Palmdale Unclaimed Money Lookup
Palmdale residents should check three places for unclaimed money. The city may hold uncashed checks from city operations. Los Angeles County has excess proceeds from tax sales and other county funds. The California State Controller holds billions in lost property from banks, employers, and insurance companies statewide. All three searches are free. You may find old bank accounts, paychecks, utility deposits, or insurance money waiting for you. Some residents discover funds they forgot about. Others find money they never knew existed. The state holds property forever until you claim it. There is no deadline. You can file a claim years or decades after the property was reported.
Palmdale Quick Facts
City Unclaimed Funds
The City of Palmdale may hold unclaimed money from its operations. This includes uncashed checks issued by city departments for refunds, vendor payments, or deposits. If you did business with the city and never received payment, you might have funds waiting. The city does not charge a fee to return your own money.
Cities in California must follow escheatment laws. Under Government Code Section 50050, unclaimed money held for three years may become city property after public notice. Even after escheatment, you can still file a claim if you prove the money is yours. Contact the city finance department to search for unclaimed funds in your name.
To search for city-held funds, call Palmdale City Hall. Ask for the finance department or accounts payable division. Give them your name and ask if they have any uncashed checks for you. Bring proof of identity when you file a claim. A driver's license or state ID is usually enough. The city will issue a replacement check if they find one in your name.
City funds can come from many sources. Water or utility refunds are common. Business license refunds happen if you overpaid or if the city denied your license. Building permit refunds occur if you cancelled a project. Some residents have vendor payments from doing contract work for the city. Others have security deposits that were never returned.
Los Angeles County Programs
Palmdale is in Los Angeles County. The county has a large unclaimed property program. The treasurer-tax collector holds excess proceeds from tax sales. When the county sells property for unpaid taxes, any money left over after paying the taxes and fees is called excess proceeds. The former owner or other parties with an interest in the property can claim these funds.
Visit the Los Angeles County excess proceeds page to see if you have funds waiting. The page lists all sales with excess proceeds. You can search by property address or by name. If you owned property in Palmdale that was sold for taxes, you may have excess proceeds.
Los Angeles County reminds people that they do not need to hire anyone to file a claim. State law allows asset locators to charge fees, but you can file directly with the county at no cost. The county processes claims for free. Do not pay anyone to file for you unless you want to.
To claim excess proceeds, you must prove you have an interest in the property. Former owners need to show they owned the property at the time of sale. This usually means providing a deed or property tax bill. Lienholders need to show their lien was recorded before the tax sale. Heirs need to provide a death certificate and proof they are legal heirs.
The county may also hold other unclaimed funds. Contact the treasurer-tax collector at (213) 974-2111 to ask about any unclaimed money in your name. The county publishes notices of unclaimed funds each year. If you miss the notice, you can still file a claim later.
Note: Excess proceeds must be claimed within one year from the date of the tax sale or they may escheat to the county.
California State Unclaimed Property
The state holds the most unclaimed money. The California State Controller has over $11 billion in lost property. Banks report dormant accounts after three years. Employers report uncashed paychecks after one year. Insurance companies report old policies and death benefits. All this property goes to the state.
You can search for your property at the state controller's property search database. Enter your name or your business name. The search is free. You might find old bank accounts, paychecks, stock dividends, insurance money, or other property. The database shows the property type, the business that reported it, and an estimated value.
There is no deadline to claim property from the state. The state holds it until you file a claim. If you lived in Palmdale years ago and moved away, you may still have property under your name. The state does not send the money to you automatically. You must file a claim.
Dormancy periods depend on the property type. Bank deposits are dormant after three years of no activity. Wages are dormant after one year. Money orders wait seven years. Traveler's checks wait fifteen years. These rules come from Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513. When the dormancy period ends, the holder must report the property to the state.
The state does not charge a fee to claim your property. You can file a claim yourself without hiring anyone. Some people receive letters from asset locators or heir finders. These companies can charge up to 10 percent of the property value. You can skip them and file your own claim at the state controller's website for free.
How to File a Claim
The claim process depends on who holds your property. For state property, start at the state controller's claim filing page. Search for your property first. When you find it, click to start a claim. The site will tell you if you can file online or if you need to mail forms.
