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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73776</law_id><section_number>55.1-2504</section_number><catch_line>Traveler&amp;#8217;s checks and money orders</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-2505</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Miscellaneous</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="25">Virginia Disposition Of Unclaimed Property Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions; Property Abandoned or Assumed Abandoned</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in this section, any sum <span class="dictionary">payable</span> on a traveler&#x2019;s check that has been outstanding for more than 15 years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, within 15 years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.
			Except as otherwise provided in this section, any sum <span class="dictionary">payable</span> on a money <span class="dictionary">order</span> or similar written instrument, other than a third-<span class="dictionary">party</span> bank check, that has been outstanding for more than seven years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, within seven years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a <span class="dictionary">memorandum</span> or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer. <a id="paragraph-265298" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">holder</span> may deduct from the amount of any traveler&#x2019;s check or money <span class="dictionary">order</span> any charges imposed by reason of the failure to present those instruments for payment unless (i) there is a valid and enforceable written <span class="dictionary">contract</span> between the issuer and the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the property pursuant to which the issuer may impose those charges and (ii) the issuer regularly imposes those charges and does not regularly <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> or otherwise cancel those charges with respect to such property. <a id="paragraph-265299" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any sum <span class="dictionary">payable</span> on a traveler&#x2019;s check, money <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or similar written instrument, other than a third-<span class="dictionary">party</span> bank check, described in this section shall not be subjected to the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the Commonwealth as <span class="dictionary">unclaimed property</span> unless: <a id="paragraph-265300" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The records of the issuer show that the traveler&#x2019;s check, money <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or similar written instrument was purchased in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-265301" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The issuer has its principal place of business in the Commonwealth, and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the traveler&#x2019;s check, money <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or similar written instrument was purchased; or <a id="paragraph-265302" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The issuer has its principal place of business in the Commonwealth, the records of the issuer show the state in which the traveler&#x2019;s check, money <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or similar written instrument was purchased, and the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property, or its escheat or <span class="dictionary">unclaimed property</span> <span class="dictionary">law</span> is not applicable to the property. <a id="paragraph-265303" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the provisions of subsection C relating to the requirements for subjecting certain written instruments to the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the Commonwealth apply to sums <span class="dictionary">payable</span> on traveler&#x2019;s checks, money <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, 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, 1974. <a id="paragraph-265304" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-2504/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1984, c. 121, &#xA7; 55-210.3:02; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
