Inyo County Unclaimed Funds

Inyo County publishes annual notices of unclaimed funds held by the county. The Treasurer-Tax Collector releases these publications listing people and businesses with money waiting to be claimed. Recent publications show tens of thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds. You can also search the California State Controller database for other types of unclaimed property. The state holds bank accounts, paychecks, insurance money, and more. Residents of Bishop, Lone Pine, and other Inyo County communities should check both the county publications and the state database. The county list covers local government funds. The state database includes property from businesses across California. Many people find money they did not know existed by searching both sources. All claims are processed free of charge whether filed with the county or the state.

Inyo County Unclaimed Funds Program

The Inyo County Treasurer-Tax Collector publishes annual notices of unclaimed funds. Recent publications include the September 2025 notice listing unclaimed funds totaling $19,003.95. These notices contain names of people and businesses with funds held by the county. The county publishes the list in local newspapers and on its website to help owners find their money.

Inyo County unclaimed funds come from various sources. These include property tax refunds, vendor payments, deposits that were never claimed, and checks that were never cashed. The county issues checks throughout the year. Some never get cashed because people move, the mail gets lost, or someone forgets about the payment. After a set period, these checks become unclaimed property.

To claim Inyo County funds, you must act within the deadline. Recent notices state claims must be received by 5:00 PM on the specified date, which is typically about two months after publication. Contact Christie Martindale at (760) 878-0312 to file a claim. You need to prove you are the rightful owner. This usually means providing your name, address, and some form of identification. The county verifies your claim and issues a new check if approved.

Inyo County follows Government Code sections 50050 through 50057 for local unclaimed property. These laws require counties to hold unclaimed money for three years. After three years, if no one claims it, the money can escheat to the county general fund. This means the county can use the funds for its budget. You have three years to file a claim before funds become county property. Check the county website regularly for new publications if you think you may have unclaimed money.

California State Controller Unclaimed Property

Most unclaimed property in Inyo County ends up with the California State Controller. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses report unclaimed property to the state. The state holds over $11 billion waiting for owners. Inyo County residents can search the state database at the unclaimed property search portal to see if they have funds waiting.

The search is free and simple. Enter your name or business name. The system returns all matches. You see what type of property is held, which business reported it, and an estimated value. If you find property that belongs to you, click on it to start a claim. Many claims can be filed online which makes the process faster than mailing paper forms.

California law sets different dormancy periods for different property types. Bank accounts become unclaimed after three years of no activity. Paychecks go to the state after one year. Money orders must be held for seven years before being reported. These rules are in Code of Civil Procedure section 1513. Once property reaches the state, there is no deadline for claiming it. Property from decades ago can still be claimed if you prove ownership.

Inyo County has a small population spread across a large geographic area. The county includes parts of Death Valley and the Owens Valley. Tourism is a major industry with visitors coming to see natural attractions. Seasonal workers at resorts and parks may leave without collecting final paychecks. Property owners who visit occasionally may have utility deposits they forgot about. Retirees who moved to the area may have old accounts from other parts of California. All of these situations lead to unclaimed property that sits with the state controller.

Note: The state controller processes all claims for free and never charges fees to claim your property.

How to Claim Unclaimed Money

For Inyo County funds, start by checking the county publications page. Look through the list to see if your name appears. If you find your name, contact Christie Martindale at (760) 878-0312 before the deadline. The county will ask you to verify your identity. You may need to provide a driver's license, Social Security number, and other information. Once verified, the county reissues the check and mails it to you.

For state controller claims, go to the main unclaimed property page and search for your name. When you find property that belongs to you, the website guides you through the claim process. Some claims can be filed online. You create an account, upload documents, and track your claim electronically. Other claims require paper forms that you mail in. The website tells you which method to use.

You must prove you are the rightful owner. For small claims under $1,000, you may only need basic information like your name, address, and Social Security number. The state verifies your identity through databases. For claims over $1,000, you must sign the form in front of a notary public. Notarization helps prevent fraud on higher value claims.

If you are claiming money that belonged to someone who died, you need more documents. The state requires a death certificate. You also need proof you are the legal heir. This could be a will naming you, a court order appointing you as executor, or a Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 for smaller estates. Business claims require articles of incorporation or other business formation documents.

Forms you may need include:

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

Mail completed paper claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. You can also visit in person at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The controller reviews claims within 180 days. Simple claims take 30 to 60 days. Complex claims involving heirs or businesses can take longer. The state does not pay interest, so you receive the original amount that was turned in.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Bank accounts make up a large portion of unclaimed property. Checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit become unclaimed after three years of no activity. Banks try to reach account holders, but if mail comes back or the owner never responds, the account goes to the state. Inyo County residents who move away may leave accounts behind. Even small balances get turned over to the state.

