Frequently Asked Questions


Q: I received a phone call or a letter in the mail about assets that may belong to me. How can I be sure this is real?

A: In today's world, you are wise to question the validity of any claim before moving forward. The best way to determine if the company or person you're dealing with is ethical is to see if they are asking for any money upfront. With a legitimate company/firm, there is no reason to require upfront cash to pursue the claim. NFS will never ask you for any upfront money or any private information. NFS will advance any out of pocket expenses in substantiating your legal right to the assets and will even consult and retain an attorney at no cost to you if necessary.


Q: Where are these assets from?
A: We specialize in assets that have been turned over to government agencies after a dormancy period of approximately three years. These assets originate from many different sources which include bank accounts, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, dividends, insurance policies, CD's, trust funds, escrow accounts, uncashed checks and inheritance money to name just a few. If you want to know the source of your personal assets, please call us and we would be more than happy to explain the nature of your assets.


Q: Why wasn't I notified by these agencies?
A: Many of these agencies do their minimum due diligence requirements which is limited to notifying the claimant listed on these accounts by sending a postcard to the last known address of the account holder and/or publishing a notice in selected newspapers. Although this brings forward a number of owners, the overwhelming majority of the accounts remain unclaimed.


Q: Why do I need NFS to help me? Can’t I get the assets myself?

A: NFS is usually the first company to contact you, notifying you that the assets even exist. We do our research up front in locating and verifying these assets. By the time we contact you we have already been working in your best interest at no charge because we know how valuable you will find this information.

Once you know the assets exist, the battle is just beginning. The agencies holding the assets have many requirements that must be followed in order to prove your entitlement to the assets. These agencies can prove difficult to work with in responding and delaying the release of your assets. After all, government has no interest in returning you the assets since they stand to win if you do not follow their rules. For this reason, having the experienced NFS Team help you navigate the labyrinth may be a wise decision. Uniting owners with their assets is what we do best.


Q: How much does it cost to recover my assets?
A: In short, NFS will lay out all costs and collect nothing if your assets are not successfully recovered.
Our success rate, though, is nearly 100%. Assuming, therefore, that we do recover your assets here is a breakdown of how we get paid. First, there is the agreed upon NFS fee for the service which is anywhere from 15% - 20%, paid upon successful recovery of the assets. Second, depending on the complexity of the case, there may be additional costs and fees such as: probate costs, court administrative fees, lost instrument bond, attorney fees when necessary, newspaper publication notices, due diligence fees, etc, which are advanced by NFS to pursue the claim in a timely manner. These expenses are charged to the client only upon successful recovery.


Q: How long does it take to recover the assets?

A: There are a number of factors that determine recovery time. The complexity of the claim, the amount of the claim, and the various levels of claims approval, all affect recovery time. It can be as short as a few weeks or as long as one year or more. NFS will update you with the status of your claim as information becomes available. NFS is committed to expediting your claim as soon as administratively possible. Since we are paying all of the upfront recovery costs you can be assured we want to recover your assets as quickly as you do.


Q: Is an attorney ever required?

A: Most of the time an attorney will not be needed to file a claim. Since 1986, National Finders Services has recovered hundreds of claims that include individuals as well as corporations. This level of experience has given us first hand insight into the stringent requirements and documentation necessary for a successful recovery. We can therefore perform the entire recovery process without the assistance of an attorney. However, in some jurisdictions, attorneys are required because a formal motion to the district court is required to pursue the claim. The attorney can also request a judge's order to release the money. In the event that we do consult our attorney, NFS will advance all the expenses and will be collected only after your claim has been successfully recovered.

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For any additional questions
Contact us at 212-852-9025