Search Chula Vista Unclaimed Money
Chula Vista residents have access to three unclaimed money databases. The City of Chula Vista Finance Department maintains a list of unclaimed monies from city-issued checks. San Diego County holds unclaimed estates and tax sale proceeds. The California State Controller keeps property from businesses statewide. All three are free to search and free to claim. You do not need to hire anyone to find your money or file a claim. Searching all three sources gives Chula Vista residents the best chance of finding lost funds, dormant accounts, and other unclaimed property that belongs to them.
Chula Vista Quick Facts
City of Chula Vista Program
The City of Chula Vista Finance Department maintains unclaimed monies at chulavistaca.gov. These are checks issued by the city that were never cashed. They may be refunds, vendor payments, or other city obligations. If your name appears on the list, contact the Finance Department to file a claim.
The city will verify your identity and reissue the payment. There is no charge to claim city unclaimed monies. This program covers only transactions with the City of Chula Vista. For all other unclaimed property, you need to check the county and state databases. The city cannot help with claims involving private businesses or other government agencies.
City unclaimed monies are separate from county and state programs. If you did business with Chula Vista city government, worked for the city, or received a refund from a city department, start your search here. Check all three sources to do a complete search for unclaimed money in Chula Vista.
State Controller Database
Most unclaimed property in Chula Vista 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. Search the database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov by entering your name or business name.
The search is free and you do not need to register. Results show 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 the case is simple. Larger or more complex claims require mailing in a form with supporting documents.
Common types of unclaimed property in Chula Vista:
- Dormant bank and credit union accounts
- Uncashed payroll or vendor checks
- Stock certificates, bonds, and dividends
- Insurance policy benefits or refunds
- Safe deposit box contents
- Utility deposits and overpayments
- Trust funds and escrow accounts
California does not have a deadline for claiming property. The state holds your money indefinitely. You can file a claim years or decades later and still get your property back. If you lived in Chula Vista when a business lost contact with you, your property will be listed under this city name in the database.
Filing a State Claim
Start at sco.ca.gov to search for property. When you find something that belongs to you, select it from the list. The website creates a Claim Affirmation Form with your details. Review the form and add any missing information. Sign the form and gather the required documents.
For claims under $1,000, you do not need a notary. Send a signed form with a copy of your photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. For claims of $1,000 or more, get your signature notarized. All claims for securities or safe deposit boxes need notarization regardless of value. Mail everything to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873.
Documents you may need from Chula Vista:
- Driver's license or state ID
- Social Security card or tax document with SSN
- Proof of the address where you lived when property was reported
- Death certificate if claiming for a deceased person
- Probate documents if you are an executor
- Marriage or divorce certificate if your name changed
Simple claims take 30 to 60 days. Claims with heirs, multiple owners, or business entities can take up to 180 days. Security claims usually process within 120 days. Once approved, the state mails a check to your current address. Call 1-800-992-4647 if you have questions about your claim from Chula Vista.
Note: Once you file a claim, the property is removed from the public website while your claim is processed.
San Diego County Unclaimed Money
Chula Vista is in San Diego County. The county treasurer maintains unclaimed money from estates of deceased persons without known heirs. San Diego County publishes information about unclaimed money at sdttc.com. The county wishes to reunite this money with its rightful owners.
If your name appears on a San Diego County unclaimed money list, call 1-877-829-4732 to file a claim. The county will tell you what documents to send and how to complete the claim process. County claims are separate from state claims, so you need to follow the county's procedures. Chula Vista residents can file claims directly with the county at no charge.
Tax sale excess proceeds are another type of county unclaimed money. When the county sells a property for more than the amount owed in back taxes, the extra money goes to the former owner or anyone with a legal interest in the property. If you owned property in Chula Vista that was sold at a tax auction, check with the county treasurer to see if there are excess proceeds in your name.
