Lancaster Unclaimed Funds
Lancaster residents can search for unclaimed money at the city, county, and state 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 over $11 billion in unclaimed property from all over California. Search all three for free with no time limit to file a claim. No fee to claim what is yours. Many Lancaster residents have money waiting that they do not know about from old bank accounts, paychecks, or insurance policies that were never claimed over the years.
Lancaster Quick Facts
City of Lancaster Unclaimed Money
The City of Lancaster may hold unclaimed funds from checks that went uncashed. Cities issue checks for many reasons. Vendor payments, permit refunds, utility deposits, and overpayments all generate checks. When a check sits uncashed for six months or more, it becomes unclaimed. The city then tracks it and tries to locate the owner so they can reissue payment.
Contact the Lancaster Finance Department to ask if they hold funds in your name. City hall is at 44933 Fern Avenue in Lancaster. Call the main number to reach Finance. They will search their records to see if your name appears. If it does, they will tell you what documents to provide. Most city claims need just a photo ID to verify your identity and address.
Filing a claim with the city is free. No lawyer needed. You prove you are the correct person. The city verifies the payment in its accounting system. Then they issue a replacement check to your current address. This takes a few weeks in most cases for Lancaster residents who file complete claims with all required documents.
Under Government Code Section 50050, cities must send unclaimed funds to the State Controller after three years. Once transferred, you claim through the state instead of the city. Check both places if you think Lancaster issued a payment to you more than three years ago but you never received it or cashed the check.
Note: Lancaster is the largest city in the Antelope Valley and serves as a regional hub for northern Los Angeles County.
State Unclaimed Property Database
The California State Controller's Office holds the largest pool of unclaimed money in the state. Banks, employers, insurance firms, and investment companies all report dormant accounts. The state keeps these funds until the owner files a claim. There is no time limit. Funds from 50 years ago can still be claimed today by Lancaster residents or their heirs.
Search for free at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex by typing your name or business name. You can also search old addresses if you moved around Lancaster or California. The database shows property type and estimated value. Bank accounts, paychecks, stock dividends, insurance proceeds, and safe deposit box contents all appear in search results. Most people find between $50 and $500, but some claims are much larger.
Controller Malia M. Cohen oversees the unclaimed property program for California. Her office receives annual reports from thousands of businesses each year. They try to contact owners before 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 Lancaster residents who moved and did not update their address with banks or employers.
To file a claim, visit claimit.ca.gov after finding a match in the search database. Many claims can be filed online by uploading a photo ID and proof of address like a utility bill. 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 your claim.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513, property becomes dormant after specific periods. Bank accounts go dormant after three years of no activity. Wages and salaries take one year. Money orders need seven years. Traveler's checks require 15 years. Each property type has its own timeline before the holder must send it to the state.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Funds
Lancaster sits in Los Angeles County. The county Treasurer and Tax Collector holds unclaimed money from several sources. Excess proceeds from tax sales are a major one. When the county sells property for unpaid taxes and the sale brings in more than the tax debt, the extra money is held for the former owner. Many Lancaster property owners do not know they can claim this money.
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 including the Lancaster area.
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 from Lancaster properties.
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 from Lancaster.
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 Lancaster and owned property that was sold for taxes. You may have excess proceeds waiting that you did not know about.
What Types of Property Become Unclaimed
Bank accounts are the most common type of unclaimed property. You open an account and use it for a while. Then life changes. You switch banks. You forget to close the old account. It sits dormant for three years. The bank sends the balance to the state. This happens all the time in Lancaster just like everywhere else in California. Savings accounts, checking accounts, and CDs all follow the same rule.
Uncashed paychecks happen when employees leave a job and move without updating their address. The employer mails a final check to the last known address. It comes back as undeliverable. The employer holds it for one 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 customers move and forget to request a refund. You close your account with the water company or power company. You think they will mail a refund. But they need a forwarding address. Without one, they hold the deposit for three years. Then it goes to the state. Security deposits from landlords work the same way if the landlord cannot return it due to a bad address.
Life insurance policies go unclaimed when beneficiaries do not know a policy exists. The insured person dies. The insurance company tries to locate the beneficiary. If they cannot find them, the proceeds go to the state. Some Lancaster residents have inherited money from relatives in other states but never knew about it because no one told them a policy existed.
Stock dividends, bond interest, and mutual fund distributions also become unclaimed. You own shares in a company. They send a dividend check. But you moved and the check goes to an old address. After a few years, it becomes unclaimed. The company reports it to the state. Safe deposit box contents 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.
Steps to File Claims from Lancaster
For city funds, contact Lancaster 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 for Lancaster residents.
For state funds, start at ucpi.sco.ca.gov/en/Property/SearchIndex to search your name. When you find a match, click on it to see details. Then go to claimit.ca.gov to file the claim online. You will upload a photo ID and proof of address. Some claims need more documents depending on the property type and value.
If the claim is worth $1,000 or more, you must get your signature notarized. Claims for securities, stocks, or safe deposit boxes always require a notary no matter the value. The state sends specific instructions after you start the claim. Follow them carefully to avoid delays in processing your claim from Lancaster.
For Los Angeles County funds, 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 receive the original amount that was turned over by the holder.
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 Lancaster 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 expected a refund but never received 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 national 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 insurance companies in all states. The California Department of Insurance also provides 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 or 1-800-480-3287 for disability. No fee to file for old benefits from Lancaster addresses.
Protect Yourself from Scams
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. 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 value under state law. But they must have a signed written contract before collecting. You do not need to hire anyone. You can search and file claims yourself for free from Lancaster.
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 at no cost.
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.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Money
Lancaster is in Los Angeles County. The county holds unclaimed funds from estates and excess proceeds from tax sales. For complete details on county programs, claim procedures, and contact information, visit the Los Angeles County unclaimed money page.