Recovering lost funds in California
California holds more abandoned funds than any other state: about $15.5 billion. Claims for estates, businesses, and securities come with strict proof requirements, and we handle them for Californians and their families.
- Status
- Registered to assist claimants in California
- Claims filed with
- California State Controller’s Office
California at a glance
Figures reported by the California State Controller’s Office.
Inside a California recovery
Estates and heirs
When the owner has died, the Controller requires court or estate documents, and every name, date, and relationship has to match its records.
We prepare the estate documents and coordinate any court work.Millions of similar records
With more than 84 million records, many share names and old addresses, so a claimant has to prove the account is really theirs.
Our research matches the account to you.Securities claims
Stock and dividends must be matched to the original owner and account records before they are released.
We gather the records that prove ownership.Business claims
Businesses must prove ownership, or succession after a merger or name change, before the Controller will pay.
We document the corporate history.How California safeguards forgotten funds
The State Controller’s Office safeguards more than 84 million individual accounts and items that could belong to nearly 39 million Californians.
The program returns roughly $1.5 million a day to people who file successful claims. With so many records, matching the right account to the right person, and proving it, is the hardest part.
When a claim involves an estate
Many of the accounts we recover belong to someone who has passed away. That is when a claim becomes a legal matter: the California State Controller’s Office releases the funds only to the person with the legal right to them, and that right has to be shown with court or estate documents.
When probate usually comes into play
- The owner died without a will, or the will was never filed with a court.
- The amount is large enough that the state requires a court-appointed representative.
- Several heirs share the funds, or some of them live in other states.
- The owner died years ago and the money has passed through more than one generation.
How we get involved
- We map the familyWe identify every legal heir under California law and document how each one is related to the owner.
- We choose the right legal pathWe determine whether an affidavit is enough or the estate needs to be opened in probate court.
- We coordinate the court workProbate attorneys in our network handle the court filings, so the executor or administrator receives the letters the state requires.
- We file with the estate documentsCertified death certificates, court letters, and affidavits go to the California State Controller’s Office with the claim, complete and in order.
How we recover California funds
We take on the research, legal paperwork, and follow-up with the California State Controller’s Office, and keep you updated until the claim is paid.
We locate and verify the account
We search California’s records, match the account to the right person, and confirm its value.
We build the proof
We trace past addresses, name changes, and family relationships, and gather the documents that prove your right to the funds.
Notary and documents
A notary from our network meets you to sign and notarize the claim, so nothing is sent back for a missing signature or seal.
We file and answer every request
We submit a complete claim to the California State Controller’s Office and respond to each follow-up request until it’s approved.
California releases your funds
Once the claim is approved, the funds are released to you.
California questions
What documents will I need for a California claim?
It depends on the account and your relationship to the owner. Every claim needs supporting documents that show you are entitled to the funds, and claims for someone who has died usually need additional documents about the estate or family relationship. We tell you exactly what’s needed and help you gather it.
Why do claims get delayed or sent back?
The most common reasons are missing or mismatched documents, names and addresses that don’t match the state’s records, and incomplete proof of an heir’s right to the funds. Each one can add months. We review every claim before it’s filed and answer the state’s follow-up requests, which is how we keep a 95% success rate.
The California State Controller’s Office logo is shown to identify the state office where claims are filed. Lifetime Financial LLC is a private company registered or licensed to assist claimants in California. We are not a government agency and are not part of, or endorsed by, the California State Controller’s Office.
Other states where we work
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Have questions about a claim?
Talk to a real person on our team. We’ll explain what we found, what happens next, and answer anything you want to know before you decide.