California has approximately $15 billion in unclaimed funds belonging to millions of individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Meanwhile, a recent case in San Diego is once again drawing attention to money that could be waiting for its rightful owners.

  • Why it matters: A forgotten account, a check you never cashed, or even a deposit can eventually become unclaimed property.

Searching the official records directly is free and could reveal money you did not know you had.

San Diego Has More Than $1 Million Waiting to Be Claimed

San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen announced the annual period for claiming funds before the money becomes property of the county.

The funds may come from overpaid taxes, checks returned in the mail, payments that were never cashed, and other situations involving individuals or organizations that did business with the county.

  • The largest amount a single person can claim exceeds $27,000, while the smallest is $15, according to information published by the county.
  • Potential owners have until October 11, 2026, to submit a claim as part of this campaign.

California Has About $15 Billion in Unclaimed Money

The issue extends far beyond San Diego.

The California State Controller’s Office manages approximately $15 billion in California unclaimed money and property belonging to millions of individuals, businesses, and government entities.

  • These assets can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, deposits, stocks, dividends, insurance policies, trust funds, utility deposits, and more.

In June, the state also announced that it was sending letters to approximately 130,000 Californians who could have unclaimed property waiting for them.

California Has $15 Billion in Unclaimed Funds: Check If There’s Money in Your Name
California Unclaimed Funds: Check If There’s Money in Your Name – PHOTO: Shutterstock

Checking for California Unclaimed Money Is Free

Residents can search their names directly through the official California government tools. The state makes clear that there is no fee to search for property or file a claim directly.

In San Diego, the Treasurer-Tax Collector also provides its own list and system for checking funds held by the county.

It is important to distinguish between the two programs: the $1.011 million announced in San Diego is not part of a new distribution of the $15 billion held statewide. Instead, those funds are administered locally.

People who receive a letter from the California State Controller’s Office should:

  • Review the notice carefully and verify the information it contains.
  • Visit the unique URL provided in the letter and enter the claim code included in the notice.
  • Follow the instructions to confirm ownership and receive a check in approximately two weeks.
  • Contact the State Controller’s Office if they believe the notice was sent in error or if they have questions about the claim.

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What’s Next

Anyone who has lived in California, previously had an address in the state, or conducted business there can check the official records for California unclaimed money.

  • A search that takes only a few minutes could uncover anything from a small forgotten check to thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds.