Kern County Unclaimed Property

Kern County runs its own unclaimed money search website where you can look for funds that may belong to you. The county Treasurer-Tax Collector maintains an online database of unclaimed property. This includes checks issued by the county that were never cashed and other funds held by county departments. You can search the database by name to see if you have money waiting. Kern County also provides information about other unclaimed property programs in the area. The California State Controller holds most unclaimed property from businesses across the state. Residents of Bakersfield and other Kern County communities should search both the county database and the state controller website. The county database covers local government funds. The state database includes bank accounts, paychecks, insurance money, and more from businesses statewide. Both searches are free and take just minutes to complete.

Kern County Unclaimed Money Programs

The Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector provides an online unclaimed money search. You can use this website to search for money that may belong to you. There is no charge to file a claim for unclaimed money held by Kern County. The database lists funds from various county sources including uncashed checks, property tax refunds, and deposits.

Common sources of Kern County unclaimed money include property tax refunds from reduced assessments or overpayments, vendor payments to contractors who did work for the county, employee reimbursements that were never collected, and deposits for permits or services. If you did business with Kern County or owned property here, you may have funds in the system. The county makes efforts to locate owners, but sometimes people move or contact information becomes outdated.

To claim Kern County unclaimed money, search the online database first. If you find property in your name, contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490 for questions about the search. For help with filing a claim, contact the Auditor at (661) 868-3536. Staff 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 or releases the funds to you.

Kern 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 gives you a window to file a claim before funds become county property. Check the online database regularly if you think you may have unclaimed money with Kern County.

California State Controller Unclaimed Property

Most unclaimed property in Kern County ends up with the California State Controller. Banks, employers, insurance companies, utilities, and other businesses turn over unclaimed property to the state after set dormancy periods. The state holds over $11 billion waiting for owners. Kern County, with over 900,000 residents, accounts for a significant portion of that total. Search the state database at the unclaimed property search portal to see if you have funds waiting.

The search is free and simple. Enter your name or business name. The database 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 speeds up the process compared to mailing paper forms.

California law sets 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.

Kern County has a diverse economy based on oil production, agriculture, and manufacturing. The county is one of the top oil-producing areas in California. Agriculture is also major with farms producing crops year-round. These industries create many opportunities for unclaimed property to arise. Oil workers may have unclaimed wages from jobs they left. Farm workers may have final paychecks they never collected. Small business owners may have uncashed checks from customers or vendors. All of these situations lead to property ending up with the state controller.

Note: The state controller processes all claims for free and never charges any fees.

How to File a Claim

For Kern County unclaimed money, start by searching the county online database. If you find property in your name, call the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490 with questions about the search. To file a claim, contact the Auditor at (661) 868-3536. They will guide you through the claim process and tell you what documents to provide. The county verifies your identity and ownership then releases the funds 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 filing a claim. Some claims can be filed online. You create an account, upload documents, and track your claim status 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 additional documents. The state requires a death certificate. You also need proof you are the legal heir. This could be a will naming you as beneficiary, 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 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 are the most common type. 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. Kern County residents who move away for work or school 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. Kern County's oil and agriculture industries employ many people. Workers who move to other jobs or locations may have unclaimed wages sitting with the state.

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 PG&E or local utilities
• Escrow refunds from home purchases or refinances
• Court deposits, settlements, and legal fees
• Safe deposit box contents from closed accounts
• Royalties from oil, gas, or mineral rights
• Uncashed money orders and cashier's checks

Kern County funds are specific to the county. These include property tax refunds, vendor payments for work done for the county, employee reimbursements, and deposits for permits or services. Anyone who did business with Kern County or owned property here should check the county database. 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 Kern 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 Kern County and across California.

County unclaimed property follows different rules. Government Code sections 50050 through 50057 apply to local agencies. Counties must hold unclaimed money for three years before it can escheat to the county general fund. This differs from state-held property which never escheats. Kern County can absorb unclaimed county funds into its budget after the three year waiting period expires.

Contact Information for Claims

For Kern County unclaimed money, contact the Treasurer-Tax Collector at (661) 868-3490 for questions about the search database. For help filing claims, contact the Auditor at (661) 868-3536. You can also visit the Kern County website at kcttc.co.kern.ca.us for more information about county services and unclaimed property programs.

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 Kern 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 Kern County or elsewhere in California.

Major Cities in Kern County

Kern County has one city with a population over 100,000. Residents of Bakersfield and other Kern County communities should check both the county database and state controller website for unclaimed money.

Other communities in Kern County include Delano, Ridgecrest, Wasco, Shafter, and many unincorporated areas. All county residents can have unclaimed property regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kern 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.