Opinion No.

Honorable Ralph R. Wallace, III Chairman Cultural Historical Resources Committee Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Re: Authority of an heir-finder to receive compensation for expenses (RQ-1997)

Dear Representative Wallace:

You ask whether the Property Code prohibits compensation of reasonable expenses for private investigators who search for, locate, and assist missing owners in recovering unclaimed assets held by the Treasury Department (hereinafter the department).

Title 6 of the Property Code governs unclaimed property in Texas. See generally Property Code…