How Do You Claim Unclaimed Property in California?

The California rule in one table

| Official portal | California State Controller, Unclaimed Property Program, at claimit.ca.gov | | Fee to claim | Free when you claim directly. A third party finder representing you may charge up to 10 percent of the value | | Review time | Up to 180 days from receipt of a complete claim package. Simple cash only owner claims usually take 30 to 60 days | | Notarization | Required only if the claim is 1,000 dollars or more. All securities and safe deposit box claims must be notarized | | Time limit | None. Property is held indefinitely, and no interest is paid | | Holder dormancy | Holders generally report after 3 years with no activity or contact |

What makes California different

California is the no deadline state with the longest stated review clock. There is no time limit to file, and the state holds property indefinitely, but the law allows up to 180 days to review a complete claim package, so a complex claim is not a fast claim. Simple cash only owner claims are the exception, usually finishing in 30 to 60 days.

The second California difference is the notarization line. Most owner claims need no notary, but the line is bright: 1,000 dollars or more, or any securities or safe deposit box claim, and the signature must be notarized. Heir claims use their own forms, including the Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 and a Table of Heirship, so an heir should start from the heir instructions, not the owner form.

The process, step by step

1. Search the Controller database at claimit.ca.gov.
2. Open the Property Details page from the Property ID number on the search results, and complete the claim form the site gives you.
3. Mail a paper claim, if one is required, to the State Controller, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873.
4. Watch for the claim receipt letter the Controller mails after receiving your claim, and check status with the Claim Status Search on claimit.ca.gov.

Claiming in the other states

Unclaimed property rules follow the same shape in every state, but the portal, the proof, and the wait change at the state line. See How to Claim Unclaimed Property in Texas and How to Claim Unclaimed Property in Florida. For all seven states side by side, see the Unclaimed Property by State directory.

Source

Steps, fees, timing, and the notarization rule on this page come from the California State Controller: the Unclaimed Property brochure, the claim filing instructions, and the Controller contact page. Facts verified 2026-10-26.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state agency.