State Unclaimed Property in California

Official search

claimit.ca.gov offers a free search and online claims.¹

Who may claim for a deceased owner

An heir, a trustee, or the personal representative, executor, or administrator of the estate may file for a deceased owner.¹

Documents for an heir or estate claim

An heir claim needs a signed Claim Affirmation Form (notarized if the claim is $1,000 or more, or is for securities or a safe deposit box), photo identification, and proof of Social Security number.²

It also needs all pages of the deceased owner's certified final death certificate and documentation of the relationship to the owner, such as a marriage or certified birth certificate. A will, trust, letters testamentary or of administration, or a final decree of distribution is submitted where one exists.²

Claiming without a probate order

Heirs may submit a Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 instead of full probate documents when at least 40 days have passed since the death and the gross value of the decedent's California property subject to the procedure does not exceed $208,850 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025.^{3, 4, 5}

For deaths from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2025, the limit is $184,500.⁵

The State Controller's Office provides its own declaration form, along with a Table of Heirship, on its forms page.⁶

Processing time

California law allows the State Controller's Office up to 180 days from receipt of a complete claim package to review documentation and decide the claim.⁷

Cash-only property owner claims may be processed in as little as 30 to 60 days; heir claims are generally processed within the 180-day period.⁷

Deadline to claim

There is no deadline for claiming property once it is transferred to the State Controller's Office.¹

Fees

There is no fee to claim property from the State Controller's Office.¹

Dormancy period

The Unclaimed Property Law requires holders to report and deliver property to the State Controller's Office after there has been no activity on the account or contact with the owner for the period specified in the law, generally three years.⁷

Governing law: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1500 et seq. (Unclaimed Property Law)

1. 1.California State Controller's Office, Unclaimed Property Search
2. 2.Deceased Owner Heir Claim Filing Instructions and Requested Documentation, Rev. 5/5/2022
3. 3.Cal. Prob. Code 13100
4. 4.Cal. Prob. Code 13101
5. 5.Judicial Council of California, Probate Code Section 890 Adjusted Amounts
6. 6.California State Controller's Office, Claim Property Forms
7. 7.California State Controller's Office, Unclaimed Property Contact