Paychecks go unclaimed when employers cannot locate former employees. Final paychecks are especially common. Someone leaves a job and the last check goes to an old address. The employer holds it for a year then reports it to the state. Seasonal workers in Inyo County's tourism industry may have unclaimed wages from jobs they left. Students who worked summer jobs may forget about final checks when they return to school.

Insurance proceeds often become unclaimed. Life insurance pays when someone dies, but beneficiaries may not know a policy exists. The insurance company tries to find them but eventually turns the money over to the state. Health insurance overpayments, auto insurance refunds, and property insurance claim checks also get reported. If you changed insurance companies or let a policy lapse, you may have refunds waiting.

Other types include:

• Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
• Utility deposits from electric, gas, water, or phone companies
• Escrow refunds from home purchases or refinances
• Court deposits, settlements, and legal fees
• Safe deposit box contents from closed accounts
• Royalties from mineral rights or geothermal interests
• Uncashed money orders and cashier's checks

Inyo County funds are specific to the county. These include property tax refunds from successful assessment appeals, vendor payments for work done for the county, employee reimbursements, and deposits that were never claimed. Anyone who did business with Inyo County or owned property here should check the county publications. These funds do not appear in the state database because they are held locally by the county.

California Unclaimed Property Laws

State unclaimed property law is found in the Code of Civil Procedure sections 1500 through 1582. These statutes govern how businesses handle unclaimed property. Banks, insurance companies, employers, utilities, and other businesses must follow these rules. Any business operating in Inyo County that holds unclaimed property must report it to the state controller.

Businesses file annual reports. Most businesses file by November 1 each year. Life insurance companies file by May 1. Before reporting property, businesses must try to contact the owner. Section 1530 requires written notice to the owner's last known address. The notice must go out at least six months before the business files its report. If property is worth $50 or more and the business has an address, notice is mandatory.

The state controller decides whether to approve claims. According to section 1540, the controller must decide within 180 days of receiving a complete claim. The state does not pay interest on unclaimed property. You receive the amount the bank or business reported when it turned the property over to the state.

Penalties apply to businesses that fail to comply. Willful violations can be prosecuted as misdemeanors under sections 1576 and 1577. Late delivery of property results in a 12 percent annual interest penalty. These rules encourage businesses to follow the law and protect property owners in Inyo County and across California.

County unclaimed property follows different rules. Government Code sections 50050 through 50057 apply to local agencies. Counties must publish annual notices of unclaimed funds. If no one claims the money within three years, it escheats to the county general fund. This differs from state-held property which never escheats. Inyo County can absorb unclaimed county funds into its budget after the three year waiting period expires.

Contact Information for Claims

For Inyo County unclaimed funds, contact Christie Martindale at (760) 878-0312. You can also visit the Inyo County website at inyocounty.us for more information about county services and unclaimed funds publications. The county seat is in Independence where most county offices are located.

For California State Controller unclaimed property, call (800) 992-4647 toll-free from anywhere in the United States. If calling from outside the US, dial (916) 323-2827. The call center operates during regular business hours and can help with search questions and claim filing. You can also contact the controller through an online form.

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

Other Unclaimed Property Resources

Several other agencies hold unclaimed funds for Inyo County residents. CalPERS manages retirement benefits for California public employees. If you worked for a government agency, school district, or other public employer, you may have unclaimed pension funds. Call (888) 225-7377 to search CalPERS records or file a claim.

CalSTRS holds unclaimed property for teachers and school employees. If you worked in education and left teaching without claiming your retirement account, CalSTRS may be holding it. Call (800) 228-5453 to inquire about CalSTRS unclaimed property.

The California Department of Insurance provides access to a national life insurance policy locator. This service helps you find policies when you do not know which company issued them. The consumer hotline is (800) 927-4357 for questions about insurance and unclaimed benefits.

Check the California Franchise Tax Board for old tax refunds. State tax refund checks are good for six months. After that, you must request a replacement. Call (800) 852-5711 for help with unclaimed or expired tax refunds.

The California Employment Development Department handles unclaimed unemployment and disability insurance benefits. File a claim using form DE 903SD. There is no fee to claim these funds. Call (800) 300-5616 for unemployment insurance or (800) 480-3287 for disability insurance. Each program operates separately from the state controller and county systems, so check them all if you think you have unclaimed money in Inyo County or elsewhere in California.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Inyo County. If you lived or worked in multiple counties, search for unclaimed money in each location. The state controller database covers all of California, but county programs operate separately.