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Terms Used In Iowa Code 556.17

  • Internet: means the federated international system that is composed of allied electronic communication networks linked by telecommunication channels, that uses standardized protocols, and that facilitates electronic communication services, including but not limited to use of the world wide web; the transmission of electronic mail or messages; the transfer of files and data or other electronic information; and the transmission of voice, image, and video. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Internet site: means a specific location on the internet that is determined by internet protocol numbers, by a domain name, or by both, including but not limited to domain names that use the designations ". See Iowa Code 4.1
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
556.17 Sale of abandoned property.
1. All abandoned property other than money delivered to the treasurer of state under this chapter which remains unclaimed one year after the delivery to the treasurer may be sold to the highest bidder in a manner that affords in the treasurer’s judgment the most favorable market for the property involved. The treasurer of state may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if the treasurer considers the price bid insufficient. The treasurer need not offer any property for sale if, in the treasurer’s opinion, the probable cost of sale exceeds the value of the property. The treasurer may order destruction of the property when the treasurer has determined that the probable cost of offering the property for sale exceeds the value of the property. If the treasurer determines that the property delivered does not have any substantial commercial value, the treasurer may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property at any time. An action or proceeding may not be maintained against the treasurer or any officer or against the holder for or on account of an act the treasurer made under this section, except for intentional misconduct or malfeasance.
2. a. Any sale held under this section shall be preceded by a single publication of notice of the sale at least three weeks in advance of sale in an English language newspaper of general circulation in the county from which the property was received, or in an English language newspaper of general circulation in the state.
b. If the treasurer holds an internet auction or a sale on the internet, the treasurer may elect to provide notice of the sale or auction on the treasurer’s internet site at least seven days in advance of the sale or auction in lieu of providing notice as otherwise provided in accordance with paragraph “”a””.
3. The purchaser at any sale conducted by the state treasurer pursuant to this chapter
shall receive title to the property purchased, free from all claims of the owner or prior holder thereof and of all persons claiming through or under them. The state treasurer shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of title.
4. Unless the treasurer of state considers it to be in the best interest of the state to do otherwise, all securities, other than those presumed abandoned under § 556.5, delivered to the treasurer of state must be held for at least one year before the treasurer of state may sell them.
5. Unless the treasurer of state considers it to be in the best interest of the state to do otherwise, all securities presumed abandoned under § 556.5 and delivered to the treasurer of state must be held for at least one year before the treasurer of state may sell them. If the treasurer of state sells any securities delivered pursuant to § 556.5 before the expiration of the one-year period, any person making a claim pursuant to this chapter before the end of the one-year period is entitled to either the proceeds of the sale of the securities or the market value of the securities at the time the claim is made, whichever amount is greater, less any deduction for fees pursuant to § 556.18, subsection 2. A person making a claim under this chapter after the expiration of this period is entitled to receive either the securities delivered to the treasurer of state by the holder, if they still remain in the hands of the treasurer of state, or the proceeds received from the sale, less any amounts deducted pursuant to § 556.18, subsection 2, but no person has any claim under this chapter against the state, the holder, any transfer agent, registrar, or other person acting for or on behalf of a holder for any appreciation in the value of the property occurring after delivery by the holder to the treasurer of state.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §556.17]
84 Acts, ch 1295, §19; 94 Acts, ch 1188, §37; 2003 Acts, ch 64, §7; 2009 Acts, ch 181, §40;
2013 Acts, ch 90, §257
Referred to in §524.1305, 524.1310, 556.18