You must prove you are the rightful owner. Small claims under $1,000 may only need your name, address, and Social Security number. Claims of $1,000 or more need a notarized signature. Claims for deceased owners require a death certificate and proof you are an heir. Business claims need corporate documents.
Forms you may need include:
- Claim Affirmation Form (generated from search results)
- Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 (for estates under $166,250)
- Table of Heirship (for heirs of deceased owners)
- Safe Deposit Box Property Release Form (for box contents)
Mail paper claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. You can also drop off claims in person at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The controller reviews claims and sends a check if approved. Simple cash claims take 30 to 60 days. Complex claims may take up to 180 days.
For city funds, contact the Palmdale Finance Department. For Los Angeles County excess proceeds, follow the instructions on the county website or call (213) 974-2111. Each agency has its own claim process. None of them charge a fee to return your own money.
What Property Goes Unclaimed
Bank accounts are the most common unclaimed property. People open a checking or savings account and forget about it. They move and do not update their address. The bank cannot reach them. After three years of no activity, the account becomes dormant. The bank reports it to the state.
Paychecks go unclaimed when an employer cannot find the employee. This often happens with final paychecks. You quit or get laid off. The employer mails your last check to your old address. If you moved, the check comes back. After one year, the employer must report it to the state. Many Palmdale residents have unclaimed wages from old jobs.
Insurance money often goes unclaimed. Life insurance pays when someone dies, but the beneficiaries may not know the policy exists. Health insurance refunds, auto insurance checks, and property insurance overpayments also become unclaimed property. California law requires insurers to check the Death Master File, but many policies still slip through.
Other types of unclaimed property:
- Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
- Utility deposits from closed accounts
- Escrow accounts and earnest money
- Court deposits and legal settlements
- Oil, gas, and mineral royalties
- Safe deposit box contents
- Matured savings bonds
City and county funds are usually uncashed checks. Palmdale may hold refund checks for permits, licenses, or utilities. Los Angeles County may hold property tax refunds or excess proceeds from tax sales. If you had financial dealings with the city or county, check both agencies for unclaimed funds.
Contact Information
For state unclaimed property, call the California State Controller's toll-free hotline at 1-800-992-4647. Outside the United States, call (916) 323-2827. Mail claims to P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. Visit the public counter at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.
| State Controller | California State Controller - Unclaimed Property Division |
|---|---|
| Phone | (800) 992-4647 |
| Outside U.S. | (916) 323-2827 |
| Website | sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html |
For Los Angeles County excess proceeds and unclaimed funds, call the treasurer-tax collector at (213) 974-2111. Visit the county excess proceeds page for claim instructions. For City of Palmdale unclaimed funds, contact the finance department through city hall.
Other Unclaimed Money Sources
CalPERS holds unclaimed retirement benefits for state and local government employees. If you worked for the City of Palmdale, Los Angeles County, or any public agency in California, you may have CalPERS benefits waiting. Search at the CalPERS unclaimed property page or call 1-888-225-7377.
CalSTRS holds unclaimed benefits for teachers. If you taught in Palmdale schools or any California school district, check with CalSTRS. Call 1-800-228-5453 or visit calstrs.com/unclaimed-property to search.
The California Franchise Tax Board holds unclaimed tax refunds. State tax refund checks are good for six months. If you did not cash yours within that time, you need to request a new check. For refunds one to three years old, send a letter to the board. For refunds over three years old, file a Replacement Warrant Claim form. Call the board at 1-800-852-5711.
The Employment Development Department holds unclaimed unemployment and disability insurance benefits. If you have an uncashed check from EDD, file form DE 903SD to claim it. There is no filing fee. Call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment insurance or 1-800-480-3287 for disability insurance.
The Department of Industrial Relations holds unpaid wages in the Unpaid Wage Fund. This fund was created in 1975 for wages that employers could not pay due to bankruptcy or other reasons. If you are owed wages that your employer could not pay, check with the DIR. Call the toll-free line at 1-833-526-4636.
For lost life insurance policies, use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Life Insurance Policy Locator. Visit the NAIC policy locator service to search for policies nationwide. This helps if a family member died and you think there may be a policy but do not know which company issued it.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Money
Palmdale is in Los Angeles County. The county holds excess proceeds from tax sales and other unclaimed funds. For more on county programs, claim procedures, and contact information, visit the Los Angeles County unclaimed money page.