AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- CONDITIONAL ESCHEAT OF UNCLAIMED FUNDS IN COURT REGISTRIES

This bill updates the rules for handling unclaimed money held in court registries by reducing the waiting period before funds are transferred from five years to two years. It requires court clerks to annually report deposits that have gone unclaimed for at least two years, providing details on the case, the payer, and the potential recipient. If no one claims the money within this two-year window, the funds and any accumulated interest will be moved to the state's general fund or escheated to the state treasurer. The legislation directly affects various courts, including the supreme, superior, family, and district courts, by streamlining how they manage and dispose of dormant financial assets.