For people who have already been contacted by BrightYear
If you received a letter, text, or email from BrightYear, this is the company that contacted you — and this page explains what we do and how.
BrightYear is an independent research and location firm. We identify funds that may belong to you, confirm that you are the rightful owner, and work with a separate legal team to file the appropriate petition in court. This page is here so you can read about us at your own pace, verify what we are telling you, and decide whether to proceed.
Who BrightYear is
BrightYear is an independent professional research and location firm. We identify funds subject to statutory time limits and locate the people or entities entitled to them, then partner with a separate legal team to file the appropriate court petition.
We are not a government agency. We are not affiliated with any state treasury, the U.S. Treasury, or any court. We are a private firm that is paid only when funds are successfully recovered on your behalf.
How the process works
Four steps, in plain language. There is no rush and no obligation at any stage.
We identified a fund that may match your record
Our research team located a fund held under statutory time limits whose recorded details appear to match information associated with you. We then reached out to confirm whether you are the rightful owner.
We confirm you are the rightful owner
Before any filing, we verify your identity and your relationship to the fund. This step is plain and conversational. You will not be asked to sign anything during this stage, and you may stop at any point.
Our legal team files in court and follows the rules
Once you agree, our contracted legal counsel prepares and files the appropriate petition with the court that holds the funds. The court reviews the petition under its ordinary rules. Typical court processing takes 30 to 60 days, depending on the court calendar.
Funds are released to you
When the court enters its order, the funds are disbursed directly to you by the holding custodian. BrightYear never takes custody of the funds at any point in the process.
What it costs
BrightYear works on contingency. There is no out-of-pocket cost to you at any point. You will not be asked to pay an upfront fee, a retainer, or any processing charge.
If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing. Our fee is a percentage of the funds actually recovered on your behalf, paid only after the court releases the funds. Court costs, where applicable, are disclosed to you in advance and itemized in writing before any filing.
BrightYear never takes custody of the funds. Funds are held by the court or the holding custodian until disbursed directly to you. Our fee is paid out of the recovered amount only after you receive yours.
Who we work for
Our research covers a broad range of funds subject to statutory time limits. Heirs are one example among several.
- —Individuals and families
- —Estates and heirs
- —Businesses and operating companies
- —Government-contract vendors
- —Suppliers and trade creditors
- —Royalty and mineral-rights holders
Is this legitimate? Verify for yourself.
A few minutes of independent checking will tell you more than any letter or phone call. Here is how to verify what we have told you, and what to watch for in any recovery offer.
How to verify the underlying notice
If BrightYear contacted you about a specific fund, the underlying record is held by a state or federal office. You can confirm the fund independently by visiting that office directly.
Look up the fund on the official .gov website of the holding state or agency. Search by your name or by the case identifier we provided. The official site will show the holder, the amount, and the steps required to claim.
You do not need BrightYear to make a claim. You may pursue the fund yourself at any time. We exist because many rightful owners do not have the time or familiarity with the process to do so.
Common red flags in recovery scams
- 01Asks for an upfront fee, retainer, or "processing charge" before any work is done.
- 02Asks for your bank PIN, online banking password, or remote access to your accounts.
- 03Asks you to sign a "turnkey authorization" that grants broad power of attorney over your funds.
- 04Pressures you to act immediately, warns that your claim will expire, or refuses to put terms in writing.
- 05Cannot tell you which specific fund or court registry the money is held in.
- 06Refuses to identify the legal counsel who will file in court, or has no legal counsel at all.
BrightYear is contingency-only, never asks for upfront fees, never requests bank PINs, and never asks the owner to sign a "turnkey authorization." If any of the items above describe what you have been asked to do by anyone — including us — please call us before you sign anything.
Client Agreement & Representation
We do not use on-site digital signatures or online account portals. Recovering statutory funds is a serious legal matter that deserves your unhurried review.
You may download our standard printable Representation Agreement below. Take all the time you need to examine the terms, discuss them with family, or consult independent legal counsel before proceeding.
How to proceed once signed:
1. Review and physically sign the agreement (or sign using your preferred PDF viewer).
2. Email the signed copy to claimsdept@brightyear.us, or return by standard mail.
3. Our research and legal coordination team will acknowledge receipt and file the court petition on your behalf.
About Us
BrightYear is operated by a small group of researchers and case managers with a combined decade of experience in statutory asset research, public-records analysis, and court-filing coordination. Our work is governed by the ordinary rules that apply to anyone engaged in this kind of research.
We are not a law firm. Court filings are prepared and submitted by independent licensed counsel under a separate engagement. We do not provide legal advice to claimants, and we do not represent claimants in court.
Our posture on compliance is straightforward: we identify funds, confirm ownership, and coordinate with counsel who files under the applicable court rules. We do not take custody of funds, we do not move funds between accounts, and we do not request account access from claimants.
We have been operating under this model for several years. We do not publish client lists, success-rate metrics, or testimonials. The work speaks through the funds we have helped recover and the absence of complaints against our firm.
Official State Registration & Entity Standing:
BrightYear is an operating trade name of Kartez Express Transport LLC, officially registered with the State of Alabama Secretary of State (Registry ID: #20190529000183630 | Federal EIN: 84-1901038). You can independently verify our active standing on the official Alabama SOS Business Entity Portal.