How to Reclaim Inheritance Funds Held by the State of California
Every year, thousands of Californians unknowingly leave behind valuable inheritance funds—unclaimed life insurance proceeds, forgotten bank accounts, dividends, stock portfolios, and estate distributions. These funds often end up in the custody of the California State Controller’s Office (SCO) as unclaimed property, awaiting rightful heirs to claim what is legally theirs.
If you believe you’re entitled to inheritance from a deceased relative, you may be surprised to find that the funds are being held by the state. The good news? You can reclaim them—even years after the original owner’s death. This guide breaks down the step-by-step process for reclaiming inheritance funds held by the State of California, what documents you need, common roadblocks, and how a professional asset locator can help.
What Are Inheritance Funds?
Inheritance funds refer to any assets passed on from a deceased person to their heirs or beneficiaries. These assets can include:
- Life insurance proceeds
- Bank accounts and safe deposit boxes
- Uncashed dividend checks
- Unclaimed pension and retirement plans
- Mutual funds or stocks
- Real estate proceeds (from sales or escheated assets)
- Final paychecks
- Trust distributions
If these assets are not claimed or transferred by the rightful heirs within a certain timeframe, they may be turned over to the state under California’s Unclaimed Property Law.
Why Does California Hold Inheritance Funds?
When a financial institution, insurance company, or executor of an estate cannot contact a rightful heir or beneficiary, California law requires these assets to be reported and turned over to the state after a dormancy period (typically 3 years). The State Controller’s Office (SCO) then becomes the custodian of the funds and maintains a searchable public database.
In essence, the State of California acts as a temporary caretaker of these assets—not an owner. Your job is to prove your right to claim them.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Reclaim Inheritance Funds in California
1. Search the California Unclaimed Property Database
Go to the California State Controller’s Office website and enter:
- Your full legal name
- Past last names (e.g., maiden names)
- Names of deceased relatives you believe left funds behind
Use variations and partial spellings for a broader search.
💡 Pro Tip: If your parent, grandparent, aunt, or sibling passed away and you suspect they left something behind, search under their name.
2. Identify the Property You’re Entitled To
Look through the search results for properties that match:
- Known addresses of your deceased relative
- Business names they were associated with
- Financial institutions they used
- Familiar property descriptions (e.g., “mutual fund account”)
Each listing includes a Property ID which you’ll use to file a claim.
3. Gather Required Documentation
To claim inheritance funds, you must provide:
A. For All Claims
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Completed claim form (auto-generated after clicking “Claim”)
B. For Inheritance Claims
- Certified copy of the relative’s death certificate
- Proof of your relationship (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate)
- Estate-related documents such as:
- Will or trust (if available)
- Small Estate Affidavit (Probate Code §13100)
- Letters of Administration (if probate occurred)
If there are multiple heirs, you may also need:
- Consent letters or renunciation forms from other beneficiaries
- Court orders (if any disputes occurred)
4. Submit the Claim
You can file the claim online or mail it with supporting documents to:
State Controller’s Office – Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 942850
Sacramento, CA 94250-5873
Make sure to retain copies of everything for your records.
5. Wait for Verification and Processing
The average processing time ranges from 60 to 180 days, depending on the complexity of the case.
If any documents are missing, unclear, or disputed, the state will contact you for clarification. During this time, your claim status can be tracked online using the Property ID.
Common Issues and How to Overcome Them
❌ Problem: You Can’t Prove the Family Relationship
Solution: Use certified documents to establish lineage. If the chain of relationship is long (e.g., grand-niece claiming for great-aunt), include all birth/death/marriage certificates connecting the line.
❌ Problem: The Estate Was Never Probated
Solution: In California, if the estate was valued at less than $184,500, you can use a Small Estate Affidavit under Probate Code §13100 to avoid probate.
❌ Problem: You Don’t Have the Will or Trust
Solution: The SCO doesn’t require a will if you can establish rightful heirship under California intestate succession law. They may ask for other heirs to sign off or provide a family tree.
❌ Problem: The Claim Is Rejected
Solution: Many claims are denied due to missing paperwork, errors in documentation, or lack of notarization. You can refile the claim after correcting the issues, or seek help from a professional asset investigator.
Should You Hire a Professional Asset Locator?
Professional asset locators (also called heir finders or unclaimed property specialists) can:
- Investigate and uncover multiple properties across databases and states
- Build the documentation package for you
- Handle complicated relationships and missing paperwork
- Speed up the process and reduce rejection risk
While they charge a finder’s fee (typically 10–20%), their knowledge of estate law, document preparation, and SCO procedures can be invaluable—especially for high-value or multi-heir claims.
Important Legal Tip: Statute of Limitations
Unlike other states, California does not have a time limit for claiming unclaimed property. Even if the funds have been held for 30+ years, you or your heirs can still file a claim—provided you can prove your right.
Real Example
Case: Reclaiming Father’s Inheritance
Marisol S., a Los Angeles resident, discovered that her late father’s life insurance company turned over $22,000 in unclaimed funds to the state in 2007. She found the listing on the SCO database in 2024. Despite the passage of 17 years, she filed a claim with:
- Her father’s death certificate
- Her birth certificate showing him as her father
- A Small Estate Affidavit
In just 11 weeks, the funds were released to her.
What Happens if Multiple Heirs Are Involved?
The SCO will not release full funds to a single heir unless the others:
- Submit their own claims OR
- Sign a release or renunciation form
If the estate was handled in probate court, a court order or Letters of Administration will determine how the funds are divided.
What If You’re an Executor?
If you’re the executor or administrator of the estate and trying to recover funds on behalf of the estate:
- Provide a certified copy of the court-issued Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Prove the estate’s legal right to claim the property
- Distribute according to the will, trust, or California intestate law
Final Checklist Before Submitting a Claim
✅ Search all name variations
✅ Confirm address and institution details
✅ Get certified copies of vital records
✅ Prove relationship or authority
✅ Fill out claim form completely
✅ Sign and notarize where required
✅ Mail or upload supporting docs
Let Us Help You Claim What’s Rightfully Yours
At Claim My California Property, we specialize in helping heirs, relatives, and estate representatives recover unclaimed inheritance funds held by the State of California.
We assist with:
- Complex family trees
- Missing or foreign documents
- Claims involving deceased heirs
- Fast-tracked document preparation
- High-dollar claims and multiple properties
Don’t let confusion or paperwork stop you from receiving what is legally yours. Let our expert team handle the process—so you get results.
25 Backlinks to Official Sources and Helpful Tools
- https://www.claimit.ca.gov/
- https://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_msg.html
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
- https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
- https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm
- https://probate.calbar.ca.gov/
- https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-estates.htm
- https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/unclaimed-funds
- https://www.ftb.ca.gov/
- https://www.insurance.ca.gov/
- https://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/sectransfer.htm
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/small-estates-california.html
- https://www.nass.org/business-services/unclaimed-property
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/
- https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc703
- https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/
- https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money
- https://www.ncoa.org/
- https://www.investor.gov/
- https://www.va.gov/
- https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy.html
- https://www.archives.gov/research/vital-records
- https://calbar.ca.gov/
- https://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/family_tree_affidavit.pdf