Find Unclaimed Funds in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach maintains an unclaimed funds list through its Finance Department. The city holds money from uncashed checks issued to vendors, refunds from permits, and utility deposits that were never claimed. You can search the city list to see if Huntington Beach owes you money. The state database has even more. California holds over $11 billion in unclaimed property from old bank accounts, paychecks, and insurance policies. Orange County also keeps unclaimed funds from estates and tax sales. All three sources are free to search with no time limit to file a claim.
Huntington Beach Quick Facts
Huntington Beach City Unclaimed Funds Program
The City of Huntington Beach Finance Department keeps a list of unclaimed funds. These funds come from checks that people did not cash. Common reasons include vendor payments that were mailed to an old address, refunds from building permits, and deposits from special event permits. When a check sits uncashed for six months, the city adds it to the unclaimed funds list.
View the list at huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/finance/unclaimed_funds.php to see if your name appears. The city publishes names and amounts annually. If you find a match, call the Finance Department at (714) 536-5990 to start a claim. You will need to provide identification and details about the payment, such as when it was issued and why.
Most city claims get resolved fast. Fill out a form. Show your ID. The city verifies the payment in its records. Then they issue a replacement check to your current address. No fee. No lawyer needed. The whole process takes a few weeks in most cases for people claiming money from Huntington Beach.
If funds remain unclaimed for three years, the city sends them to the State Controller per Government Code Section 50050. After that, you must file through the state system instead of the city. Check both the city and state databases if you had dealings with Huntington Beach more than three years ago.
State Unclaimed Property for Huntington Beach Residents
Most unclaimed money in California ends up with the State Controller. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and investment firms all report dormant accounts. If you lived in Huntington Beach at some point, there may be money with the state that you do not know about. Old savings accounts, uncashed paychecks, stock dividends, and insurance proceeds are common.
Search the state database for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex by typing your name or a business name. You can also search past addresses. The database shows property type and estimated value. Most people find between $50 and $500, but some claims are much larger. The state holds funds until you claim them. No deadline.
To file a claim, go to claimit.ca.gov after finding a match. Many claims can be filed online by uploading ID and proof of address. Simple cash claims take 30 to 60 days to process. More complex claims involving heirs, businesses, or securities take up to 180 days. The state never charges a fee to process your claim.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513, property becomes dormant after a set period. Bank accounts go dormant after three years of no activity. Wages and paychecks take one year. Money orders take seven years. Traveler's checks need 15 years. Each type has its own timeline before the holder must report it to the state.
Call the State Controller at (800) 992-4647 if you need help with a claim. They can answer questions about documentation, timelines, and claim status. Phone support is available Monday through Friday during business hours.
Orange County Unclaimed Funds
Huntington Beach sits in Orange County, which runs five separate unclaimed money programs. The Orange County Treasurer offers one of the most comprehensive local systems in California. They hold money from estates of deceased persons with no known heirs, excess proceeds from tax sales, surplus funds from landlord sales, and other county-issued payments that went unclaimed.
Search Orange County unclaimed funds at octreasurer.gov/unclaimedfunds where the county provides a searchable online database. You can type your name or address to see if the county holds money for you. The site shows the fund type, amount, and how to claim it. Most claims get paid within a few weeks once you submit the required documents.
The county Treasurer serves Huntington Beach and all other Orange County cities. Call (855) 886-5400 for help with county unclaimed funds. They can check if your name is in the system and tell you what forms to file. County claims are free and do not require legal representation.
Excess proceeds from tax sales are a big source. When the county sells a property for unpaid taxes and the sale brings in more than the tax debt, the extra money is held for the former owner. Many Huntington Beach property owners do not know they can claim this money. If you lost a property to a tax sale, check with Orange County to see if there are excess funds.
Government Code Section 50050 allows counties to hold unclaimed money in trust accounts. The law requires public notice before the county can take ownership. If you see your name on a county list, file a claim right away. Once the county takes ownership, the claim process may require more documentation.
Note: Orange County has one of the largest local unclaimed funds programs in California, with millions of dollars available to rightful owners.
What Types of Unclaimed Money Exist in Huntington Beach
Unclaimed property takes many forms. Bank accounts are the most common type. When you close an account and forget about a small balance, the bank holds it for three years. Then it goes to the state. Huntington Beach has many financial institutions, so lots of old accounts end up unclaimed each year. Savings, checking, and CDs all follow the same rules.
