Have you ever moved, changed banks, or simply lost track of an old account? You might be one of the many individuals unaware that the State of California holds unclaimed money and property waiting to be reunited with its rightful owners. California’s Unclaimed Property Law ensures that businesses report and remit unclaimed funds to the State Controller’s Office, acting as a custodian to safeguard these assets. This guide will walk you through the process of understanding and claiming what might be rightfully yours from the State Of California Unclaimed Money.
Understanding the California Unclaimed Property Claim Process
The State Controller’s Office diligently processes a high volume of claims, and to ensure thorough review, the law allows for up to 180 days from the receipt of a complete claim package to make a determination. For claims involving solely cash, the processing time can be as short as 30 to 60 days. However, more intricate claims, such as those submitted by heirs, involving multiple owners, or pertaining to businesses, typically require the full 180-day period for processing.
Once your claim is approved, please note that securities-based claims require additional processing time for payment. This is because research is necessary to ascertain any corporate actions—such as mergers, acquisitions, stock splits, or dividends—that might have impacted the security’s value while held by the state. While the majority of security claims are paid within 120 days, complex cases requiring in-depth investigation may take longer.
To expedite the resolution of your queries or claim issues, the State Controller’s Office provides several avenues for assistance:
For immediate assistance and answers to your questions, you can contact the Unclaimed Property Call Center. Representatives are available at (800) 992-4647 for nationwide calls and (916) 323-2827 for those calling from outside the United States. The Call Center operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
To submit claims or for general information via mail, please use the following address:
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 942850,
Sacramento, CA 94250-5873
For public counter service or overnight mail deliveries, you can visit or send to:
Unclaimed Property Division
10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Reporting Unclaimed Property in California
California’s Unclaimed Property Law places an obligation on corporations, businesses, associations, financial institutions, and insurance companies to report and deliver unclaimed property to the State Controller’s Office annually. This requirement is triggered when there has been no owner-initiated activity on an account or contact with the owner for a legally specified duration, generally three (3) years.
If you represent a business and have inquiries regarding property reporting, please visit the Reporting Contact page for specific guidance and contact information.
Legal Inquiries and Document Service
For service of legal documents, particularly concerning Petitions to Recover Escheated Property under CCCP §1355, please direct them to the State Controller’s Office – Legal Division at:
State Controller’s Office – Legal Division
300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1850,
Sacramento, CA 95814
