What is an escheat?

An escheat is a legal process under property law in which real property that has been abandoned or unclaimed reverts back to the state in which it is located. In the state of Kansas, this process is called "escheatment." When a property is subject to escheatment, it will become the property of the state. Under Kansas law, this typically happens when the rightful owner of the property cannot be located or if the owner dies without leaving a will. In some cases, the property may be transferred to the Kansas Department of Revenue or another state agency. Once the state has possession of the property, it will attempt to locate the rightful owner. If the owner cannot be located, the state will auction off the property. Any funds received from the sale of the property will be held in a state fund, to be disbursed to the rightful owner or their heirs once a claim is made.

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