Clovis Unclaimed Property
Residents of Clovis can search for unclaimed money through the California State Controller and Fresno County. The state database covers property from businesses that lost contact with owners after three years. Fresno County has an unclaimed property lookup tool for county funds. Both are free to search and free to claim. You do not need to hire anyone to find your money or file a claim. Between state and county resources, Clovis residents can do a complete search for lost funds, dormant bank accounts, and other unclaimed property in just a few minutes online.
Clovis Quick Facts
California State Controller
Most unclaimed property in Clovis 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 Clovis:
- 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 Clovis when a business lost contact with you, your property will be listed under this city name in the database.
How to File a 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 Clovis:
- 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 Clovis.
Note: Once you file a claim, the property is removed from the public website while your claim is processed.
Fresno County Unclaimed Property
Clovis is in Fresno County. The county maintains an unclaimed property lookup tool at fresnocountyca.gov. This tool identifies outstanding checks that are six months or older. If you see your name, contact the General Accounting Team at 559-600-3609 to file a claim.
Fresno County unclaimed property includes uncashed warrants and other county obligations that were never claimed. The county follows Government Code Section 50050 for handling unclaimed funds. These funds are separate from the state system, so you need to check both databases to do a complete search for unclaimed money in Clovis.
If you did business with Fresno County or received a payment from the county that you never cashed, check the county lookup tool. County claims have their own procedures separate from state claims. The county will tell you what documents to send and how to complete the claim process for Fresno County unclaimed property.
Public Employee Retirement Accounts
Public employees and teachers who worked in Clovis 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 Clovis 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 Clovis 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 Benefits
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 Clovis residents.
Unclaimed 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 Clovis 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 Clovis address, contact the Franchise Tax Board as soon as possible.
Unemployment and Wage Claims
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 Clovis.
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 Clovis 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.
Avoiding Unclaimed Money Scams
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 Clovis 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 Clovis, make sure they are registered with the state and read the contract before you sign.
Fresno County Resources
Clovis is in Fresno County. The county maintains an unclaimed property lookup tool for county funds separate from the state system. For more on county unclaimed property and how to file claims with Fresno County, visit the county page.