Search Fremont Unclaimed Property
Fremont residents can search for unclaimed money through the city, Alameda County, and California State Controller. The City of Fremont may hold funds from uncashed checks for permits, refunds, and other city payments. Alameda County operates programs for uncashed warrants, estates of deceased persons, and tax refunds. The state holds over $11 billion statewide from forgotten bank accounts, paychecks, insurance proceeds, and stock dividends. All three sources offer free searches with no deadlines to claim. Start with the state database since it contains the most records. Then check Alameda County's programs and contact the city to see if local funds are waiting for you in Fremont.
Fremont Quick Facts
California State Controller Database
Most unclaimed money ends up with the state. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and utilities send forgotten funds to Sacramento every year. Fremont residents should search the state database even if they find nothing with the county or city. The State Controller holds funds from all over California and other states if you lived elsewhere before Fremont.
Search for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex by entering your name. You can also search old Fremont addresses or business names if you owned a company. The database shows the property type and approximate value. Many claims are between $50 and $500, but some reach thousands of dollars.
Common items include old checking or savings accounts. When you close an account and leave a small balance, it sits for three years. Then the bank reports it to the state under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513. Paychecks become unclaimed after one year if sent to an old address. Stock dividends, insurance proceeds, and utility deposits also end up with the state when companies cannot locate owners.
To file a claim, go to claimit.ca.gov after finding a match. Simple claims take 30 to 60 days to process. Complex claims with heirs or multiple owners can take up to 180 days. The state never charges a fee. Call (800) 992-4647 if you need help while in Fremont.
California has no time limit to claim unclaimed property once it reaches the State Controller. Your money waits until you file a claim. This differs from other states where funds can be seized after a set period.
Alameda County Unclaimed Money Programs
Fremont is in Alameda County, which runs its own unclaimed funds programs. The county Auditor-Controller manages an escheatment process for stale-dated warrants. These are county checks that went uncashed for more than three years. The county also handles excess proceeds from tax sales and estates of deceased persons without known heirs.
Alameda County posts annual notices about unclaimed money. You can find these at auditor.alamedacountyca.gov/uncashed-warrants-escheatment/ where the county lists names and amounts. Items under $15 do not get published but still get escheated. The county Treasurer-Tax Collector office at 1221 Oak Street in Oakland handles claims. Call (510) 272-6800 to ask if they hold funds in your name.
County unclaimed money comes from sources like property tax refunds, overpayments, and duplicate payments. Sometimes the county cannot deliver a refund because the property owner moved from Fremont and left no forwarding address. Those funds sit in a trust account until someone claims them. Fremont property owners should check with the county if they sold property or refinanced recently and expect a refund they never got.
Government Code Section 50050 allows counties to take ownership of unclaimed funds after proper notice. Once that happens, you file a claim with the county to get the money back. The process is free and does not require a lawyer. Just bring proof that the money belongs to you, like an old property tax bill or payment stub.
City of Fremont Unclaimed Funds
The City of Fremont may hold unclaimed funds from uncashed checks. These come from vendor payments, permit refunds, utility deposits, and employee paychecks. If the city issued you a check and you moved before cashing it, the funds sit in a city account until claimed or transferred to the state.
Contact Fremont Finance Department to ask about unclaimed funds. City offices are at 3300 Capitol Avenue in Fremont. Call the main number at (510) 284-4000 and ask for Finance. They will tell you if they hold money in your name and what documents you need to claim it.
Most city claims get resolved quickly. You fill out a form and show ID. The city checks its records and issues a new check to your current address. No fee applies for claiming city funds. If more than three years passed since the check was issued, the city may have sent the money to the state per Government Code Section 50050. In that case, search the state database instead.
Note: Alameda County conducts annual escheatment for unclaimed funds per Government Code Section 50050.
