California State Controller — Unclaimed Property

Search for Unclaimed Property Controller Malia M. Cohen safeguards this lost or forgotten property for as long as it takes to reunite it with the rightful owners.

California law requires corporations, businesses, associations, financial institutions, and insurance companies (referred to as “holders”) to annually report and deliver property to the State Controller’s Office if there has been no activity on the account or contact with the owner for a specified period of time (generally three years).

How to Claim Property

You must file a claim with the State Controller’s Office. If your claim is eligible, you will be given the option to file electronically.

Check Claim Status

Contact the Unclaimed Property Division

There is no deadline for claiming property once it is transferred over to the State Controller’s Office and no fee associated with claiming your property.

Unclaimed property is generally defined as any financial asset left inactive by its owner for a period of time, typically three years. California unclaimed property law does not include real estate.

The type of documents you will need to include with your Claim Affirmation Form will depend upon whether you are the owner, the heir, representing a business or government agency.

If your claim is eligible, you will be given the option to file electronically after you have entered the requested information for your claim. If a paper claim is required, the site will provide instructions on how to complete that process.

If you find properties that belong to you, click the CLAIM button next to each property. Select the CONTINUE TO FILE CLAIM button to start the claim process.

the law allows up to 180 days from the date the State Controller’s Office receives a complete claim package to review all documentation and make a decision on whether or not the documentation supports the claim.

(800) 992-4647

(916) 323-2827

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays

Unclaimed Property Division P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873

There is no deadline for claiming property once it is transferred over to the State Controller’s Office and no fee associated with claiming your property.

Filing Instructions and Required Documentation

Many claims require documentation. To determine the specific requirements of your claim, please review the email sent to you. The items required will be listed on the claim form attachment.

If you are the heir of a deceased account owner, you will also be asked to provide certified copies of the official documents, such as a will or trust, that proves that you are entitled to claim the property.

You will need to provide documents, such as a marriage certificate or court documents, that establish you are the person whose name appears on the unclaimed property account.

If the deceased owner has the same name as the one on the account, it does not necessarily mean that they are the owner. There are many people who share the same name. To make sure our office is able to verify that you are the rightful owner, you must provide all the required documentation. If you are the heir of a deceased account owner, you will also be asked to provide certified copies of the official documents, such as a will or trust, that proves that you are entitled to claim the property. If there is no will or trust, additional forms will need to be filled out.

Although the Social Security Number (SSN) is our primary method of verification, we sometimes cannot verify a claim based on the SSN because the company reporting the property did not provide an SSN when transferring the property to us. In these cases, we will need the additional documentation listed in the filing instructions to verify your claim. If you have these documents available, please submit them when you file your claim to ensure the processing of your claim is not delayed.

Select your relationship to the property. If you are the listed owner, or the legal guardian of a minor listed as the property owner, select “Myself.” If you are an heir, trustee, executor, or estate administrator for the listed owner, select “Heir.”

Complete your information as the claimant*. This should include your current mailing address as it will be the address where the funds are mailed.

Provide your electronic signature. Click SUBMIT to officially create a claim and generate a claim number.

Many claims require documentation. To determine the specific requirements of your claim, please review the email sent to you. The items required will be listed on the claim form attachment.

For faster processing, upload your documents via our secure link, OR mail your documentation to the following address: State Controller’s Office Unclaimed Property Division P.O. Box 942850 Sacramento CA 94250-9873

Your claim number can be found on your claim form and in the email you received at the time of submission. Enter your claim number at any time via our Status Page to receive the most recent status.

Once a complete claim package is received, the property information is removed from our web site while the claim is processed.

Please note that the claim identification number (CID) will not be accepted in lieu of listing each property identification number.

Signature and Date: All claimants must print their name, sign, and date this form.

Unclaimed Property safe deposit box content can only be mailed to one owner or heir if there are multiple owners or heirs. Therefore, all other owners or heirs must sign and submit a Property Release Form, authorizing release of the property to one owner or heir, along with a Claim Form.

Each owner or heir completing this property release form must provide a type of identification (ie: driver’s license or government issued photo ID) or passport and proof of their Social Security Number. Heirs must provide additional documentation showing their relationship to the deceased owner proving they are entitled to the property.

Declaration Under Probate Code Section 13101

Safe Deposit Box - Property Release Form

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