San Mateo County Unclaimed Funds

San Mateo County unclaimed money comes from county programs and the state controller. The San Mateo County Treasurer manages an absent and missing heir program for estate funds. The California State Controller operates the main database for property from businesses across the county. Silicon Valley tech companies, Daly City employers, and financial institutions throughout San Mateo County report unclaimed property to the state each year. The county treasurer focuses on deceased individuals whose heirs cannot be located. Search both systems because they operate independently and do not share data. The state database includes billions in property from all over California. The county program handles smaller but important estate cases. Former residents of San Mateo, Redwood City, and other county cities often discover forgotten accounts when they search. Current residents may find property from relatives who died with unknown heirs.

Absent and Missing Heir Program

San Mateo County operates an absent and missing heir program through the county treasurer. This program holds funds from estates of deceased individuals whose heirs cannot be found. When someone dies in San Mateo County without a will or with heirs who have disappeared, estate funds may end up with the county treasurer.

The program is designed to reunite heirs with their inheritance. The county does not claim ownership of these funds. They act as custodian until rightful heirs come forward. This is different from standard unclaimed property programs that deal with bank accounts and wages. The focus is specifically on estate funds.

If you believe you are an heir to a San Mateo County estate, contact the county treasurer at (650) 363-4580. You will need to prove your relationship to the deceased. Required documents typically include a death certificate, your birth certificate, and any probate court orders. If multiple heirs exist, each must provide proof of their claim.

There is no fee to claim funds from the county program. File your claim directly with the treasurer's office. This is separate from the state controller system. Do not send county heir claims to the state. Make sure you know where the funds are held before you file.

State Controller Property Database

Most San Mateo County unclaimed property goes to the California State Controller. Banks in Redwood City, Daly City, and San Mateo report dormant accounts. Tech companies and other employers turn over uncashed paychecks. Insurance companies send policy proceeds when beneficiaries cannot be located. All of this sits in the state database until claimed.

Search for free at the state controller property search database. Enter your name or a business name. The system displays the property type and estimated value. Click on any property that belongs to you to start a claim. Many claims can be completed entirely online.

San Mateo County has a high-income, mobile population. People move frequently for job opportunities in Silicon Valley. When they move, they sometimes forget about bank accounts or stock holdings. Employers must report uncashed wages after one year. Banks report dormant accounts after three years. These dormancy periods are set by Code of Civil Procedure section 1513.

The state holds property indefinitely. There is no deadline for filing a claim. Property reported 20 or 30 years ago is still available. Call (800) 992-4647 with questions about state-held property. The state controller processes all claims for free. Do not pay an asset locator or heir finder. They can charge up to 10 percent. You do not need them. File directly at no cost.

Note: The state controller never pays interest on unclaimed property, so the real value declines over time due to inflation.

Filing a Claim

Start by searching at the California State Controller unclaimed property page. Enter your name or the name of a deceased relative. If you find property, the website will guide you through the claim process. Some claims are approved instantly online. Others require mailed documents.

You must prove ownership. 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 claiming for a deceased person, you need a death certificate and proof of heirship. Business claims require incorporation documents or tax ID verification.

The Claim Affirmation Form is generated from your search results. Additional forms are available at the state controller claim filing page. Heirs claiming a small estate may use a Declaration Under Probate Code 13101. Multiple heirs use a Table of Heirship form to divide the property.

Mail completed forms to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. You can also visit the public counter at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 during business hours. Most claims are decided within 180 days. Simple cash claims may be approved in 30 to 60 days. Complex claims involving heirs or securities take longer.

For San Mateo County heir funds, contact the county treasurer at (650) 363-4580. The county has its own claim forms and procedures separate from the state. Do not mail county heir claims to the state controller.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Bank accounts are the most common form of unclaimed property. Checking accounts, savings accounts, and credit union deposits become dormant after three years of no activity. San Mateo County has many banks and credit unions. Thousands of accounts sit dormant each year. The bank tries to contact the owner. If they cannot, the account goes to the state.

Uncashed paychecks make up a large portion of unclaimed wages. San Mateo County has a diverse economy with tech companies, healthcare facilities, and service businesses. When employees leave a job and move, final paychecks may go unclaimed. Employers must report unpaid wages after one year. This includes regular pay, bonuses, stock options, and commissions.

Life insurance policies often generate unclaimed property. The policyholder dies and beneficiaries do not know about the policy. The insurance company tries to locate them but fails. After a period of dormancy, the proceeds go to the state. San Mateo County residents should search for life insurance if a relative died.

Other common types include:

• Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
• Utility deposits from PG&E or local providers
• Escrow funds from real estate transactions
• Court deposits and legal settlements
• Royalties from intellectual property or mineral rights
• Safe deposit box contents
• Matured savings bonds and CDs

San Mateo County also holds estate funds for absent and missing heirs. These are funds from deceased individuals whose heirs cannot be located. This is a specialized category separate from the state system. If you are an heir to a San Mateo County estate, check with the county treasurer.

California Unclaimed Property Law

The California Unclaimed Property Law is found in Code of Civil Procedure sections 1500 through 1582. This statute governs how businesses and financial institutions handle dormant property. It applies statewide including in San Mateo 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 reporting. This gives owners a chance to claim property before it goes to the state.

The state controller decides claims under section 1540. Most claims are decided within 180 days. No interest is paid on unclaimed property. If the state held your money for ten years, you receive the original amount only.

Businesses that fail to comply face penalties. Willful violations are misdemeanors under sections 1576 and 1577. Late delivery of property triggers a 12 percent annual interest penalty. These rules encourage San Mateo County businesses to report property on time.

County-held funds operate under Government Code sections 50050 through 50057. These sections cover unclaimed money held by cities, counties, and local agencies. Funds held for three years can escheat to the county general fund after publication. This differs from state-held property, which never escheats.

Contact Information

For California State Controller unclaimed property, call (800) 992-4647. This toll-free number operates during business hours. From outside the United States, call (916) 323-2827. You can submit questions through the state controller online contact form.

Mail claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. For in-person visits or overnight mail, use 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The public counter is open during normal business hours.

For San Mateo County absent and missing heir funds, contact the county treasurer at (650) 363-4580. The office is located in Redwood City. Visit during regular hours to ask questions or file a claim for county-held estate funds.

Other Unclaimed Money Programs

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

CalSTRS holds unclaimed property for teachers. San Mateo County has many school districts. Former teachers may have retirement accounts waiting. Call (800) 228-5453 for assistance.

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

For unclaimed state tax refunds, contact the California Franchise Tax Board at (800) 852-5711. Refund checks are valid for six months. After that, you must request a replacement.

The California Employment Development Department holds unclaimed unemployment and disability benefits. File a claim using form DE 903SD. Call (800) 300-5616 for unemployment or (800) 480-3287 for disability insurance.

The Department of Industrial Relations operates an Unpaid Wage Fund for workers owed money by employers. Call (833) 526-4636 to check. All of these programs are separate from the state controller and county treasurer.

Cities in San Mateo County

San Mateo County includes Daly City, the largest city in the county. Residents of Daly City and other San Mateo County cities can have unclaimed property held by the state or county. The state controller database covers all California cities. The county treasurer program handles absent and missing heir funds countywide.

Other cities in San Mateo County include San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica, Menlo Park, Burlingame, and Foster City. All residents of these cities should search for unclaimed property at both the state and county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near San Mateo 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 are local and require separate searches.