California Unclaimed Property Search

California’s State Controller’s Office holds unclaimed property reported with a last-known California address. Search free at the official UCPI portal, compare holder names and reported addresses, then file a claim only on sco.ca.gov properties. Former California residents should still search even after moving. Use the national guide for every other state.

• You live in California or previously lived, worked, banked, or rented here
• You had a California utility, payroll, brokerage, insurance, or safe-deposit relationship
• You operated a business or DBA registered in California
• You received a holder notice or State Controller letter about California property
• You are an heir, trustee, or personal representative for someone with California ties

• A California-reported bank, payroll, utility, or insurance balance
• Securities or mutual-fund property still held after a brokerage relationship ended
• A business-name match for a California DBA or entity
• A deceased-owner record that needs heir or probate documents on the official claim
• A claim number you can track while the Controller reviews cash or complex property

The Controller search is sensitive to how a holder reported the owner. Try these passes before you conclude there is no California property:

• Full legal name as it appears on a California license or ID
• First name plus last name only, then first initial plus last name
• Maiden name and each prior married or hyphenated form
• Names with and without suffixes such as Jr, Sr, or III
• Business or DBA names on a separate search, not mixed into the personal search

California lists individuals and businesses in the same public search, but the claim path differs. A personal match still requires proof you are that person. A business match generally requires entity documents and authority to sign for the entity. Do not assume a personal claim covers a corporation’s reported property.

A California result typically shows a reported city or address fragment plus a holder name. A plausible match is one where the holder (utility, employer, bank, insurer, or transfer agent) fits your California history even if the street is incomplete. An implausible match is a common name with a city you never used and a holder you cannot place. Mark the first likely and the second possible.

After you submit a claim, use the official claim-status page with the claim number the Controller assigns. Cash-only owner claims may move faster than heir, multi-owner, securities, or business claims. California law allows up to 180 days from receipt of a complete claim package for a decision; cash-only owner claims may finish sooner.

California lets an heir, trustee, or personal representative file when they can prove authority. The Controller publishes separate deceased-owner filing instructions. Typical official requests include a death certificate and documents that show heirship or appointment — submit those only through the official claim process.

• California driver license, state ID, or other accepted photo ID for living owners
• Proof connecting you to the reported California address or account
• Name-change evidence if the reported name differs from your current ID
• Death certificate and heir, trustee, or probate papers for deceased-owner claims
• Business-authority documents for entity claims

The public search does not require a Social Security number. Identity verification starts when you file a claim on the official Controller site. Stop if the page is not sco.ca.gov or ucpi.sco.ca.gov. MoneyPotential never needs those documents.

Unclaimed Property Contact Center: (800) 992-4647 nationwide, or (916) 323-2827 outside the U.S., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday excluding state holidays. Mailing address for claims and general information: Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. If the standard review is stuck, the Property Owner Advocate can provide an independent review after you have used the published claim-status and contact-center steps.

• California cities and approximate years. Supports a plausible address match
• Holder names from old banks, utilities, employers, or brokers. Interprets incomplete addresses
• Claim number and status category. Lets you track the Controller review locally
• Whether the owner is living, a business, or deceased. Chooses the correct official document list

The California public search is name-based. Do not paste a Social Security number, complete account number, or scanned ID into MoneyPotential. Enter identity documents only on ucpi.sco.ca.gov or sco.ca.gov after you verify the address bar.

• Confirmed. The Controller claim-status page shows the claim accepted, approved, or paid after you filed on the official site.
• Likely. Holder and California address fit your history, and you have a claim number pending review.
• Possible. A common-name match or incomplete address still needs a holder connection before you treat it as yours.
• Professional review. Deceased-owner, multi-owner, securities, or business claims may need probate counsel or the Controller’s published heir instructions.

• Try the remaining name variations, including initials and suffixes
• Search the business or DBA name separately
• Call the Contact Center only after you have searched the official portal
• Use the national unclaimed-money guide for every non-California state
• Re-search later; California holders report on statutory cycles

California does not charge a fee to search or to file a claim with the Controller. The office may take up to 180 days from receipt of a complete claim package; cash-only owner claims may be faster. Finder contracts, if you already signed one, are limited by California law — you can still claim directly. Safe-deposit contents follow separate notice and disposition rules on the Controller site. Last verified: August 2026.

• California’s search and claim process is free. Reject anyone who charges an upfront fee to search the Controller database.
• Verify ucpi.sco.ca.gov or sco.ca.gov before identity verification.
• The Controller will not ask you to pay with gift cards or share a remote-access session.
• Never paste claim-portal credentials into MoneyPotential.