Anaheim Unclaimed Property
Searching for unclaimed money in Anaheim starts with the California State Controller's Office database. Anaheim residents can search for lost bank accounts, old paychecks, insurance refunds, and other property that businesses turned over to the state. Orange County also maintains records of excess funds from tax sales and unclaimed estates. Most searches are free and take just a few minutes online. You can claim your property directly without paying a service fee to anyone. The state holds billions of dollars waiting for owners to come forward and file claims in cities like Anaheim.
Anaheim Quick Facts
Search California Unclaimed Property
The primary way to find unclaimed money in Anaheim is through the state database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov. This system covers all property turned over to California by banks, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses. You can search by your name or business name. Results show the property type, approximate value, and when it was reported.
There is no fee to search. There is no deadline to file a claim. The State Controller's Office keeps your property safe until you come forward to claim it. If you lived in Anaheim at the time a business lost contact with you, your property may be listed under this city name.
Common types of unclaimed property in Anaheim include:
- Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents
- Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
- Uncashed payroll or vendor checks
- Insurance policy benefits or refunds
- Utility deposits and overpayments
- Court deposits and trust funds
When you find property that belongs to you, the state website will let you file a claim online if the case is simple. More complex claims need extra documents mailed to the Unclaimed Property Division in Sacramento. Processing takes between 30 and 180 days depending on the claim type. You get your money by check mailed to your current address.
Note: California law does not include real estate in unclaimed property programs.
Filing a Claim in Anaheim
Once you locate property in the state database, you file a claim with the State Controller's Office. Start by searching at sco.ca.gov and select your property from the results. The system will tell you if you can file online or if you need to mail in paperwork. Most claims under a certain value qualify for online filing, which is the fastest way to get your money back in Anaheim.
If you need to mail a claim, download the Claim Affirmation Form from the search results page. You must provide proof of identity and proof that you owned the property. For personal claims, send a copy of your driver's license or state ID. For business claims, send documents showing the business name and your authority to claim on behalf of the company. Notarization is required only if the claim is $1,000 or more. All claims for securities and safe deposit boxes must be notarized.
Documents you may need for a claim in Anaheim:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Social Security card or proof of SSN
- Proof of address at the time property was lost
- Death certificate if claiming for a deceased relative
- Probate documents or letters of administration for estates
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree if name changed
Mail completed claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. You can also visit the public counter at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova if you need in-person help filing your claim. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Call the statewide hotline at 1-800-992-4647 if you have questions about your claim or the documents you need to send in from Anaheim.
Orange County Unclaimed Funds
Anaheim is in Orange County. The county treasurer maintains separate programs for unclaimed funds that do not go to the state. These include money from tax sales, estates of deceased persons without heirs, and surplus funds from landlord sales. Orange County has an extensive unclaimed funds portal at octreasurer.gov where you can search five different types of unclaimed property.
The five Orange County unclaimed fund types are deceased estates, tax auction excess proceeds, landlord sales surplus, commercial landlord sales, and county unclaimed funds. Each type has its own claim process and documentation rules. If you see your name on a county list, contact the Orange County Treasurer at 855-886-5400 to ask how to file a claim.
Tax sale excess proceeds happen when the county sells a property for more than the amount owed in back taxes and fees. The extra money goes into a holding account. Former owners or people with a legal interest in the property can claim these funds. This is a common source of unclaimed money for Anaheim property owners who lost real estate to tax sales. The county publishes a notice before funds escheat to the county general fund, so check the list if you once owned property in Anaheim.
Retirement Fund Searches
If you worked for the state, a school district, or a public agency in Anaheim, you may have unclaimed retirement benefits. CalPERS and CalSTRS each maintain their own unclaimed property systems separate from the State Controller's main database. These funds come from refunds, retirement benefits, and survivor benefits that were never claimed.
CalPERS has a search tool at calpers.ca.gov where you can look up unclaimed accounts by name. If you find a match, call 888-225-7377 to request a claim form. CalPERS hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time. You can also mail your inquiry to CalPERS Member Account Management Division, P.O. Box 942704, Sacramento, CA 94229-2704.
