Pomona Unclaimed Property Records
Pomona residents should search three places for unclaimed money. The city may hold uncashed checks from its 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. All searches are free. Many residents find old bank accounts, paychecks, or utility deposits they forgot about. Some discover insurance money or stock dividends they never knew existed. The state holds property forever with no deadline to claim. You can file a claim years or decades after the property was reported. The searches take only a few minutes and could put money in your pocket.
Pomona Quick Facts
City of Pomona Funds
The City of Pomona may hold unclaimed money from its operations. This includes uncashed checks for refunds, vendor payments, and deposits. If you did business with the city and never got paid, you might have funds waiting. The city does not charge a fee to return your own money.
California cities follow Government Code Section 50050 for escheatment. Money held for three years without contact may become city property after public notice. Even after escheatment, you can file a claim if you prove the money is yours. Contact the city finance department to search for unclaimed checks in your name.
To search for city-held funds, call Pomona City Hall. Ask for the finance department or accounts payable. Give them your name and ask if they have any uncashed checks for you. You will need proof of identity to file a claim. A driver's license or state ID usually works. The city will issue a replacement check if they find one in your name.
City funds come from many sources. Water utility refunds are common when you close an account. Business license refunds happen if you overpaid. Building permit refunds occur if you cancelled a project. Some residents have vendor payments from contract work for the city. Others have deposits that were never returned.
Los Angeles County Unclaimed Money
Pomona is in Los Angeles County. The county treasurer-tax collector holds excess proceeds from tax sales. When the county sells property for unpaid taxes, any money left after paying the taxes and fees goes into an excess proceeds fund. The former owner or other interested parties can claim these funds.
Visit the Los Angeles County excess proceeds page to search for funds. The page lists all sales with excess proceeds. You can search by property address or by owner name. If you owned property in Pomona that was sold for taxes, you may have excess proceeds waiting.
The 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. Do not pay anyone unless you want to. The county processes claims for free.
To claim excess proceeds, you must prove you have an interest in the property. Former owners need to show they owned the property when it was sold. This usually means providing a deed or property tax bill. Lienholders need to show their lien was recorded before the sale. Heirs need a death certificate and proof they are legal heirs.
Excess proceeds must be claimed within one year from the date of the tax sale. After one year, they may escheat to the county. Even after escheatment, you can try to file a claim, but it gets harder to prove ownership. File as soon as you discover you have funds waiting.
The county may also hold other unclaimed funds. Contact the treasurer-tax collector at (213) 974-2111 to ask about any money in your name. The county publishes annual notices of unclaimed funds. You can file a claim even if you missed a notice.
State Controller Unclaimed Property
Most unclaimed money ends up with the California State Controller. The state holds over $11 billion in lost property from all over California. 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.
Search for your property at the state controller's property search database. Enter your name or business name. The search is free. You might find old bank accounts, paychecks, stock dividends, or insurance money. The database shows the property type, the business that reported it, and an estimated value.
If you find property in your name, you can file a claim online or by mail. Simple claims can be filed electronically. Complex claims may require paper forms. The state does not charge a fee. You can do it yourself without hiring anyone.
There is no deadline to claim property from the state. The state holds it until you file a claim. If you lived in Pomona years ago and moved away, you may still have property under your name. The property stays with the state no matter how long it has been there.
Dormancy periods vary by property type. Bank deposits are three years. Wages are one year. Money orders are seven years. Traveler's checks are fifteen years. These rules come from Code of Civil Procedure Section 1513. Once the dormancy period passes, the holder must report the property to the state.
The state does not charge a fee to claim your property. You can file yourself. Some people get letters from asset locators or heir finders. These companies can charge up to 10 percent. You can skip them and file your own claim at the state controller's website for free.
Note: Simple claims take 30 to 60 days to process and complex claims can take up to 180 days.
Claiming Your Property
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 website tells 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 at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The controller reviews claims and sends a check if approved. Your property is removed from the public search while the claim is being processed.
For city funds, contact the Pomona 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 Types of Property Go Unclaimed
Bank accounts are the most common unclaimed property. Checking and savings accounts become dormant after three years of no activity. People move and forget to update their address. The bank cannot reach them. After three years, the bank reports the account to the state.
Paychecks go unclaimed when employers cannot find employees. 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 Pomona residents have unclaimed wages from old jobs.
Insurance money often goes unclaimed. Life insurance pays when someone dies, but the beneficiaries may not know about the policy. Health insurance refunds, auto insurance checks, and property insurance overpayments also become unclaimed. California law requires insurers to check the Death Master File, but many policies still slip through.
Other common types:
- 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. Pomona 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.
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 Pomona unclaimed funds, contact the finance department through city hall.
Other Places to Check
CalPERS holds unclaimed retirement benefits for state and local government employees. If you worked for the City of Pomona, Los Angeles County, or any public agency, you may have CalPERS benefits. Search at the CalPERS unclaimed property page or call 1-888-225-7377.
CalSTRS holds unclaimed benefits for teachers. If you taught in Pomona schools or any California school district, check with CalSTRS. Call 1-800-228-5453 or visit calstrs.com/unclaimed-property.
The California Franchise Tax Board holds unclaimed tax refunds. State tax refund checks are good for six months. If you did not cash yours, you need to request a new check. For refunds one to three years old, send a letter. For refunds over three years old, file a Replacement Warrant Claim form. Call 1-800-852-5711.
The Employment Development Department holds unclaimed unemployment and disability benefits. If you have an uncashed EDD check, file form DE 903SD. There is no 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. If you are owed wages your employer could not pay, check with the DIR. Call 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
Pomona is in Los Angeles County. The county holds excess proceeds from tax sales and other unclaimed funds under state law. For more on county programs, claim procedures, and contact information, visit the Los Angeles County unclaimed money page.