The names of some 500 known heirs of about $5.6 million in unclaimed inheritances have been posted on the web site of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, it was announced today.

The names of known heirs -- persons to whom funds were bequeathed but who have not claimed them -- join the names of some 1,500 unknown heirs -- deceased persons who left estates with no heirs designated -- posted earlier on the web site of Pappas' office.

Since the list of unknown heirs was listed by Pappas's office on January 17, 2001, some three million hits have been recorded on www.cookcountytreasurer.com. These estates total some $30 million.

Estates to known heirs total about $5.6 million. These estates range from $1 to $349,000. Most are from the 1980s and 1990s, with one dating to 1953.

"Now, we make it possible for a known heir to take steps to claim a legacy that he or she may not have realized a deceased relative or friend had made," Pappas said. "Our growing technological sophistication allows us to make an effort to reach such persons."

Pappas noted that hits to her office's web site have been coming from across the nation and around the world from persons who wanted to know whether they were heirs of relatives or friends listed on the web site.

"We now may have a new round of hits from people whose own names may be on the web site as heirs of unclaimed financial estates," Pappas said.

Persons who believe they have claims as either known or unknown heirs would go to court to win release of the funds.