Reclaiming Dormant Savings Bonds From the State Controller’s Office

If you or a loved one once invested in U.S. savings bonds and then forgot about them—or never received them—there’s a good chance those funds are now in the custody of the California State Controller’s Office (SCO). Dormant savings bonds, like many other financial assets, can become unclaimed property when their rightful owners fail to cash them or update their information. Fortunately, the process of reclaiming these funds is not as difficult as it may seem.

In this guide, we’ll explore how savings bonds become unclaimed, how they’re handled by the State Controller’s Office, and—most importantly—how you can reclaim them or help a loved one do so.

What Are Dormant Savings Bonds?

U.S. savings bonds are low-risk investments issued by the Department of the Treasury. They’re designed to help individuals save over time, often maturing over a period of 20 to 30 years. However, when bonds reach maturity and remain uncashed, they can become dormant. In California, after a period of inactivity—typically three years—such financial assets may be reported to the SCO as unclaimed property.

Dormant savings bonds can include:

Series EE and Series I Bonds that have reached final maturity
Paper savings bonds issued to individuals who later changed names or addresses
Bonds issued to deceased individuals whose heirs may be unaware of their existence

Why Savings Bonds Go Unclaimed

There are many reasons savings bonds fall through the cracks and wind up as unclaimed property:

Relocation: Bondholders move and forget to update contact info.
Death without estate planning: Heirs are unaware of the deceased’s investments.
Lost paper bonds: Physical bonds are misplaced, destroyed, or never received.
Lack of awareness: Some individuals forget they purchased bonds or were gifted them.
Changes in name: Marriage or legal name changes may result in mismatched ownership records.

The Role of the California State Controller’s Office

The State Controller’s Office acts as the custodian of unclaimed property in California. When banks, brokers, or other financial institutions lose contact with a bondholder, they may turn the property over to the SCO. The Controller’s Unclaimed Property Division then safeguards the funds until the rightful owner (or heir) claims them.

The SCO does not issue new savings bonds—instead, they hold the cash value of the bond after liquidating it. This makes reclaiming savings bonds from the state simpler than retrieving paper bonds from the Treasury Department.

How to Check If You Have Dormant Bonds in California

You can check whether you or a loved one has dormant savings bonds or any other unclaimed property by visiting the official California unclaimed property search tool:

🔗 https://ucpi.sco.ca.gov/ucp/

Simply enter your first and last name (or the name of a deceased relative), and the database will return matches for:

Unclaimed savings bonds
Refunds
Bank accounts
Dividends
Insurance payments
And more

Step-by-Step: Reclaiming Dormant Savings Bonds From the SCO

Here’s how to start the recovery process if you discover you or a loved one has dormant savings bonds listed:

Step 1: Search and Identify Your Claim

Use the SCO search tool to locate unclaimed property in your name.
Click “Claim This Property” and follow the on-screen prompts.
Take note of the Property ID and amount listed.

Step 2: Gather Required Documentation

Depending on the situation, the following documents may be required:

Valid government-issued ID
Social Security number
Proof of address or old documents (e.g., utility bills)
Marriage certificate or name change documents
Death certificate (if claiming on behalf of a deceased person)
Probate court orders or wills

Step 3: File Your Claim

Complete the claim form online.
Print and sign the form.
Attach supporting documents.
Mail the package to: California State Controller’s Office
Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, CA 94250-5873

Step 4: Wait for Processing

Most claims take 30–180 days to process. If the documentation is incomplete, the process may take longer.

Special Notes for Heirs and Beneficiaries

If you are the heir of someone who passed away and left behind savings bonds:

You can still file a claim with the SCO.
You must provide proof of death and legal documentation proving your right to the property (e.g., a will, trust, or court order).
If the estate was never probated, you may need to go through small estate procedures or file a declaration under Probate Code § 13100.

This process can be handled more efficiently with the help of a professional property locator service like Claim My California Property, especially in cases involving multiple heirs or incomplete paperwork.

Benefits of Using a Professional Asset Recovery Service

While the SCO offers the tools to file on your own, using a service like Claim My California Property (CMCP) has significant advantages:

Faster processing due to correctly filed documentation
Expert navigation of complex claims, including estates and trusts
Avoidance of delays from rejected or incomplete submissions
Representation for out-of-state or international heirs
No upfront fees—services are typically offered on a contingency basis

Real Case Example: Sylvia’s Forgotten Bonds

Sylvia’s parents bought her $5,000 in Series EE bonds when she was born in 1982. She never knew about them, and her parents passed away when she was in her 30s. Years later, a friend mentioned California’s unclaimed property website. Sylvia searched her name and was shocked to find a claim listed under her childhood address.

With the help of CMCP, she gathered the necessary documentation, including her birth certificate and her parents’ death certificates. In less than two months, she received a check for over $10,000—the matured value of the bonds.

What If You Can’t Find the Bonds in California’s Database?

If the bonds were never reported to the SCO, they may still be with the U.S. Treasury. You can:

Use Treasury Hunt to search for matured bonds:
🔗 https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/treasury-hunt/
File Form 1048 (Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed U.S. Savings Bonds)
Provide as much information as possible (names, SSNs, dates, addresses)

However, this process is often longer and more complicated than claiming from the California SCO.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Dormant savings bonds can represent significant forgotten wealth. With interest compounding over decades, a bond purchased for $1,000 in the 1980s may now be worth several times that amount. The good news is that the California State Controller’s Office is holding these funds in trust for you—and you have a right to claim them.

Whether you’re recovering your own funds or filing on behalf of a deceased relative, help is available. Claim My California Property specializes in tracking down these long-lost assets and ensuring the money makes it back into the hands of rightful owners.

Need Help Reclaiming Your Bonds?

Let our experienced investigators handle the paperwork, search, and follow-up for you. We work on contingency, so you don’t pay unless we recover money on your behalf.

Visit ClaimMyCAProperty.com to start your claim today.