Find Unclaimed Property in Antioch
Residents of Antioch can search for unclaimed money using California's online database and Contra Costa County records. Unclaimed property includes bank accounts that went dormant, paychecks never cashed, insurance refunds, and other funds turned over to the state. The state holds this money indefinitely with no deadline for you to come forward. Searching is free and filing a claim costs nothing. Contra Costa County also maintains a separate list of unclaimed deposits and estate funds. Between state and county resources, Antioch residents have multiple ways to find lost money that belongs to them.
Antioch Quick Facts
California State Controller Database
Most unclaimed property in Antioch goes through the California State Controller's Office. Businesses must turn over funds after three years of no contact with the owner. This includes banks, insurance companies, employers, and utilities. You can search the full state database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov by entering your name or a business name.
The search is free. You do not pay to look up property and you do not pay to file a claim. Results show the property type and an approximate value. Click on a result to see more details and start a claim. Some claims can be filed online if the amount is small and you have simple documentation. Larger claims or those involving securities need to be mailed with supporting documents.
Types of unclaimed property that may show up in a search for Antioch include:
- Dormant bank and credit union accounts
- Uncashed checks from employers or vendors
- Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and dividends
- Insurance policy proceeds or premium refunds
- Safe deposit box contents
- Utility deposits and refunds
- Escrow accounts and trust funds
When the State Controller receives property, they remove personal details but keep your name and last known address on file. If you lived in Antioch when a business lost contact with you, your property will be listed under this city. If you have moved since then, you can still claim the property by proving your identity and your connection to the old address. There is no time limit to file a claim in California.
How to File a Claim
Filing a claim with the State Controller starts with a search. Go to sco.ca.gov and look up your name. If you find property that belongs to you, select it from the list. The website will generate a Claim Affirmation Form with your details already filled in. Read the form carefully and add any missing information.
For claims under $1,000, you do not need a notary. Just sign the form and mail it with a copy of your photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. For claims of $1,000 or more, your signature must be notarized. All claims involving securities or safe deposit boxes also require notarization no matter the value. Send completed forms to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873.
Documents you may need to send from Antioch:
- Driver's license or state ID card
- Social Security card or tax document showing SSN
- Proof of the address where you lived when property was reported
- Death certificate if you are claiming for a deceased relative
- Court documents if you are an executor or administrator
- Name change documents like marriage or divorce certificates
Processing times vary based on claim complexity. Simple cash claims take 30 to 60 days. Claims involving heirs, multiple owners, or business entities can take up to 180 days. Security claims take about 120 days but some may be longer. Once approved, you get a check mailed to your current address. Call 1-800-992-4647 if you have questions about what to send or to check the status of a pending claim filed from Antioch.
Note: Once you file a claim, the property is removed from the public website while the claim is being processed.
Contra Costa County Programs
Antioch is in Contra Costa County. The county treasurer keeps a separate list of unclaimed deposits held in trust. This money does not go to the state. Instead, it stays with the county until someone claims it. The current balance of the Unclaimed Deposit Trust Fund is published on the county website at contracosta.ca.gov.
County unclaimed funds come from different sources than state property. These may include deposits for permits, contractor bonds, rental deposits held by county housing programs, or money from estates where no heirs came forward. If your name appears on the county list, contact Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan M. Mierzwa at 925-957-5280 to ask about the claim process. County claims have their own forms and documentation requirements separate from the state system.
Tax sale excess proceeds are another type of county unclaimed money. When Contra Costa County sells a property for unpaid taxes, any money left over after paying the tax debt goes into a holding fund. Former owners or people with a legal interest in the property can claim these funds within a set time period. If you owned property in Antioch that was sold at a tax auction, check with the county treasurer to see if there are excess proceeds in your name.
Unclaimed Retirement Benefits
Public employees who worked in Antioch may have unclaimed retirement accounts. CalPERS serves most state and local government workers. CalSTRS serves teachers and school employees. Both agencies maintain unclaimed property programs separate from the State Controller. If you worked for a public agency or school district in Antioch and left before retirement, you may have money in one of these systems.
CalPERS has a search tool at calpers.ca.gov. Type in your name to see if there is an account. If you find a match, call 888-225-7377 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on weekdays. CalPERS will send you a claim form and tell you what documents to include. You can also write to CalPERS Member Account Management Division, P.O. Box 942704, Sacramento, CA 94229-2704.
