Find Riverside Unclaimed Property

Riverside has multiple sources for searching unclaimed money at no charge. The State Controller holds billions in lost property including bank accounts, insurance refunds, stock dividends, and uncashed checks that businesses turned over to California. Riverside County operates its own unclaimed money program with an online search database. Both systems are free to use and let you file claims directly without hiring anyone. Property in the state database has no claim deadline. You can search by name and file online for many types of claims. Most Riverside residents can complete a search in minutes and claim funds that have been waiting for years.

State Unclaimed Property Database

Begin your search at ucpi.sco.ca.gov where the State Controller maintains records of all unclaimed property in California. Enter your name or business name to search. The database shows property that banks, employers, insurance companies, and other holders reported to the state. Each result tells you the property type, who turned it in, and when it was reported.

Searching is free. Filing a claim is free. There is no time limit to claim your property once it reaches the state. If you lived in Riverside when a business lost touch with you, your property may appear under this city. The state keeps your funds safe until you file a claim.

Unclaimed property in Riverside includes bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, uncashed paychecks, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, and contents of safe deposit boxes. Most property escheats to the state after three years with no owner contact. Wages and salaries escheat after one year. Money orders need seven years. Travelers checks require fifteen years of dormancy.

Search your current name and any former names. Search for deceased relatives because heirs can claim their property. Business owners should search their company name and any DBA names used in Riverside. The database goes back many years, so you might find property from decades ago that you forgot about or never knew existed.

Note: Real estate is not included in California's unclaimed property law.

Riverside County Unclaimed Money

Riverside is in Riverside County. The county treasurer runs a separate unclaimed money program with its own online database. Visit countytreasurer.org to search for property the county holds. Call 951-955-3900 with questions about county unclaimed funds.

The county acquires unclaimed property under Government Code Section 50050. This includes estates of deceased persons without heirs, tax sale excess proceeds, and uncashed county warrants. When the county sells tax-defaulted property for more than what is owed, the surplus goes into a holding fund. Former owners or people with legal interests can claim these proceeds before they escheat to the county.

Riverside County's program works differently than the state program. The county must publish notice of unclaimed funds and hold them for three years. If no one claims the money, it escheats to the county general fund. Check both the county and state databases when looking for unclaimed money in Riverside. Some funds go to the county while others go to the state depending on the source.

Claim Filing for Riverside Residents

After you find property in the state database, go to sco.ca.gov to start a claim. Search for your property and select it from the results. The website will tell you if you can file online or need to mail documents. Many simple claims can be filed electronically through the state's claim portal.

For mailed claims, download the Claim Affirmation Form generated from your search results. Fill it out and sign it. Send proof of identity like a driver's license copy. Include proof you owned the property or have the right to claim it. Get your signature notarized if the claim is $1,000 or more. All securities and safe deposit box claims need notarization no matter the value.

Documents needed for Riverside claims:

• Photo ID from state or federal government
• Social Security card or proof of your SSN
• Proof of address when property became unclaimed
• Death certificate if claiming for deceased owner
• Probate documents for estate claims
• Marriage license or divorce decree for name changes
• Business documents if claiming for a company

Send completed claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. Simple cash claims process in 30 to 60 days. Complex claims with heirs or multiple owners take up to 180 days. Security claims usually process within 120 days. You can visit the public counter at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova for help. Call 1-800-992-4647 with questions about your claim.

Public Retirement Benefit Searches

Riverside residents who worked in public service should check CalPERS and CalSTRS for unclaimed retirement benefits. These systems maintain separate databases from the State Controller. CalPERS covers most public employees including city, county, and state workers. CalSTRS covers teachers and school district employees.

Search CalPERS unclaimed property at calpers.ca.gov. If you find your name, call 888-225-7377 to get a claim form. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also write to CalPERS Member Account Management Division, P.O. Box 942704, Sacramento, CA 94229-2704.

