My name is Ana Ward. I'm an attorney with thirty years of experience. I'm licensed in Texas, California, New York and Massachusetts and the USPTO.

I have a law degree and 3 Masters degrees.

In December of 2025, I tried to help my inlaws claim some property in the Oklahoma Unclaimed Property Database. After 5 calls with county clerks, 2 calls with county judges, 3 death certificates, endless hours researching the Oklahoma court and land records, building elaborate geneological trees, and twenty emails with the oil company, I could not claim the property.

The experience did prompt me to check the Texas and New York Unclaimed Property databases. I had claims in both. In New York, I had 3 records- one for approximately $300, and two with "amounts not disclosed". I submitted the information. Two months later I got a check for $20,222.

I had no idea that money was there.

The money was turned over to New York in 2017. I was living in New York in 2017. I was living at the address that New York had on record. I was working at a company in New York. I was licensed in New York. I received no notice, no letter, no nothing.

If I had trouble claiming property, what chance do you have?

If I didn't know about the New York money, what are the chances that you have money that you don't know about?

Those two questions are why I started upon.fyi.

Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, please consult a licensed attorney. Copyright © 2026 Ana C Ward. All rights reserved.