Unclaimed money in California: how to find and claim it

How to claim in California

1. Search your name or business name at claimit.ca.gov. Add a city or ZIP code to narrow the results.

2. Click CLAIM next to each item that is yours, then Continue to File Claim. Choose "Myself" if you are the owner, or "Heir" if you are claiming for someone who died.

3. Enter your current mailing address and e-sign to submit. California does not offer blank paper claim forms; claims start online.

4. Read the email that lists your required documents. Upload them online for faster processing, or mail them to P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-9873.

5. Check your claim's status online with your claim ID.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

• Signed claim form generated on the website (each owner must sign)
• Proof of your Social Security or taxpayer ID number, if your claim form asks for it (the Controller lists it as required in claim packages filed through investigators)
• Proof of any name change, such as a marriage certificate or court document
• For old cashier's checks, money orders or traveler's checks: the original document
• A notarized signature may be required. For claims filed through an investigator, the Controller requires notarization if cash totals $10,000 or more, and for all securities and safe deposit box claims.

Money owed to a relative who died

You can claim for a person who died if you are an heir, trustee, or personal representative/executor/administrator. The Controller's deceased-owner filing instructions list the documents you need. For a living owner, a power of attorney cannot sign instead of the owner, except possibly when a medical condition prevents the owner from signing; then a licensed physician's verification is required and the Controller's legal office decides.

Contact the program

Program

California State Controller's Office, Unclaimed Property Division

Phone

(800) 992-4647 (nationwide); (916) 323-2827 (outside the U.S.)

Claims by mail

State Controller's Office, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-9873

Processing time

Simple cash claims by the owner may take as little as 30 to 60 days. Heir, multiple-owner and business claims generally take up to 180 days, which is the time the law allows after a complete claim is received.

Finder fees in California

An investigator (heir finder) cannot charge more than 10% of the value of the property returned to you. Investigators cannot sign you up while the property is still with the business or listed on a pre-transfer notice. They may contract with you only after the property is sent to the State Controller. The 10% cap does not apply to claims for county probated estates.

Law: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1582

Good to know

• There is no time limit to file a claim.
• Before property goes to the state, the Controller mails notices to owners of stocks, safe deposit box contents, or property worth $50 or more. Contact the business by the deadline to get it back directly.
• The state sells unclaimed securities 18 to 20 months after they are due to be reported, so you may get cash instead of shares. Payment is by mailed state check; there is no direct deposit.

Also check outside California

Search every other state where you lived or worked. Some money, like old savings bonds and IRS refunds, is held by federal agencies.

Questions about California

Other states