Inglewood Unclaimed Property Search
Inglewood residents can search for unclaimed money at three levels. The city may hold funds from uncashed checks or refunds. Los Angeles County keeps money from estates and tax sales. The State Controller has the most with over $11 billion in unclaimed property from banks, employers, and insurance companies. All three are free to search. You can file claims at no cost. No time limit exists to claim what is yours. Start your search today to see if Inglewood or another agency owes you money that you forgot about or never received in the mail.
Inglewood Quick Facts
City of Inglewood Unclaimed Funds
The City of Inglewood may hold unclaimed money in its Finance Department. Cities issue checks for many reasons. Vendor payments, permit refunds, utility deposits, and overpayments all generate checks. When a check goes uncashed for six months or more, it becomes unclaimed. The city then adds it to a list and tries to locate the owner.
Contact the Inglewood Finance Department to ask if they hold funds in your name. City hall is at 1 Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood. The Finance Department handles all unclaimed funds inquiries. Bring identification if you visit in person. They will search their records to see if your name appears. If it does, you fill out a form and they issue a new check once verified.
Most city claims are simple. No fee. No lawyer. Just proof that you are the person named on the original payment. The city verifies the payment in its accounting system. Then they cut a replacement check and mail it to your current address. This process takes a few weeks in most cases for Inglewood residents.
If the city holds funds for more than three years without locating the owner, they must send the money to the State Controller under Government Code Section 50050. After that, you claim through the state system instead of the city. Check both if you think Inglewood issued a payment to you more than three years ago.
Note: Some smaller cities do not maintain public lists of unclaimed funds but still track them internally, so it is worth calling even if you do not see a list online.
California State Controller Unclaimed Property
Most unclaimed money in California ends up with the State Controller's Office. Banks, employers, insurance firms, and investment companies all report dormant accounts. The state holds these funds until the rightful owner files a claim. There is no time limit. Funds from 50 years ago can still be claimed today.
Search for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex by typing your name. You can also search business names or old addresses if you moved around. The database shows the property type and estimated value. Bank accounts, paychecks, insurance proceeds, stock dividends, and safe deposit box contents are all listed. Most claims range from $50 to $500, but some are much larger.
Controller Malia M. Cohen oversees the unclaimed property program for California. Her office gets reports from thousands of businesses each year. They try to contact owners before the money transfers to the state. If they cannot reach you, the funds go into the state database. Over 49 million properties sit unclaimed in California right now. Many belong to Inglewood residents who moved and did not update their address with banks or employers.
To file a claim, go to claimit.ca.gov after you find a match in the search database. Many claims can be filed online by uploading a photo ID and proof of address. Simple cash claims take 30 to 60 days to process. Complex claims involving heirs, businesses, or securities take up to 180 days. The state never charges a fee to file or process a claim.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513, different types of property have different dormancy periods. Bank accounts become unclaimed after three years of no activity. Wages and salaries take one year. Money orders need seven years. Traveler's checks require 15 years. Each type follows its own timeline before the holder must report it to the state.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Money
Inglewood sits in Los Angeles County. The county Treasurer and Tax Collector holds unclaimed money from several sources. Excess proceeds from tax sales are a big one. When the county sells property for unpaid taxes and the sale brings in more than the debt owed, the extra money is held for the former owner. Many Inglewood property owners do not know they can claim this.
The county also holds money from estates of deceased persons with no known heirs. When someone dies without a will or relatives, their assets go to the county. The county tries to locate heirs. If no one comes forward, the money sits in a county account. You may be entitled to claim if you are a relative of someone who died in Los Angeles County.
Visit ttc.lacounty.gov/notice-of-excess-proceeds/ to see notices about excess proceeds from tax sales. The county posts names and addresses of former property owners. You can file a claim if your name appears on the list. Call the main phone line at (213) 974-2111 for help with county unclaimed money in Inglewood.
State law allows parties of interest to hire agents who may charge fees to file claims on their behalf. But you can file claims directly with the Treasurer and Tax Collector without paying any fees. Do not pay someone to do something you can do yourself for free. The county staff can guide you through the claim process at no cost.
Government Code Section 50050 governs how counties handle unclaimed money. The law requires public notice before the county can take ownership. Once the county takes it, claiming becomes harder but is still possible. Check county records if you lived in Inglewood and owned property that was sold for taxes. You may have excess proceeds waiting.
