Find Butte County Unclaimed Property

Butte County unclaimed money includes estates of deceased persons without known heirs and other county-held funds. The county runs its own comprehensive unclaimed property program. California law allows the county to hold unclaimed estates and other monies for at least three years before they can escheat to the county general fund. You can file claims directly with the Butte County Treasurer-Tax Collector at no cost. The state controller also holds billions in property from Butte County residents and businesses. This includes bank accounts from Chico and Oroville, uncashed paychecks from Paradise employers, and insurance proceeds. Search both the county program and state database to find all money that may belong to you or a deceased relative.

Butte County Unclaimed Estates Program

Butte County maintains an unclaimed estates program for property of deceased persons without known heirs. When someone dies in Butte County with assets but no identifiable heirs, the county holds the money. California Government Code section 50050 provides that unclaimed monies, including estates of deceased without known heirs, which remain in the County Treasury for at least three years may be escheated to the county's general fund after public notice.

The Butte County Treasurer-Tax Collector manages the unclaimed estates program. The office publishes notices of unclaimed estates. If you believe you are an heir to an estate held by the county, you can file a claim. Claims may be made directly to the Butte County Treasurer without any service charges or fees. This is important because some companies will charge you to file a claim that you can file yourself for free.

The county requires proof that you are a legal heir to the deceased person. This may include birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and probate documents. If multiple heirs exist, each must file a claim or one heir can file on behalf of all heirs with proper documentation. The county reviews the claim and supporting documents to verify your relationship to the deceased.

Butte County has specific procedures for claiming estates. Contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (530) 552-3600 for information on current unclaimed estates. The county may publish a list of estates periodically. Check the county website or call the treasurer's office to see if any estates match your family history. The sooner you file, the better, as estates can eventually escheat to the county after the required notice period.

California State Controller Property

Most unclaimed money in Butte County ends up with the California State Controller. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses must report unclaimed property to the state. This includes dormant bank accounts from Chico and Oroville. Uncashed paychecks from Paradise and Gridley employers. Insurance payouts from policies held by Butte County residents. All of these eventually go to the state controller.

Search for your property at the state controller's property search database. Enter your name or the name of a deceased relative. The search is free and covers all property reported from Butte County and the rest of California. The database shows the property type, the business that reported it, and an estimated value. If you find property that belongs to you, you can file a claim online in many cases.

Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1513, different property types have different dormancy periods. Bank deposits become unclaimed after three years of no owner contact. Wages or salaries are reportable after one year. Money orders take seven years. Traveler's checks take fifteen years. Once property is turned over to the state, there is no deadline for filing a claim. You can claim property that was reported decades ago.

The state controller processes all claims for free. Do not pay a fee to file a claim with the state. Some companies called asset locators or heir finders may contact you about unclaimed property. They can charge up to 10 percent of the property value under California law. You do not need them. You can file directly with the state controller at no cost. Call (800) 992-4647 with questions about state-held property.

Filing Claims in Butte County

The claim process depends on who holds the property. For state-held property, start at the California State Controller's unclaimed property page. Search for your name or the name of a deceased person. If you find property, the website will guide you through the claim process. Some claims can be filed online. Others require paper forms sent by mail.

You must prove ownership or heirship. For claims under $1,000, you may only need your name, address, and Social Security number. Claims of $1,000 or more require notarization. If you are claiming property that belonged to a deceased person, you need a death certificate and proof that you are the legal heir. Business claims need articles of incorporation or similar documents.

Forms you may need for state claims include:

• Claim Affirmation Form (generated from search results)
• Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 (for estates under $166,250)
• Table of Heirship (for claims by multiple heirs)
• Safe Deposit Box Property Release Form (for box contents)

All forms are available on the state controller's claim filing page. Read the instructions carefully before completing any form. Missing information or incorrect notarization can delay your claim for months.

Mail completed 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 makes a decision within 180 days for most cases. Simple cash claims may be processed in 30 to 60 days.

For Butte County unclaimed estates, contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector directly at (530) 552-3600. The process is different from state claims. You need to prove your relationship to the deceased person whose estate is being held by the county. The county has its own claim forms and procedures. Do not send county claim forms to the state controller or vice versa.

Note: Your signature must be notarized only if the state claim amount is $1,000 or greater.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed property in Butte County comes in many forms. Forgotten bank accounts are the most common. Checking accounts, savings accounts, and credit union accounts become unclaimed when there is no activity for three years and the bank cannot reach the owner. Butte County has local banks and credit unions in Chico, Oroville, and other communities. Thousands of accounts sit dormant over time.

Uncashed paychecks are another major source. Employers must turn over uncashed wages after one year if they cannot locate the employee. This happens when someone moves without updating their address or when a final check gets lost. Butte County experienced significant displacement after the Camp Fire in 2018. Many people moved out of Paradise and other affected areas. Some left behind unclaimed paychecks and other property.