CalPERS and CalSTRS
Public employees and teachers who worked in Chula Vista may have unclaimed retirement benefits. CalPERS serves state and local government workers. CalSTRS serves school district employees and teachers. Both agencies run unclaimed property programs separate from the State Controller. If you worked for a public agency or school in Chula Vista and left before retirement, check these systems.
CalPERS has a search tool at calpers.ca.gov. Type your name to see if there is an account. If you find a match, call 888-225-7377 during weekday business hours. CalPERS will send you a claim form and explain what documents you need. You can also write to CalPERS Member Account Management Division, P.O. Box 942704, Sacramento, CA 94229-2704.
CalSTRS handles teacher retirement at calstrs.com. Call 800-228-5453 or 916-414-1099 to ask about unclaimed property. If you taught in Chula Vista schools and left before you were vested, you may have contributions sitting unclaimed. Check both CalSTRS and the main state database to cover all sources.
Life Insurance Policy Locator
Life insurance benefits can go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. California law requires insurers to search the Death Master File and try to locate beneficiaries. Older policies may not have gone through this process. If a relative 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. Insurers may take a few weeks to respond to the request.
California Department of Insurance has more information at insurance.ca.gov. Call their consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357 if you have trouble or if an insurer will not cooperate. Some life insurance proceeds end up in the State Controller's database if the insurer cannot find the beneficiary, so check both the NAIC locator and the state search for Chula Vista residents.
Old Tax Refunds
California tax refund checks are good for six months. After that, you must request a replacement from the Franchise Tax Board. If you moved from Chula Vista and never received your refund, or if you have an old check you forgot to cash, you can get a new one. The process depends on how old the refund is.
For refunds one to three years old, send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board with your name, the tax year, and "Old refund check" in the subject line. Processing takes about eight weeks. For refunds over three years old, you must complete a Replacement Warrant Claim form. These older claims can take up to 18 months. Call 800-852-5711 to ask what you need to do for your specific refund.
More details are at ftb.ca.gov. Do not wait too long because older refunds require more paperwork and longer processing times. If you are owed a refund and it never arrived at your Chula Vista address, contact the Franchise Tax Board as soon as possible.
Unemployment and Disability Benefits
The Employment Development Department handles unclaimed unemployment insurance and disability insurance benefits. 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. There is no filing fee. Use form DE 903SD, which is at edd.ca.gov.
Call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment insurance. Call 1-800-480-3287 for disability insurance. The phone staff can tell you if you have unclaimed benefits and explain how to claim them. These benefits do not show up in the State Controller's database, so you must contact EDD directly if you think you have unclaimed UI or DI payments from Chula Vista.
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement runs the Unpaid Wage Fund for workers owed money by employers that went out of business. If you worked for a Chula Vista business that closed while owing you wages, call 1-833-526-4636. More information is at dir.ca.gov. This is less common than other types of unclaimed property but worth checking if you have unpaid wages.
Note: EDD stopped charging the $25 filing fee for uncashed checks in 2016.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Scammers target people searching for unclaimed money. You may get letters or phone calls from companies offering to help you claim property for a fee. Some are legitimate asset locators, but others are scams. The State Controller warns Chula Vista residents to watch for red flags before you sign a contract or pay any fees.
California law allows registered investigators to charge up to 10 percent of the property value if you hire them. They cannot ask for an upfront fee. If someone contacts you and demands payment before they help you, that is a scam. If they ask for your Social Security number or bank information before you verify who they are, do not give it. The real State Controller's Office will never call or email asking for payment or personal details.
You can always claim your property for free. Search the database yourself at claimit.ca.gov. File your claim online or download the forms and mail them in. The state provides all the instructions you need. There is no reason to pay someone unless your claim is very complex and you want professional help. If you do hire someone in Chula Vista, make sure they are registered with the state and read the contract before you sign.
San Diego County Resources
Chula Vista is in San Diego County. The county treasurer maintains unclaimed money programs for estates and other local funds separate from the state system. For more on county unclaimed money and how to file claims with San Diego County, visit the county page.