Uncashed paychecks happen when employees leave a job and move without updating their address. The employer sends a final check to the last known address. If it comes back undelivered, the employer reports it to the state after one year per California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1530. Wages are among the fastest types of property to become unclaimed in California.
Utility deposits from water, power, or gas companies become unclaimed when customers move and forget to request a refund. The utility holds the deposit for three years. Then it transfers to the state. Security deposits from landlords can also end up unclaimed if a tenant moves and the landlord cannot return the deposit due to a bad address.
Life insurance policies go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. The insurance company tries to locate the beneficiary but sometimes cannot find them. After a few years, the policy proceeds go to the state. Some Huntington Beach residents have inherited money from relatives in other states and never knew about it. Those funds sit with the state until claimed.
Stock dividends, bond interest, and mutual fund distributions are also common. When you own shares and the company sends a dividend check to an old address, it becomes unclaimed after a few years. Safe deposit box contents get turned over when a box renter stops paying rent and cannot be found. The contents are sold and the cash goes to the state in the owner's name.
Steps to Claim Unclaimed Money
Claiming city funds starts with the Huntington Beach Finance Department. Call (714) 536-5990 to verify your claim. They will send a form by mail or email. Fill it out. Send it back with a copy of your ID. The city checks its records. If everything matches, they issue a new check. Most claims take two to four weeks from start to finish.
State claims start with a search at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex where you type your name or business name. When you find a match, click on it to see the details. Then go to claimit.ca.gov to file the claim. You will create an account and upload documents. Most claims need a photo ID and proof of address like a utility bill.
If the claim is for $1,000 or more, you must get your signature notarized. Claims for securities, stocks, or safe deposit box contents always require a notary regardless of value. The state sends instructions after you start the claim. Follow them carefully. Missing documents cause delays in Huntington Beach claims just like anywhere else in California.
Orange County claims go through the Treasurer. Start at octreasurer.gov/unclaimedfunds to search the database. If you find your name, download the claim form from the site or call (855) 886-5400 to request one. Submit the form with ID and any supporting documents. County staff will review and contact you if they need more info.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1540, the State Controller has 180 days to decide on claims. Most get approved faster. If denied, you can appeal or submit additional proof. The state does not pay interest on unclaimed money, so the amount you receive is the original balance when it was turned over.
Other Unclaimed Money Resources
Some unclaimed money does not go through the State Controller. Retirement benefits from public agencies stay with the retirement system. If you worked for a California government employer and left money in a retirement account, check CalPERS for unclaimed property. Teachers in Huntington Beach who worked for the school district should check CalSTRS if they did not claim a pension or account refund.
Tax refunds can become unclaimed too. The California Franchise Tax Board holds state tax refunds that were never cashed. Call (800) 852-5711 if you filed a return and expected a refund but never received it. Federal tax refunds are separate. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov for help with federal refunds.
Life insurance policy proceeds may be unclaimed if beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. Use the national Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator to search for policies of deceased relatives. This service covers all insurance companies in the United States. It is free to use. The California Department of Insurance also provides resources for locating policies.
Unemployment and disability benefits sometimes go unclaimed when EDD issues a payment but the recipient moves or changes banks. EDD holds unclaimed benefits for a period, then reports them to the state. You can file form DE 903SD to claim old EDD payments. Download it from the EDD site or call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment or 1-800-480-3287 for disability claims.
Protect Yourself from Unclaimed Money Scams
Scammers send fake notices about unclaimed money to Huntington Beach residents. They claim you have a large sum waiting and ask for a fee or personal information to release it. The State Controller never charges a fee. The city does not charge either. If someone asks for money upfront, it is a scam. Hang up or delete the message.
Asset locators are legal in California. They find unclaimed money and contact the owner. They can charge up to 10 percent of the property value under state law. But they must have a signed contract before collecting any fee. You are not required to use an asset locator. You can search and file claims yourself for free.
Some companies offer to search for you for a flat fee. This is unnecessary. The state database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex is open to the public at no charge. You can search in minutes without paying anyone. Do not pay for something you can do yourself.
Never give out your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card to someone who contacts you about unclaimed property. Legitimate agencies do not ask for payment details when you file a claim. They send you a check after approval. Protect your information. Report suspected fraud to the California Attorney General at (800) 952-5225 or online at oag.ca.gov.
Orange County Unclaimed Money
Huntington Beach is in Orange County. The county runs five types of unclaimed funds programs with millions of dollars available. For complete details on county programs, claim forms, and contact information, visit the Orange County unclaimed money page.