California’s State Controller is holding more than $10 billion in unclaimed money and property, and you can search for yours for free at claimit.ca.gov. If you find a match, you file a Claim Affirmation Form with proof of identity and address; claims of $1,000 or more need a notarized signature. The state holds the property indefinitely, so there is no filing deadline, but the money earns you nothing while it sits there.
Search the Official Database First
Start at claimit.ca.gov, the State Controller’s search portal.1California State Controller’s Office. Unclaimed Property Homepage Enter your last name or business name and look through the results. Try every variation you can think of: maiden names, former married names, common misspellings, nicknames, and old business names. You can filter by last known city or zip code, but start broad so you don’t accidentally screen out a real match.
When you spot a match, click the Property ID to open the details page. That is where you see the property type and reported value, and where you generate the Claim Affirmation Form.2California State Controller’s Office. Claim Filing Instructions and Forms
Check Other States Too
Property is reported to the state where the business last had your address on file. If you have ever lived or worked outside California, search MissingMoney.com, run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, which covers most states’ databases in a single search at no cost.3National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Find and Claim Your Missing Money
What Kinds of Property You Might Find
Businesses are required to hand over financial assets to the State Controller after roughly three years without owner contact.4California State Controller’s Office. About Unclaimed Property Common categories:
- Dormant savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit
- Stocks, mutual fund shares, bonds, and unpaid dividends
- Life insurance benefits, annuity payments, and policy refunds
- Uncashed payroll checks, vendor payments, cashier’s checks, money orders, and utility refunds
- Safe deposit box contents such as jewelry, coins, and documents
Filing a Claim on Your Own Property
Every claim starts with the Claim Affirmation Form generated from the property’s details page. You’ll also need:
- A clear copy of a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
- A document linking you to the address the property was reported under, such as a utility bill, tax return, or bank statement
If the total claim is $1,000 or more, your signature must be notarized. Notarization is also required for any claim involving securities or safe deposit box contents, regardless of the dollar amount.2California State Controller’s Office. Claim Filing Instructions and Forms California caps notary fees at $15 per signature, so it’s an inexpensive step. Handle it before mailing anything, because a missing notary stamp is one of the most common reasons claims stall.
Filing as an Heir
Heir claims need more paperwork, because the Controller has to see that you have the legal right to a deceased person’s property. Every heir claim includes a certified copy of the death certificate. Beyond that, what you provide depends on how the estate was handled:
- If there is a will, submit a complete signed copy including any amendments.
- If the estate went through probate, submit an endorsed copy of the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration signed by a court officer, or a Final Decree of Distribution.
- If the estate is held in a trust, submit a complete signed copy of the trust document with all amendments.
- If there is no will and the estate is small, submit a Declaration Under Probate Code Section 13100 stating the estate is worth $184,500 or less and no probate was conducted, plus a Table of Heirship form from the Controller’s website and documents proving your relationship to the decedent, such as birth or marriage certificates.5State Controller’s Office. Deceased Owner Heir Claim Filing Instructions and Requested Documentation
If the death certificate is in a foreign language, include a certified English translation with the original.
Filing on Behalf of a Business
Business claims require proof that the person filing has authority to act for the entity. Depending on the situation, that means a corporate resolution signed by current officers, a merger or acquisition agreement showing successor rights, or dissolution documents naming who is entitled to remaining assets. If the business changed names, include documentation of the change. The Controller needs a clear chain from the property record to the person signing the form.
Submitting and Tracking Your Claim
Some claims can be filed electronically. After you enter your information on the Controller’s website, the system tells you whether you qualify for online submission or need to mail a paper package.2California State Controller’s Office. Claim Filing Instructions and Forms Claims needing notarization, heir claims, and business claims almost always go by mail. Send the complete package to:
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, CA 94250-58736California State Controller’s Office. Contact Us – Unclaimed Property Claims
The Controller has up to 180 days from receiving a complete claim to decide it. Clean cash claims often finish in 30 to 60 days; heir claims, multi-owner claims, and business claims tend to run closer to the full window.6California State Controller’s Office. Contact Us – Unclaimed Property Claims You can check status anytime at claimit.ca.gov using your Claim ID.
If Your Claim Is Denied
A denial arrives as a written notice explaining why. The usual reasons are missing documents, an unnotarized signature where notarization was required, or insufficient proof connecting you to the property. In many cases you can refile with the correct paperwork. If you believe the denial is wrong, California law lets you pursue a hearing. Contact the Unclaimed Property Division at the mailing address above or by phone to ask about next steps.
What the State Will and Won’t Do With Your Property
California does not pay interest on unclaimed property, a policy in effect since August 2003.7California State Controller’s Office. Guide to Claiming Unclaimed Property The money sits earning nothing for you, so waiting has a real cost.
Physical items follow their own timeline. The Controller is required to sell securities within two years of receiving them.7California State Controller’s Office. Guide to Claiming Unclaimed Property Items with no apparent commercial value are held for at least seven years before disposal.8California State Controller. Unclaimed Property Law and Regulations February 2026 If contents have already been sold by the time you claim, you receive the cash proceeds, not the original items.9California State Controller’s Office. Unclaimed Property Types for Investigators That matters most for stocks: if shares were sold years ago, you get the sale price, not today’s market value.
On taxes, the Controller does not withhold and does not issue a 1099 for securities paid in cash or for dividends earned on them.10California State Controller’s Office. About Claims – California Unclaimed Property That does not automatically mean the money is tax-free. Recovering your own after-tax savings generally isn’t taxable again, but interest or dividends that accrued before the property went to the state could be reportable income, and retirement account distributions follow their own federal rules. Talk to a tax professional if the amount is significant or the property is anything more complex than plain cash.
Avoiding Scams and Finder Fees
Searching and claiming through the Controller’s website is completely free. No state agency will call, email, or text you demanding payment or financial information to release unclaimed property.11Utah Office of State Treasurer. National Association of State Treasurers Warns Public of Fraudulent Unclaimed Property Contact Attempts The Controller does sometimes mail legitimate outreach letters containing a Claim ID and a secure link; verify any such letter by looking up the Claim ID at claimit.ca.gov.1California State Controller’s Office. Unclaimed Property Homepage
Third-party asset locators and heir finders are legal in California, but the state caps their fee at 10 percent of the value returned to you.12California State Controller’s Office. Investigators You can run the same search yourself for free in a few minutes, and 10 percent of a $5,000 claim is $500 you don’t need to give up. If you do sign with a locator, don’t pay upfront fees, don’t hand a Social Security number to an unsolicited caller, and confirm the Claim ID they reference matches what you see on the Controller’s site.