Home Public Services Search for Unclaimed Property Frequently Asked Questions Searching for Property

Searching for Property

If you have reason to believe that your property was sent to the State Controller’s Office for safekeeping but you did not find it listed on our website, please contact the State Controller’s Office, Unclaimed Property Division, at (800) 992-4647 for assistance.

What is an “Investigator?”

Investigators (sometimes referred to as “asset locators” or “heir finders”) are individuals or companies that offer to search for unclaimed property and file claims on behalf of owners and heirs. It is against the law for investigators to charge a fee greater than 10 percent of the value of the property returned to owners. There are no fee restrictions for investigators filing for owners or heirs of county probated estates.

Searching and claiming property through the State Controller’s Office’s website is always free at claimit.ca.gov.

I received a letter from the State Controller’s Office. Is it legitimate?

You may receive a letter in the mail from the State Controller’s Office that looks like this. The purpose of this letter is to notify owners that a business has their property before it is turned over to the state’s custody. If you have questions about this notice, contact the State Controller’s Office, Unclaimed Property Division, at (800) 992-4647 for assistance.

Where Do I Go To Search For Unclaimed Property Held By Other California Government Agencies?

You can start your search for Unclaimed Property held by other California Government agencies through their websites.

California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) Examples of unclaimed property held by CalSTRS include uncashed and returned checks, unclaimed survivor benefits, or dormant accounts.