Search Escondido Unclaimed Money
Unclaimed money in Escondido comes from multiple sources including the city, county, and state. The City of Escondido Finance Department holds uncashed checks from utility refunds, vendor payments, and business license deposits. San Diego County maintains programs for tax sale excess proceeds and estates without heirs. The California State Controller holds the largest pool of unclaimed property from banks, employers, and insurers across the state. You can search all these sources at no cost. There is no deadline to claim what belongs to you. Start your search now to see if Escondido or San Diego County has money waiting with your name on it.
Escondido Quick Facts
Escondido City Unclaimed Funds
The City of Escondido tracks unclaimed money from city operations. These funds come from uncashed checks for vendor payments, utility refunds, and other city transactions. The Finance Department posts notices when unclaimed funds build up and works to contact owners before transferring money to the state.
Visit www.escondido.gov/394/Unclaimed-Money-Being-Held-by-the-City to see information about the city's unclaimed money program. The city website explains the types of funds they hold and how to file a claim. Call 760-839-4860 to ask if the city has unclaimed money under your name in Escondido.
City Hall is at 201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025. Contact the Finance Department to check their records. If they find a match, they will tell you what documents you need to claim the funds. Most claims need a copy of your ID and a simple claim form for Escondido.
After holding unclaimed checks for three years, cities must send them to the state. If Escondido already transferred your funds, staff will direct you to file with the State Controller instead. Always ask where the money is now before you submit paperwork in Escondido.
California State Controller Database
The state holds billions in unclaimed property from across California. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and other holders send dormant funds to the State Controller after three years of no contact. This includes old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payouts, stock dividends, and more. Most Escondido residents find something when they search the state database.
Start your search at www.sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html for the main portal. You can also go directly to ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex to search by name. Type your full name and city, then hit search. The system shows all matches with property type and approximate value for Escondido residents.
If you find property, click on it to see details and start a claim. The state offers online filing for many claims. You need proof of identity like a driver's license or passport. Claims over $1,000 require a notarized signature. The state reviews each claim and sends a check if everything checks out. Simple claims take 30 to 60 days. Complex claims with heirs or multiple owners can take up to 180 days for Escondido residents.
Call the state at 1-800-992-4647 if you need help. Staff can answer questions about the search process, filing requirements, or documents you need. The state does not charge fees to search or claim your property. You get the full value reported by the holder in Escondido.
San Diego County Unclaimed Money
Escondido is in San Diego County. The county holds its own unclaimed funds from tax sales, estates, and county operations. San Diego County has a robust program to hold and return unclaimed money to rightful owners. The county treasurer manages these funds and publishes lists of unclaimed property in Escondido and other areas.
Visit www.sdttc.com/content/ttc/en/tax-collection/Unclaimed-Money.html for information on county unclaimed money programs. The website explains the types of funds they hold and how to file a claim. Call 1-877-829-4732 to ask if San Diego County has money under your name from Escondido.
San Diego County unclaimed money comes from several sources for Escondido residents:
- Estates from deceased persons with no known heirs
- Uncashed county warrants from vendors or payroll
- Excess proceeds from tax sales when properties sell for more than the debt
- Deposits held by county departments
To claim county funds, contact the San Diego County Treasurer and Tax Collector with your name and details about the property. They will tell you what forms to fill out and what documents you need. County claims are free to file. If the county sent the money to the state, they will direct you to the State Controller in Escondido.
Note: San Diego County follows California Government Code 50050 for handling unclaimed property.
CalPERS and Other State Programs
If you worked for a government agency in Escondido or elsewhere in California, you may have unclaimed retirement benefits. CalPERS manages pensions for state and local employees. They hold unclaimed refunds when they cannot find former members. Search their database at www3.calpers.ca.gov/a/contact-us/unclaimed-property-search to see if you have funds waiting.
Call CalPERS at 888-225-7377 if you need help. They operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you worked in a school district in Escondido, check CalSTRS at 800-228-5453. Teachers have a separate retirement system with its own unclaimed property program.
The California Franchise Tax Board holds old tax refunds. If you moved and never got a refund check, call 800-852-5711 to request a new one. Refunds older than three years need a special claim form. The Employment Development Department has uncashed unemployment and disability checks. File form DE 903SD to claim these funds if you collected benefits while living in Escondido.
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement manages the Unpaid Wage Fund. This program holds wages from employers who went out of business or lost lawsuits. Call 1-833-526-4636 to ask if they have wages from an old job in Escondido. This fund helps workers get money when a company fails to pay after a court judgment.
