KS
Kiri SuykryReal Estate Broker · CA DRE #01408082
 (562) 276-8413
Free search · Official state records · No sign-up

California may be holding money that belongs to you.

The State Controller safeguards more than $15 billion in forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance benefits and stock. Search the public records here, then claim directly from the State. It is always free.

No fee, everUpdated every ThursdayYou claim from the State, not from us

Search the California records

Enter a last name or business name. First name and city narrow the results.

Records come from the State Controller’s public database (amounts of $500 or more). Street addresses are not shown on this site. This is not a government website.
How it works

How money gets lost — and how you get it back

Almost always, no one did anything wrong. Here is the whole journey, from a forgotten account to a check in your mailbox.

How unclaimed money works and how you claim it back YOUR MOVE $ z 1 It's forgotten A bank account goes quiet, a check is never cashed. 2 Turned over After ~3 years the bank must hand it to the State. 3 Held safe No deadline, no fee — $15B+ sits waiting. $ 4 You find it Search any name here, get the Property ID. $ 5 You're paid Claim at claimit.ca.gov; the State mails a check. Searching is free. Claiming is free. You keep 100% — always.

When a bank, employer, or insurer loses touch with you for about three years, California law requires them to turn the money over to the State Controller for safekeeping — a process called escheatment. It never expires and is never charged a fee. Search it here, then file your own claim free at claimit.ca.gov.

Your part

Three steps, and every one is free

1
Search a nameYours, a parent’s, a business you owned. Records show the owner as reported, the type of account, who reported it and the current balance.
2
Claim it from the StateFile at claimit.ca.gov with the Property ID. Upload your ID and proof of address and track the claim there. Nothing is filed through this site.
3
Get paid by checkThe State reviews complete claims in order and mails a check. Claims over $1,000 need a notarized signature. No deadline, no fee.
Kiri explaining how to search a parent’s name for unclaimed money
60-second video · tap to play
Watch

Settling a parent’s estate? Search their name for unclaimed money.

Forgotten accounts, uncashed checks and old insurance policies are often left behind when someone passes away. A one-minute walkthrough of why it happens and how to check for free. Then use the search box above with the family names you know.

Video plays from YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player when you tap it. General information, not legal advice.

Do it yourself, for free

You do not need anyone to claim this money. Here is exactly how.

The State makes owners file their own claims, and the process is simpler than it looks. I wrote a two-page guide that walks through it: finding your Property IDs, starting the claim, which documents the Controller asks for, notarization, what to do when the owner has passed away, and how to spot a scam.

Get the free guide by email

Did you get a letter? A notice from your bank or the State Controller is real and never asks for money. Confirm any Claim ID with the State at (800) 992-4647.

The guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. This site does not file claims and is not affiliated with the State Controller’s Office.

Email me the guide

After a quick “I’m not a robot” check you land on the download page, and a copy of the link is emailed to you.

Sending this form also shares the name you searched and the Property IDs from your results, so the reminder can reference them — clear the “Name you searched” box if you’d rather not. Not affiliated with the State Controller’s Office. You can always claim yourself at claimit.ca.gov.

Good to know

Questions people ask before they claim

Short, honest answers. The money is yours and the process is free — these clear up the rest.

Why does California have money that belongs to me? +
Usually because a company lost track of you. When a bank, employer, insurer, or utility can’t reach you for about three years — an old address, a maiden name, a closed email — the law requires them to turn the balance over to the State Controller for safekeeping. It’s not a penalty and it’s not lost; it’s simply being held until you ask for it.
Is it really free to claim? +
Yes — always, start to finish. The State never charges you to search or to claim, and neither does this site. You never pay anyone before the State pays you. California even caps what “finders” may charge at 10% — but you don’t need one, because you can file the exact same claim yourself in a few minutes.
How long do I have to claim it? +
There’s no deadline. California holds the money indefinitely until the rightful owner — or their heir — comes forward. Waiting won’t cost you the money, though starting now means a check sooner.
What if the owner has passed away? +
Heirs and estates can still claim. The State asks for proof of your relationship and of the owner’s passing (for example a death certificate and documents linking you to them). The free guide walks through exactly what the Controller looks for. This is general information, not legal or tax advice — for a complicated estate, a probate attorney can help.
I got a letter or call offering to find my money for a fee — is that a scam? +
Be careful. A genuine notice from your bank or the State Controller will never ask you to pay a fee or share a password to release your money. If anyone pressures you or asks for payment up front, stop. You can confirm any Claim ID and do the whole thing free with the State at (800) 992-4647 or claimit.ca.gov.
Why are some amounts shown as XXXXXX? +
For the owner’s privacy, we don’t publish exact balances over $1,000 — only that one exists. It keeps this public list from becoming a target sheet. The State Controller’s own site shows you the full amount the moment you look up the Property ID and start your free claim.
How current is this list? +
It’s rebuilt every week from the State Controller’s public “$500 and up” file, and the “State data as of” date appears on your results. Because it mirrors a weekly download, it can lag the State’s own site by up to a week — so if you don’t see a record here, it’s still worth checking directly at claimit.ca.gov.