Life insurance proceeds often go unclaimed. The policyholder dies and beneficiaries do not know the policy exists. Health insurance overpayments, property insurance refunds, and auto insurance claim checks also become unclaimed property. After the Camp Fire, many insurance claims were filed and some proceeds went unclaimed when beneficiaries could not be located.

Other common types include:

• Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
• Utility deposits from PG&E or other providers
• Escrow accounts from real estate transactions
• Court deposits and legal settlements
• Royalties from mineral rights, timber sales, or agriculture
• Safe deposit box contents from closed boxes
• Matured savings bonds that were never redeemed

Butte County unclaimed estates are a unique category. These are funds from deceased persons without known heirs. The county holds the money and publishes notice. If no heirs come forward within three years, the money can escheat to the county. But you can still file a claim even after escheatment if you can prove you are a legal heir.

California Unclaimed Property Laws

California's unclaimed property system operates under state law. The primary statute is the Unclaimed Property Law found in Code of Civil Procedure sections 1500 through 1582. This law defines unclaimed property and sets the rules for how businesses must report it. It applies statewide including in Butte County.

Holders of unclaimed property must file annual reports with the state controller. Most businesses file by November 1. Life insurance companies file by May 1. Before turning property over to the state, holders must try to contact the owner. Section 1530 requires written notice to the owner's last known address at least six months before filing a report. If the property is worth $50 or more and the holder has an address, notice is required.

The state controller decides claims under section 1540. The controller must make a decision within 180 days of receiving a complete claim. No interest is paid on claims. If the state held your money for ten years, you get the original amount only. Inflation reduces the real value over time.

Penalties apply to holders who fail to report or turn over property on time. Willful violations can result in misdemeanor charges under sections 1576 and 1577. Late delivery of property triggers a 12 percent annual interest penalty. These rules encourage Butte County businesses to comply with the law and turn over property on time.

County-level unclaimed funds follow different rules. Government Code sections 50050 through 50057 govern unclaimed money held by cities, counties, and special districts. Local agencies must publish a notice of unclaimed funds once a year. If no one claims the money within three years of publication, it escheats to the local agency's general fund. Butte County follows this process for unclaimed estates and other county-held funds.

Contact Information

For California State Controller unclaimed property, call the toll-free number at (800) 992-4647. The call center is open during regular business hours. If you are calling from outside the United States, dial (916) 323-2827. You can also contact the controller through an online form on the state website.

Mail paper claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. For in-person visits or overnight mail, use the physical address at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The public counter can answer questions and accept claim forms during normal business hours.

For Butte County unclaimed estates or other county-held funds, contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (530) 552-3600. Visit the county website at buttecounty.net for more information on county programs and claim procedures. The treasurer's office can answer questions about unclaimed estates and guide you through the claim process.

Additional Unclaimed Property Resources

Several other agencies hold unclaimed money for Butte County residents. CalPERS manages unclaimed retirement benefits for public employees. If you worked for Butte County government, Chico Unified School District, or other California public agencies, you may have unclaimed pension funds. Call (888) 225-7377 to search or file a claim.

CalSTRS holds unclaimed property for teachers and school employees. Many Butte County teachers work in Chico Unified, Oroville Union, and Paradise Unified school districts. If you left the teaching profession and did not claim your retirement account, CalSTRS may be holding it. Call (800) 228-5453 for assistance.

The California Department of Insurance offers the Life Insurance Policy Locator service. This national database helps you find life insurance policies and annuities when you do not know which company issued the policy. The consumer hotline is (800) 927-4357.

If you are owed a state tax refund, check with the California Franchise Tax Board. Refund checks are valid for six months from the issue date. After that, you must request a new check. Call (800) 852-5711 for help with unclaimed tax refunds.

The California Employment Development Department holds unclaimed unemployment and disability benefits. If you had an uncashed EDD check, file a claim using form DE 903SD. There is no fee. Call (800) 300-5616 for unemployment insurance or (800) 480-3287 for disability insurance questions.

For unpaid wages, the Department of Industrial Relations operates an Unpaid Wage Fund. This fund holds money collected from employers who failed to pay workers. Call (833) 526-4636 to see if you have wages waiting. All of these programs operate separately from the state controller and Butte County, so check each one if you think you may have unclaimed funds.

Major Cities in Butte County

Butte County includes the city of Chico, which has a population over 100,000. Other communities include Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, and Biggs. Residents of any Butte County city can have unclaimed property held by the state controller or county treasurer. Some cities may also have their own local unclaimed funds programs.

Other cities and communities in Butte County include Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, Biggs, and Magalia. All residents of these communities should search for unclaimed property at both the state and county level. The Camp Fire in 2018 displaced many Paradise residents. If you lived in Paradise or other affected areas, search for unclaimed property that may have been left behind.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Butte County. If you have lived or worked in multiple counties, search for unclaimed money in each location. The state controller database covers all of California, but county-held funds are managed locally and require separate searches.