Section 44-12-195. When sums payable on traveler's checks or money orders deemed abandoned; conditions under which same may be subjected to custody of state as unclaimed property

   (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, any sum payable on a traveler's check that has been outstanding for more than 15 years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within 15 years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, any sum payable on a money order or similar written instrument, other than a third-party bank check, that has been outstanding for more than seven years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within seven years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

(c) Any sum payable on a traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument, other than a third-party bank check, described in this Code section may not be subjected to the custody of this state as unclaimed property unless:

   (1) The records of the issuer show that the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased in this state;

   (2) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; or

   (3) The issuer has its principal place of business in this state, the records of the issuer show the state in which the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased, and the laws of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section relating to the requirements for subjecting certain written instruments to the custody of the state shall apply to sums payable on traveler's checks, money orders, and similar written instruments presumed abandoned on or after February 1, 1965, except to the extent that those sums have been paid over to a state prior to January 1, 1973.

Code 1981, § 44-12-195, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 1506, § 1.