Common Unclaimed Property Types in Fremont
Bank accounts lead the list of unclaimed property. Old savings or checking accounts become dormant after no activity for three years. The bank sends the balance to the state. Many Fremont residents switch banks and forget to close old accounts with small balances. Those add up over time.
Wages and paychecks are next. Final paychecks from jobs you left, commission checks, or bonuses can become unclaimed if sent to an old address. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1530, employers must report uncashed wages after one year. This is shorter than the three-year rule for bank accounts.
Utility deposits happen when you close an account with the water company, trash service, or electric company. If you do not request your deposit back, the utility holds it for three years, then sends it to Sacramento. Security deposits from apartments also end up unclaimed if landlords cannot find you after you move out of Fremont.
Insurance proceeds include life insurance death benefits when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. Matured policies and annuities also get reported to the state. Stock dividends, mutual fund distributions, and safe deposit box contents round out the list. Some Fremont residents inherit money from relatives but never knew about it. Those funds wait at the State Controller until an heir files a claim.
Filing Claims for Unclaimed Money
The claim process varies by who holds the money. For state funds, start at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex to search. Click on any property that matches your name to see details. Then go to claimit.ca.gov to file online. Many claims can be submitted electronically without mailing forms.
You upload a photo of your driver's license or state ID. Proof of address helps too. If claiming funds from an old Fremont address, show documents linking you to that address like old utility bills or tax forms. Claims under $1,000 do not require notarization. Claims at $1,000 or more need a notary per state rules. All securities and safe deposit box claims also need notarization.
For county claims, contact Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector at (510) 272-6800. Ask what forms they need and where to send them. County claims are free and follow a similar process to state claims. You prove your identity and connection to the money. The county verifies its records and issues a check if everything matches.
For city claims, contact Fremont Finance at (510) 284-4000. They will send you a claim form. Return it with ID and supporting documents. Most city claims get paid within a few weeks once approved.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1540, the State Controller must decide on claims within 180 days. If they need more proof, they will send a letter explaining what documents to provide. The state does not pay interest on unclaimed property, so you get the original amount reported.
Other Unclaimed Money Resources
Some money does not go through the State Controller. Retirement benefits are separate. If you worked for a California public employer and left money in a retirement account, check CalPERS for unclaimed property. Call 888-225-7377 with questions. Teachers should check CalSTRS at 800-228-5453 if they worked in Fremont schools.
Tax refunds from the California Franchise Tax Board can become unclaimed if you moved and did not get your refund check. Call FTB at (800) 852-5711 to ask about old state tax refunds. Federal tax refunds go through the IRS. Call 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov for federal refund help.
Life insurance policies sometimes go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. Use the national policy locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator to search for policies of deceased relatives. This is free and covers all states.
Unemployment and disability benefits from EDD may be unclaimed if you never cashed a payment. Use form DE 903SD to claim old EDD checks. Download it from the EDD website or call 1-800-300-5616 for UI or 1-800-480-3287 for DI. No fee applies.
Avoiding Unclaimed Money Scams
Scammers target people searching for unclaimed money. They send emails or letters claiming you have large sums waiting. Then they ask for fees or personal information. The state never charges to claim unclaimed property. Any message asking for money upfront is a scam.
Asset locators are legal in California but can only charge up to 10 percent of the property value. They must have a written contract before collecting fees. You do not need to hire anyone. Search for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex without paying a firm.
Some companies offer to search on your behalf for a flat fee. This is unnecessary. The search takes minutes and costs nothing. If someone contacts you about money you did not know about, verify it by calling the State Controller at (800) 992-4647 before responding.
Never give out your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card to someone claiming to help with unclaimed property. Agencies send you a check once approved. They do not ask for payment details. Report suspected fraud to the California Attorney General at (800) 952-5225.
Alameda County Unclaimed Money
Fremont is in Alameda County. The county holds unclaimed funds from estates, tax refunds, and uncashed warrants. For full details on county programs, claim procedures, and contact information, visit the Alameda County unclaimed money page.