How to Recover a Lost Cashier's Check From the State Controller in California

You have three years to recover a cashier's check from the State of California.

In California, the state's chief fiscal officer is called the Controller. And cashier's checks, payroll checks and similar types of property are turned over to the Controller's office, if not claimed within a certain time period. Under the state's unclaimed property law, corporations, businesses, banks and other entities that are holding unclaimed checks, must turn them over to the state if they're not claimed within three years. Anyone who wants to claim a cashier's check should start the retrieval process at the state Controller's website.

Instructions

1. Go to the official website of the California state controller's office, Sco.ca.gov. On the left-side of the home page, there will be a column Featured Links. Click on the button labeled "Search for Unclaimed Property." Then on the next page, there will be a column on the left-side of the page labeled Online Claim Services.

2. Click the link under the Online Claim Services column labeled "Start Your Search." You will then navigate to a page titled Unclaimed Property Search. Read the information at the top of the page about California's unclaimed property law, then read the information about the purpose of the search page and how it's to be used.

3. Type your last and first names in the search box on the Unclaimed Property Search page and the city you're located in, if you're searching for a check made out to an individual. If you're looking for a check that was made out to a business, click the button labeled "Business/Government Search" instead, then enter the business's name and city in the applicable search fields.

4. Click the "Search" button to check the database. After a few moments, a list of names and additional information should appear. Scan through the list to find your name or business. If you find it, it should have an ID number listed with it: Write the number down. Then click the number on the site and a page should appear giving you instructions on what to do next.

5. Download, print and read the claim affirmation form, which will be linked to the website's claim instructions page. Fill the form out, then mail it to the controller's office. The address is: Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. Make sure you sign the form and include copies of the required proof of identity documents listed on the form.

Tips & Warnings

• Because the controller's office receives a large number of claims, it can take the office up to six months to process claims after they're filed.

References

• California Controller: Unclaimed Property
• California Controller: Unclaimed Property Search