CalSTRS handles unclaimed property for teachers at calstrs.com. Call 800-228-5453 or 916-414-1099 to inquire about unclaimed accounts. Teachers who left Antioch school districts before vesting may have contributions sitting unclaimed. Even if you worked in Antioch schools for just a few years, it is worth checking CalSTRS and the main state database to see if you have funds waiting.
Life Insurance Benefits
Unclaimed life insurance is harder to find than other property because beneficiaries may not know a policy exists. California law requires insurers to search the Social Security Death Master File and try to find beneficiaries. Older policies may not have gone through this process. If someone in your family died and you think they may have had life insurance, use the national policy locator.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners runs the Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org. This free service contacts participating insurers to see if they have a policy for the deceased person. You need the person's full name, date of birth, date of death, and Social Security number. The search may take a few weeks as insurers check their records and respond to the request.
California Department of Insurance has more information at insurance.ca.gov. Their consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357 can help if you have questions about the locator or if an insurer will not cooperate. Some life insurance proceeds end up in the State Controller's unclaimed property database if the insurer cannot locate the beneficiary, so check both the NAIC locator and the state database when looking for policies for Antioch residents.
State Tax Refunds
The California Franchise Tax Board issues refund checks that expire after six months. If you moved from Antioch and did not receive your refund, or if you found an old check you never cashed, you can request a replacement. The process depends on how old the refund is. Newer refunds are easier to replace than older ones.
For refunds one to three years old, send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board with your name, the tax year, and the subject line "Old refund check." Processing takes about eight weeks. For refunds over three years old, you must complete a Replacement Warrant Claim form. These claims can take up to 18 months. Call 800-852-5711 to ask about your specific situation and to get the correct form.
More details are at ftb.ca.gov. Do not wait too long to claim an old refund because the older it is, the more paperwork you need and the longer it takes. If you are owed a refund and it never arrived at your Antioch address, contact the Franchise Tax Board as soon as you realize the problem.
Unemployment and Wage Claims
Unclaimed unemployment insurance and disability insurance benefits go through the Employment Development Department. If you had a payment you never cashed, or if money went to a debit card you lost or never activated, you can file a claim with EDD. Use form DE 903SD, which is at edd.ca.gov. There is no filing fee for uncashed checks or unclaimed electronic benefits.
Call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment insurance questions. Call 1-800-480-3287 for disability insurance. The phone staff can help you find out if you have unclaimed benefits and explain how to claim them. These benefits do not appear in the State Controller's database, so you must contact EDD directly if you think you have unclaimed UI or DI payments from when you lived or worked in Antioch.
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement runs the Unpaid Wage Fund for workers owed money by employers who went out of business. If you worked for an Antioch business that closed while owing you wages, call the toll-free line at 1-833-526-4636. More information is at dir.ca.gov. This program is less common than other unclaimed property sources, but it is worth checking if you have unpaid wages from a closed business.
Note: Claims for uncashed EDD checks do not require the $25 filing fee that was once charged for stale warrants.
Watch Out for Scams
Scammers know people are looking for unclaimed money. You may get letters or phone calls from companies offering to help you claim property for a fee. Some of these are legitimate asset locators, but others are scams designed to steal your personal information or charge you for services you do not need. The State Controller warns against paying fees when you can claim property for free.
California law allows registered investigators to charge up to 10 percent of the property value if you sign a contract with them. They cannot charge an upfront fee. If someone contacts you and asks for money before they help you, that is a red flag. If they ask for your Social Security number or bank account before you have verified who they are, do not give it. The real State Controller's Office will never call or email you asking for payment or personal details.
You can always search and claim property yourself at no cost. Go to claimit.ca.gov and use the free search. File your claim online or download the forms and mail them in. The state provides all instructions and there is no reason to pay someone to do this for you unless the claim is complex and you want professional help. If you do choose to hire an investigator in Antioch, check that they are registered with the state and read the contract before you sign.
Contra Costa County Resources
Antioch is in Contra Costa County. The county treasurer maintains unclaimed deposit funds and other local programs separate from the state system. For more on county-specific unclaimed money, tax sale proceeds, and how to file claims with Contra Costa County, visit the county page.