Unclaimed property 101
What it is, how it gets to the State, and why nothing expires.
Resources
What unclaimed property is, what the law says, how to tell a legitimate service from a predatory one, and where the official forms live.
Last reviewed Written from State Controller, State Controller data, Unclaimed Property Law Everything here is checkable without asking us.
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Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually ask, answered plainly.
What the law says on fees
§1582 explained — the 10% cap, the written agreement, and your right to challenge it.
Spotting a finder scam
The tactics that should make you put the phone down.
Official links & forms
Straight to the State Controller. No middle step.
Everything Here Is Free to Read
This section exists because the subject is genuinely confusing and most of what is written about it online is written to sell something. None of it is gated, none of it asks for an email address, and all of it is sourced from the public record so you can check it.
Where to Start
- New to the subject — read Unclaimed Property, Explained. It covers what this is, how your money got to the State, and what it takes to get it back.
- Wondering if a letter you received is legitimate — read Spotting a Finder Scam first.
- Wondering what someone may lawfully charge you — read What the Law Says About Finder Fees.
- Ready to claim — go to Official Links and Forms and do it yourself.
The Four Facts That Cover Most Questions
- There is no deadline. California holds unclaimed property indefinitely. Nothing expires and nothing reverts.
- Claiming is free. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover, and there is no charge if we recover nothing.
- Any fee is capped at ten per cent by Code of Civil Procedure section 1582, and the agreement must be in writing.
- Dormancy is generally three years. Property is not taken; it is transferred after the holder has tried and failed to reach you.
Why a Recovery Firm Publishes All This
Because a reader who understands the ten per cent cap and knows the State’s own search is free is a reader who may well decide not to hire anyone. That is a legitimate outcome. A business that depends on you not knowing these things is not one worth using.
How You Are Protected
Our fee is capped at ten per cent of what is recovered by Code of Civil Procedure §1582, and nothing is owed until the State Controller has paid you. If we recover nothing, you owe nothing. Our recovery fee is never asked for up front — it comes out of money the Controller has already paid you. A booking deposit on an in-person appointment is a separate thing, and is credited back against anything you are charged.
California Unclaimed Property Services is a private asset recovery firm. We are not the California State Controller’s Office.
Sources
This page is written from the public record. Read the originals rather than taking our summary of them.
- California State Controller — Unclaimed Property
- State Controller — published property records
- Unclaimed Property Law — Code of Civil Procedure § 1500 et seq.
We are a private firm. We are not the State Controller’s office, not affiliated with it, and not endorsed by it.
From the knowledge base
How This Actually Works
- 16 Oct 2026 Unclaimed Property Records: What Holders Must Keep California does not state a fixed retention period in the statute text we rely on, but a holder that cannot produce the…
- 15 Oct 2026 When Your Company’s EIN Changed: Finding Property Under the Old Name When a company is acquired, the State Controller's unclaimed property records stay filed under the legal name reported at the time, not…
- 15 Oct 2026 Why California Requires Notarized Unclaimed Property Claims California requires notarization for any cash claim of $1,000 or more, and for every securities or safe deposit box claim regardless of…
- 14 Oct 2026 The Two-Sided Business Audit for Unclaimed Property A California business can turn up twice in the State's unclaimed property records: once as the rightful owner of old refunds, dividends…
- 14 Oct 2026 Suspended California Corporations and Unclaimed Property A suspended California corporation may still appear on the State Controller's unclaimed property file, but the Controller will not release payment until…
- 13 Oct 2026 Owner of Record vs. Actual Owner: What the Name Really Means Owner of record is the name a company or bank reported when it handed unclaimed property to California, not a verified current…
- 13 Oct 2026 The Unclaimed Property Liability You Inherit in an Acquisition When a company acquires another, it also acquires that company's unclaimed property history: uncashed checks, dormant accounts, and any unreported liability now…
- 12 Oct 2026 California’s Two Unclaimed Property Reporting Calendars California holders follow one of two reporting calendars. Life insurance companies file their notice report before 1 May and remit property between…
- 12 Oct 2026 Table of Heirship: What It Is and When You Need One A Table of Heirship lists each heir's relationship to a deceased owner and their proportional share of an estate. It matters most…
- 11 Oct 2026 What California Does With Your Money While It Waits California does not spend, invest, or time-limit unclaimed property. The State Controller holds it in custody under the property's reported dollar value,…
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