The program is administered by the State Controller’s Office, which currently safeguards unclaimed property valued at more than $15 billion.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — February 2026 will be Unclaimed Property Month in California, an effort state leaders say could help people reconnect with money and property that belong to them.

State Controller Malia Cohen, joined by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, announced the designation following the adoption of Assembly House Resolution 79. The resolution is meant to raise awareness about California’s Unclaimed Property program and encourage people to search for assets that may have been lost or forgotten.

The program is administered by the State Controller’s Office, which currently safeguards unclaimed property valued at more than $15 billion. According to the Controller’s Office, the program holds more than 84 million individual properties that could be returned to nearly 39 million Californians.

Since 1959, the consumer protection program has required businesses and other entities to return property when they lose contact with its owner. That property can include forgotten bank accounts, stocks, bonds, uncashed checks, insurance benefits and the contents of safe deposit boxes.

“My office is safeguarding more than $15 billion in unclaimed property, representing over 84 million individual properties waiting to be returned to nearly 39 million Californians. In these uncertain times, taking a few minutes to visit claimit.ca.gov could mean reconnecting you or your loved ones with money that’s rightfully yours,” said Controller Cohen. “I want to thank Assemblymember Valencia for authoring HR 79 to help raise awareness about California’s financial lost and found.”

Valencia said the state returns hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed property every year. 

“As Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, I am excited to join State Controller Malia Cohen to recognize this February as Unclaimed Property Month. A quick search could put money back in your wallet,” said Valencia.

Officials are asking Californians to visit the State Controller’s claimit.ca.gov website to learn more about the program and search for unclaimed property.

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