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Search for Unclaimed Property
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Search for Unclaimed Property

Phone number
none
Category
Money
Auto tags
money
California's Unclaimed Property Law
unclaimed property
bank accounts
stocks
uncashed checks
insurance benefits
wages
safe deposit box contents
Eligibility
property owners, heirs, and anyone with a claim (including deceased relatives’ heirs)
Auto Summary
California’s Unclaimed Property program lets anyone search for and claim forgotten money or assets held by the state for free, using claimit.ca.gov. Claims may be delayed due to high volume, so submitting complete documentation initially helps. The program covers bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, insurance benefits, deposits, and safe‑deposit box contents, but not real estate. Search by name or business, and claim online with ID proof; status can be checked via the provided link. There’s no deadline to claim, and the State Controller’s Office manages the process.
Value
No content
Espanol
Buscar propiedad no reclamada
URL
https://claimit.ca.gov/
Heads up — claims are running slow. The State Controller's Office has flagged that claim volume is well above normal, so it may take longer than usual to acknowledge, review, and pay out a claim. Submitting every required document the first time is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid extra delays. (Source: sco.ca.gov Unclaimed Property notice)
The search moved. The old ucpi.sco.ca.gov search now redirects to claimit.ca.gov — same program, same State Controller's Office, new front door. Bookmarks to the old URL still work via redirect.

What "unclaimed property" actually means

California law (the Unclaimed Property Law) requires banks, insurance companies, employers, and other businesses to turn over to the State Controller any money or property they've been holding for you with no activity — generally for about three years. The state then holds it for you, indefinitely, until you claim it.
Common things that end up here:
  • Old bank and credit union accounts you stopped using
  • Uncashed paychecks, refund checks, or rebate checks
  • Stocks, bonds, or mutual fund accounts from a former employer or broker
  • Life insurance benefits a family member never claimed
  • Final utility deposits, security deposits
  • Contents of safe deposit boxes that went dormant
Real estate is not included.

How to search

  1. Go to claimit.ca.gov.
  1. Search by your name (try variations — maiden name, middle initial, nicknames). You can also search by business name.
  1. If a match shows up, start a claim online. You'll need ID and proof you're the rightful owner (or heir).
  1. To check the status of a claim already filed, use Check Claim Status.

Important to know

  • It's free. There is no fee, ever, to search or claim your own property. If somebody contacts you offering to "recover" your property for a percentage, you can almost always do it yourself for nothing through claimit.ca.gov.
  • There is no deadline to claim. Property is held until the rightful owner (or heir) comes forward.
  • Also worth searching for: deceased relatives' names (you may be entitled as an heir), former business names, and any address you've lived at.

Who runs it

The California State Controller's Office, currently led by Controller Malia M. Cohen, safeguards the property until it's returned to the owner.