Money The State Is Holding
Code Civ. Proc. 1540 — a verified claim, 180 days for the Controller, and no interest
In California, a person who claims to have been the owner of property paid or delivered to the Controller may file a claim to the property or to the net proceeds of its sale, on the Controller's form and verified by the claimant.
180 days. The Controller considers each claim within 180 days after it is filed, may hold a hearing, and gives written notice if the claim is denied in whole or in part.
Who counts as the owner. The person with the legal right to the property before it escheated, that person's heirs or estate representative, a guardian or conservator, or a public administrator acting under the Probate Code.
No interest. Interest is not payable on any claim paid under the chapter.
| The question | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The questionHow to claim | The statute's answerA verified claim on the Controller's form |
| The questionHow long the Controller has | The statute's answer180 days to consider it |
| The questionInterest | The statute's answerNot payable |
Court actions after a denial and investigator agreements are not on this page. Whether a particular claim will be paid is a question for the state's unclaimed property office or a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Code Civ. Proc. 1540 — Payment of claims for unclaimed property
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.