Types of Unclaimed Property in Inglewood
Bank accounts are the most common type of unclaimed property. You open an account. Time passes. You forget about it. Or you close it but leave a small balance. The bank tries to reach you. If they cannot, the account sits dormant for three years. Then the bank sends the balance to the state. This happens all the time in Inglewood and across California.
Uncashed paychecks are another big source. You quit a job. The employer mails your final check. But you moved and did not give a new address. The check comes back to the employer. They hold it for a year. Then they report it to the state per California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1530. Wages are among the fastest types to become unclaimed in California.
Utility deposits become unclaimed when you move and forget to request a refund. PG&E, water companies, and other utilities hold deposits for three years. Then they transfer the money to the state. Security deposits from landlords follow a similar path if the landlord cannot return the deposit due to a bad address. Many Inglewood renters lose track of deposits when they move out of state.
Life insurance policies go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. The insured person dies. The insurance company cannot locate the beneficiary. After a few years, the proceeds go to the state. Some Inglewood residents have inherited money from relatives in other states but never knew about it. Those funds sit with the state controller until claimed.
Stock dividends, bond interest, and mutual fund distributions also become unclaimed. You own shares. The company sends a dividend check. But you moved and the check goes to an old address. It becomes unclaimed after a few years. Safe deposit boxes generate unclaimed property when the renter stops paying rent and cannot be found. The bank opens the box, sells the contents, and sends the cash to the state in the renter's name.
Filing Claims in Inglewood
Start with a search. For state funds, go to ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex and type your name. When you find a match, click on it to see details. Then visit claimit.ca.gov to file the claim. You will create an account and upload documents. A photo ID and proof of address are the minimum. Some claims need more.
If the claim is worth $1,000 or more, you must get your signature notarized. Claims for securities, stocks, or safe deposit boxes always need a notary regardless of value. The state sends detailed instructions after you start the claim. Read them carefully. Missing documents cause delays in processing for Inglewood residents just like everyone else in California.
For city claims, contact Inglewood Finance Department by phone or in person. Ask if they hold funds in your name. They will search their records. If they find a match, they send or give you a claim form. Fill it out. Send it back with ID. The city verifies the payment. Then they issue a new check to your current address. No fee involved.
Los Angeles County claims go through the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Visit ttc.lacounty.gov/notice-of-excess-proceeds/ to check for your name on the list. If you find it, download the claim form or call (213) 974-2111 to request one. Submit the form with ID and supporting documents like old property tax bills or deeds. County staff review and contact you if they need more information.
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 provide additional proof. The state does not pay interest on unclaimed property, so you get the original amount that was turned over.
Other Unclaimed Money Resources
Some unclaimed money does not go through the State Controller. Retirement benefits stay with the retirement system. If you worked for a California public employer and left money in a retirement account, check CalPERS for unclaimed property. Teachers who worked in Inglewood schools should check CalSTRS if they did not claim a pension or 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 expect a refund but never got it. Federal refunds are separate. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov for help with federal tax refunds.
Life insurance policies may be unclaimed if beneficiaries do not know they exist. Use the Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator to search for policies of deceased relatives. This service is free and covers all states. The California Department of Insurance also offers resources for finding life insurance policies.
Unemployment and disability benefits sometimes go unclaimed when EDD issues a payment but the recipient moves or changes banks. You can file form DE 903SD to claim old EDD payments. Download it from the EDD website or call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment claims or 1-800-480-3287 for disability claims. No fee to file.
Avoid Unclaimed Money Scams in Inglewood
Scammers target people who search for unclaimed money. They send emails or letters claiming you have a large sum waiting. Then they ask for a fee or personal information. The State Controller never charges a fee to claim unclaimed property. The city and county do not charge either. If someone asks for money upfront, it is a scam.
Asset locators are legal in California. They find unclaimed money and contact the owner. They can charge up to 10 percent of the value under state law. But they must have a signed contract before collecting. You do not need to hire anyone. You can search and file claims yourself for free.
Some firms offer to search for you for a flat fee. This is not needed. The state database at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex is free and open to everyone. You can search in minutes without paying. 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.
Note: If someone calls or emails you claiming to have found unclaimed money in your name, verify it yourself by searching the official state database before responding.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Money
Inglewood is in Los Angeles County. The county holds unclaimed funds from estates and excess proceeds from tax sales. For full details on county programs, claim procedures, and contact information, visit the Los Angeles County unclaimed money page.