CalSTRS serves teachers and employees of school districts. Their unclaimed property page is at calstrs.com. Call 800-228-5453 or 916-414-1099 to ask if you have unclaimed funds in their system. These accounts often result from teachers who left the profession and never withdrew their contributions. If you taught in Anaheim schools at any time and left before retirement, check both CalSTRS and the main state database.
Life Insurance Policy Locator
Finding unclaimed life insurance benefits is harder than other types of property. Beneficiaries often do not know a policy exists. California law now requires insurers to check the Death Master File and try to locate beneficiaries, but older policies may not have gone through this process. If a relative died and you think they had life insurance, use the national locator service.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners runs a Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org. This service contacts insurers who participate in the program to see if they have a policy for the deceased person. There is no charge to use the locator. You need the deceased person's full name, date of birth, date of death, and Social Security number.
California Department of Insurance has more information at insurance.ca.gov. Call the consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357 if you have trouble with the locator or if an insurer will not respond to your inquiry. Some life insurance proceeds end up at the State Controller if the insurer cannot locate beneficiaries, so check both the NAIC locator and the main unclaimed property database when looking for policies related to Anaheim residents.
Unclaimed Tax Refunds
Old tax refunds are another source of unclaimed money in Anaheim. The California Franchise Tax Board issues refund checks that are good for six months. After that, the check is stale and you must request a replacement. If you moved and never received a refund, or if you found an old check that you never cashed, contact the Franchise Tax Board to get your money.
For refunds that are one to three years old, send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board with your name, tax year, and the subject line "Old refund check." Processing takes about eight weeks. For refunds over three years old, you need to complete a Replacement Warrant Claim form. These older claims can take up to 18 months to process. Call 800-852-5711 to ask about the status of your refund or to request the correct form for your situation.
More details are at ftb.ca.gov. The Franchise Tax Board is in Sacramento, but they handle refunds for all California taxpayers including those who file from Anaheim. If you are owed a refund and the check never arrived, do not wait too long to claim it because older refunds require more paperwork and longer processing times.
Unclaimed UI and DI Benefits
The Employment Development Department manages unclaimed unemployment insurance and disability insurance benefits. If you had a benefit payment that you never cashed, or if money was deposited to a debit card you lost or never activated, you can file a claim with EDD. There is no filing fee for uncashed checks or unclaimed electronic payments.
Use form DE 903SD to claim uncashed checks or unclaimed electronic benefit payments. The form is at edd.ca.gov. For unemployment insurance, call 1-800-300-5616. For disability insurance, call 1-800-480-3287. These phone lines can help you find out if you have unclaimed benefits and walk you through the claim process if you do.
Unclaimed wage benefits also exist for people who worked for employers that went out of business or violated wage laws. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement runs the Unpaid Wage Fund for workers who are owed money from closed businesses. Call the toll-free line at 1-833-526-4636 to ask if you have unclaimed wages. More information is at dir.ca.gov. This is less common than other types of unclaimed property, but it is worth checking if you worked for an Anaheim business that closed while owing you pay.
Avoiding Unclaimed Money Scams
Scammers target people who are searching for unclaimed property. You may get letters or calls from companies offering to help you claim your money for a fee. Some of these are legitimate heir finders or asset locators, but many are scams. The State Controller warns Anaheim residents to watch out for certain red flags before you sign any contract or pay any fees.
California law allows investigators to charge no more than 10 percent of the property value if you sign a contract with them. They must be registered with the state. Never pay an upfront fee to someone who claims they will find unclaimed money for you. Never give personal information like your Social Security number to someone who contacts you out of the blue about unclaimed property. The real State Controller's Office will never ask for payment to process a claim.
You can always claim your property directly from the state or county at no charge. Search the database yourself at claimit.ca.gov and file your claim online or by mail. If you choose to work with an investigator, check that they are registered and read the contract carefully before you sign. Most claims in Anaheim are simple enough that you do not need to pay someone to help you. The state provides all the forms and instructions for free on their website.
Note: The State Controller's Office never charges a fee for processing unclaimed property claims.
Orange County Resources
Anaheim is in Orange County. The county treasurer and other county offices maintain programs for unclaimed money that stays at the local level. For more on county-specific funds, tax sale proceeds, and how to file claims with Orange County offices, visit the Orange County unclaimed money page.