CalSTRS holds unclaimed accounts from teachers who left education without claiming their contributions. Visit calstrs.com for information. Call 800-228-5453 or 916-414-1099 to ask about unclaimed funds. If you taught in Riverside schools or anywhere in California and left before retiring, check CalSTRS for unclaimed money.

Unclaimed retirement funds happen when public employees change careers and forget to withdraw their contributions. Survivor benefits also go unclaimed when family members do not know about them. Both systems try to locate members and beneficiaries, but people who move from Riverside without updating their address often cannot be found. Search both CalPERS and CalSTRS if you or a relative worked in public service.

Lost Life Insurance Benefits

Life insurance is a common source of unclaimed money in Riverside. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners runs a free policy locator at eapps.naic.org. Enter information about a deceased person to see if any insurer has a policy. This service checks with companies nationwide.

California requires insurers to search the Social Security Death Master File for deceased policyholders. Insurance Code Section 10509.940 through 946 sets these requirements. If an insurer cannot find the beneficiary, they must send benefits to the State Controller. Call the California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-927-4357 for help finding a lost policy.

Many Riverside families find life insurance years after a death. The deceased may have had a small work policy that family forgot about. Policies bought long ago sometimes get lost when people move or settle estates. Insurers should pay when they learn of a death, but paperwork gets lost or addresses change. Always search both the state unclaimed property database and the NAIC locator if a relative died and might have had coverage.

Unclaimed State Tax Refunds

The Franchise Tax Board holds unclaimed income tax refunds for Riverside taxpayers who never cashed their checks. Refund checks expire after six months. After that, you must request a new check. For refunds one to three years old, send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board. Include your name, tax year, and write "Old refund check" in the subject line. Processing takes about eight weeks.

Refunds over three years old need a Replacement Warrant Claim form. Use Form 3900A for individuals or Form 3900B for businesses. This process takes up to 18 months. Call the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711 with questions. Very old refunds eventually transfer to the State Controller's Unclaimed Property Division and appear in the main database.

Uncashed refunds are common in Riverside. People move and forget to update their address. The check goes to an old address and gets returned. Some taxpayers do not realize they are owed a refund. Others cash their main refund but miss a small supplemental check. Always check both the Franchise Tax Board and the State Controller if you think you have an old refund waiting.

Unpaid Wages and UI Benefits

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement runs the Unpaid Wage Fund for wages the Labor Commissioner collected but could not deliver. If a Riverside employer owed you money and the state collected it for you, but you never picked it up, it might be in this fund. Call 833-526-4636 to ask. You can also search the main unclaimed property database because old wage claims transfer to the State Controller.

Uncashed unemployment and disability checks become unclaimed property too. The Employment Development Department holds these checks for a time, then transfers them to the state. Call 1-800-300-5616 for unemployment insurance or 1-800-480-3287 for disability insurance. There is no fee to claim wages or benefits. Final paychecks, back pay awards, and benefit checks all end up in the unclaimed property system if workers cannot be found.

California Unclaimed Property Statutes

California's unclaimed property law starts at Code of Civil Procedure Section 1500. This gives the law its name. CCP Section 1501 defines key terms like owner, holder, and apparent owner. These definitions apply to unclaimed property searches in Riverside and statewide.

CCP Section 1513 sets dormancy periods for different property types. Bank deposits escheat after three years. Wages and salaries escheat after one year. Money orders take seven years. Travelers checks take fifteen years. CCP Section 1530 requires holders to file annual reports with the State Controller.

CCP Section 1540 covers claim procedures and time frames. The Controller must decide claims within 180 days. No interest is paid on claims. CCP Section 1576 sets penalties for holders who violate the law. Willful violations are a misdemeanor. Late delivery triggers 12 percent interest.

Government Code Section 50050 through 50057 governs local agency unclaimed money. This is why Riverside County has its own program. Local governments must publish notice and hold funds for three years before escheating them to the local treasury.