Southern Californians May Receive Notices About Unclaimed Property

SAN DIEGO, CA — Southern California residents may be among about 130,000 Californians who could be owed money through the state's Unclaimed Property Program and are being contacted by the State Controller's Office, state officials announced Thursday.

State Controller Malia M. Cohen said the agency has begun mailing letters to individuals identified through a partnership with the California Franchise Tax Board designed to help reunite residents with lost or forgotten funds.

According to the Controller's Office, unclaimed property records were securely matched with existing state tax records to identify potential owners and notify them that they may have money waiting to be claimed.

Recipients do not need to search the state's unclaimed property database or submit a traditional claim, officials said. Eligible individuals can instead use a unique claim code included in the letter to verify their information and complete an online claims process.

"Government works best when it delivers results for people, and returning unclaimed property is one of the most direct ways we can do that," Cohen said in a statement. "These funds belong to Californians, not the state."

The Unclaimed Property Program safeguards financial assets that have been turned over to the state after periods of inactivity. Such assets can include dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends and other financial property.

The outreach effort follows a similar initiative launched in December 2025. During that campaign, the Controller's Office mailed more than 100,000 letters and helped reunite owners with more than $30.4 million in unclaimed property, according to the agency.

Officials said recipients should review the notice carefully, visit the website listed in the letter, enter the provided claim code and follow instructions to confirm ownership. Approved claimants should receive a check in about two weeks.

The Controller's Office urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited requests for personal or financial information. Official correspondence related to the program will identify the California State Controller's Office and direct recipients to ClaimIt.ca.gov, officials said. Californians never have to pay a fee to claim property directly from the state.

The Controller's Office said it currently safeguards about $15 billion in unclaimed property belonging to millions of individuals, businesses and government entities statewide.

— City News Service