California Has $15 Billion in Unclaimed Money. February 2026 Push Urges Residents to Check Now

More than $15 billion in unclaimed property is currently being held by the State of California, and officials say millions of residents could have money waiting for them.

To raise awareness, February 2026 has been designated Unclaimed Property Month, a statewide effort encouraging Californians to search for lost or forgotten assets.

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How Much Money Is Sitting Unclaimed?

According to the State Controller’s Office:

• $15+ billion in unclaimed property is being safeguarded

• Over 84 million individual properties are being held

• Nearly 39 million Californians could have assets waiting to be claimed

That means a large portion of the state’s population may be eligible to recover money.

What Counts as Unclaimed Property?

Since 1959, California law has required businesses and financial institutions to turn over property when they lose contact with the owner.

Unclaimed property can include:

• Forgotten bank accounts

• Stocks and bonds

• Uncashed checks

• Insurance benefits

• Safe deposit box contents

If a company can’t reach you for a certain period of time, your assets may be transferred to the state for safekeeping.

Worth reading: The State By State Guide to Unclaimed Assets

Why February 2026 Matters

The designation of Unclaimed Property Month follows the adoption of Assembly House Resolution 79, introduced to increase awareness of the program.

State Controller Malia Cohen says the effort is about helping residents reconnect with money that rightfully belongs to them.

Officials note that the state already returns hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but billions still remain unclaimed.

How to Check if You’re Owed Money

California residents can search for unclaimed property by visiting the State Controller’s official website: claimit.ca.gov

The search is free, and claims can be filed directly through the site.

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