Lost Insurance Policies and Investments
Life insurance companies must search for beneficiaries when a policyholder dies. If they cannot find the family, the payout goes to the state. The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator helps you find lost policies for relatives who lived in Escondido. Go to eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator and submit a request. The system contacts insurers on your behalf.
The California Department of Insurance runs a consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357. Call if you have questions about insurance policies, annuities, or claims from Escondido. They can help track down companies and explain your rights under state law.
Old stock accounts and dividends also become unclaimed property. Brokerages and transfer agents send these funds to the state after three years of no contact. Search the State Controller database for securities and investment accounts under your name. If you find a match, you may need to provide extra proof like old statements or tax forms from Escondido.
Filing Claims in Escondido
Each agency has its own claim process. The steps depend on the type of property and who holds it. Most claims are simple if you are the owner. Heirs need extra documents to prove their relationship to a deceased owner in Escondido.
For city claims, start with the Escondido Finance Department. Check their website or call 760-839-4860 to ask if they have funds under your name. If they find a match, they will tell you what forms to fill out and what ID you need. City claims are free to file in Escondido.
For state claims, search the State Controller database first. If you find property, click to start the claim online. The site asks for your driver's license and social security number. Claims over $1,000 need a notary. The state reviews your claim and sends a check to the address on file. This takes 30 to 60 days for simple claims and up to 180 days for complex ones in Escondido.
For county claims, contact San Diego County Treasurer and Tax Collector. Ask what forms you need and where to send them. Most counties want a copy of your ID and a signed statement that you are the rightful owner. If the county sent the money to the state, they will tell you to file with the State Controller instead in Escondido.
Always check where the funds are before you submit paperwork. If the city or county already transferred the money to the state, you must file with the State Controller. The local agency can tell you where to file your claim in Escondido.
California Unclaimed Property Laws
California law protects your right to claim unclaimed money with no time limit. The Unclaimed Property Law is in the Code of Civil Procedure starting at Section 1500. This law tells businesses and agencies when they must turn over dormant property to the state. It also explains how the state holds and returns that property to owners in Escondido.
Under CCP Section 1513, most property is dormant after three years of no contact. Wages go dormant after one year. Money orders take seven years. Once property is dormant, holders must report it to the State Controller and send the funds to Sacramento. This gives Escondido residents one central place to search for all unclaimed property.
The state must hold your property forever under CCP Section 1540. There is no deadline to file a claim. Even if 30 years pass, you can still get your money. The state does not pay interest, but you get the full value reported by the holder. You pay no fees to search or claim unclaimed money in Escondido.
Local agencies follow Government Code 50050 to 50057 for city and county unclaimed funds. These sections let local agencies hold money for three years, then transfer it to their general fund or to the state. You can still file a claim after the transfer. The agency must reimburse you if they can verify your ownership in Escondido.
Protect Yourself from Scams
Scammers send fake letters saying you have large amounts of unclaimed money. They ask for fees up front or personal details like your social security number. Real agencies never charge fees to return your own property. Be careful if someone contacts you out of the blue about unclaimed funds in Escondido.
Asset locators can help you find property if you have a common name or moved around a lot. California law limits their fees to 10 percent of the property value. They must have a written contract before they start work. Never sign a deal that gives them more than 10 percent or asks for money up front in Escondido.
If you get a call or email, verify it yourself. Go to the State Controller website and search your name. If you find a match, file the claim directly. If you see nothing, the contact may be a scam. Never give out your social security number or bank details over the phone unless you called a known agency first in Escondido.
The state does not charge fees. The county does not charge fees. The city does not charge fees. If someone asks you to pay to get your money back, it is a scam. Report suspicious contacts to the California Attorney General. Protect your information and claim your money safely in Escondido.
Search Tips for Escondido Residents
Start with the state database and work down to county and city. Search all names you have used over the years. If you changed your name, search both old and new names. Many people find money under maiden names or nicknames in Escondido.
Search for deceased relatives. If your parents or grandparents lived in California, they may have left unclaimed property. You need to prove your relationship, but the state and county will help you through the process. Estates without heirs often end up in county programs before going to the state in Escondido.
Check back every few years. New property gets added to the lists all the time. An old employer may send a check years after you left the job. A bank may close an account with a small balance. A utility may owe you a deposit. These small amounts add up if you keep searching in Escondido.
If you owned a business in Escondido, search under the business name too. Vendors may have sent checks that never got cashed. The state may have business tax refunds tied to your company. Search any DBA names you used while operating in Escondido.
San Diego County Resources
Escondido is in San Diego County. The county treasurer handles unclaimed funds from tax sales, estates, and county operations. For a full list of San Diego County programs and contact details, visit the county page on this site. You can search for both city and county unclaimed money at the same time.