it is not in possession of any property that must be reported, paid or delivered under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995). The administrator may contract with any other person to conduct the examination on behalf of the administrator.
(c) The administrator at reasonable times may examine the records of an agent, including a dividend disbursing agent or transfer agent, of a business association or financial association that is the holder of property presumed abandoned if the administrator has given the notice required by Subsection (b) of this section to both the association or organization and the agent at least ninety days before the examination.
(d) Documents and working papers obtained or compiled by the administrator, or the administrator’s agents, employees or designated representatives, in the course of conducting an examination are confidential and are not public records, but the documents and papers may be:
(1) used by the administrator in the course of an action to collect unclaimed property or otherwise enforce the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995);
(2) used in joint examinations conducted with or pursuant to an agreement with another state, the federal government, or any other governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality;
(4) disclosed to the abandoned property office of another state for that state’s use in circumstances equivalent to those described in this subsection, if the other state is bound to keep the documents and papers confidential.
(e) If an examination of the records of a person results in the disclosure of property reportable under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), the administrator may assess the cost of the examination against the holder at the rate of two hundred dollars ($200) a day for each examiner, or a greater amount that is reasonable and was incurred, but the assessment may not exceed the value of the property found to be reportable. The cost of an examination made pursuant to Subsection (c) of this section may be assessed only against the business association or financial organization.
(f) If, after the effective date of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), a holder does not maintain the records required by Section 21 [7-8A-21 NMSA 1978] of that act and the records of the holder available for the periods subject to that act are insufficient to permit the preparation of a report, the administrator may require the holder to report and pay to the administrator the amount the administrator reasonably estimates, on the basis of any available records of the holder or by any other reasonable method of estimation, should have been but was not reported.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-20.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (b) of this section, a holder required to file a report under Section 7 [7-8A-7 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] shall maintain the records containing the information required to be included in the report for ten years after the holder files the report, unless a shorter period is provided by rule of the administrator.
(b) A business association or financial organization that sells, issues, or provides to others for sale or issue in this state, traveler’s checks, money orders, or similar instruments other than third-party bank checks, on which the business association or financial organization is directly liable, shall maintain a record of the instruments while they remain outstanding, indicating the state and date of issue, for three years after the holder files the report.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-21.
The administrator may maintain an action in this or another state to enforce the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978]. The court may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-22.
(a) The administrator may enter into an agreement with another state to exchange information relating to abandoned property or its possible existence. The agreement may permit the other state, or another person acting on behalf of a state, to examine records as authorized in Section 20 [7-8A-20 NMSA 1978] of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995). The administrator by rule may require the reporting of information needed to enable compliance with an agreement made under this section and prescribe the form.
(b) The administrator may join with another state to seek enforcement of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] against any person who is or may be holding property reportable under that act.
(d) The administrator may request that the attorney general of another state or another attorney commence an action in the other state on behalf of the administrator. With the approval of the attorney general of this state, the administrator may retain any other attorney to commence an action in this state on behalf of the administrator. This state shall pay all expenses, including attorney’s fees, in maintaining an action under this subsection. With the administrator’s approval, the expenses and attorney’s fees may be paid from money received under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995). The administrator may agree to pay expenses and attorney’s fees based in whole or in part on a percentage of the value of any property recovered in the action. Any expenses or attorney’s fees paid under this subsection may not be deducted from the amount that is subject to the claim by the owner under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995).
Chap. 7, §7-8A-23.
(a) A holder who fails to report, pay or deliver property within the time prescribed by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] shall pay to the administrator interest at the annual rate set forth in Section 7-1-67 NMSA 1978 on the property or value thereof from the date the property should have been reported, paid or delivered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (c) of this section, a holder who fails to report, pay or deliver property within the time prescribed by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), or fails to perform other duties imposed by that act, shall pay to the administrator, in addition to interest as provided in Subsection (a) of this section, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day the report, payment or delivery is withheld, or the duty is not performed, up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(c) A holder who willfully fails to report, pay or deliver property within the time prescribed by the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), or willfully fails to perform other duties imposed by that act, shall pay to the administrator, in addition to interest as provided in Subsection (a) of this section, a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day the report, payment or delivery is withheld, or the duty is not performed, up to a maximum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), plus twenty-five percent of the value of any property that should have been but was not reported.
(d) A holder who makes a fraudulent report shall pay to the administrator, in addition to interest as provided in Subsection (a) of this section, a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each day from the date a report under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) was due, up to a maximum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500), plus twenty-five percent of the value of any property that should have been but was not reported.
(e) The administrator for good cause may waive, in whole or in part, penalties under Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and shall waive penalties if the holder acted in good faith and without negligence.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-24.
(a) An agreement by an owner, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover or assist in the recovery of property that is presumed abandoned is void and unenforceable if it was entered into during the period commencing on the date the property was presumed abandoned and extending to a time that is twenty-four months after the date the property is paid or delivered to the administrator. This subsection does not apply to an owner’s agreement with an attorney to file a claim as to identified property or contest the administrator’s denial of a claim.
(b) An agreement by an owner, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover or assist in the recovery of property is enforceable only if the agreement is in writing, clearly sets forth the nature of the property and the services to be rendered, is signed by the apparent owner, and states the value of the property before and after the fee or other compensation has been deducted.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-25.
The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] does not apply to:
(1) property held, due and owing in a foreign country and arising out of a foreign transaction;
(2) funds in a member’s share account in a credit union if the bylaws of the credit union provide for unclaimed funds to be used for educational or charitable uses; and
(3) patronage capital or other tangible ownership interest in a rural electric cooperative, a telephone cooperative, a water cooperative or an agricultural cooperative, if the bylaws of the cooperative provide for unclaimed patronage capital to be used for educational scholarships or other charitable uses.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-26.
(a) An initial report filed under the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] for property that was not required to be reported before the effective date of that act, but which is subject to that act, must include all items of property that would have been presumed abandoned during the ten-year period next preceding the effective date of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) as if that act had been in effect during that period.
(b) The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) does not relieve a holder of a duty that arose before the effective date of that act to report, pay or deliver property. Except as otherwise provided in Section 19(b) of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995), a holder who did not comply with the law in effect before the effective date of that act is subject to the applicable provisions for enforcement and penalties which then existed, which are continued in effect for the purpose of this section.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-27.
The administrator may adopt pursuant to the State Rules Act [Chapter 14, Article 4 NMSA 1978] rules necessary to carry out the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978].
Chap. 7, §7-8A-28.
The Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of that act among states enacting it.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-29.
This act [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] may be cited as the “Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995)”.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-30.
If any provision of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (1995) [7-8A-1 to 7-8A-31 [except 7-8A-10.1] NMSA 1978] or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of that act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the act are severable.
Chap. 7, §7-8A-31.
Inside New Mexico Disposition of Unclaimed Property Law
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