The State requires
- Correct documents for this property
- Proof connecting you to the reported address
- Proof of SSN and a signed form
- Mailing and follow-up during State review
HomeDIY vs. recovery service
What it actually takes
Filing yourself vs. using Unclaimit — what it actually takes.
The State’s online form is the first ten percent of a claim. What follows is gathering the correct proofs for that exact property, association to the reported address, proof of SSN, a signed form — and follow-through during State review. Claims that arrive incomplete are pended or denied. Unclaimit prepares the claim package; you provide the required documents and sign the forms. California SCO guidance requires notarization when the total cash properties in a claim are $10,000 or more, and for securities or safe-deposit-box claims at any amount. Follow your SCO-issued form; conflicting instructions need staff review. You never pay a dime out of pocket.
Nothing out of pocketFee paid only from recoveryDocuments and signatures
The State requires
Correct proofsProperty, address, and SSN evidence
Follow-throughSigned forms, mailing, and review
Unclaimit does
Claim preparation and follow-upWe verify, prepare, mail, and track
Nothing out of pocketEvery cost comes out of the fee
The complete process
What the State requires — and what we do
We prepare the package; you provide documents and sign
- Verify the match and ownership
- Prepare the complete documentation package
- Mail with prepaid postage and track delivery
- Follow up through State review and payment
Every cost comes out of the fee; you pay nothing out of pocket, and only if money is recovered.
Already started?
Finish my claim →We can finish the claim you began
Trust rules
Clear fees and state review
10% legal max
California law caps the applicable state-property recovery fee at 10% (CCP §1582).
Nothing out of pocket
Every cost comes out of the fee, and the fee exists only if money is recovered.
Complete packets matter
The State reviews the signed form and supporting documents before releasing funds.
State-verified
The Controller decides ownership and releases the funds, not us.
Questions
DIY and service FAQs
Is a recovery service worth it?
The State requires the same proof either way: property-specific documents, evidence connecting you to the reported address, proof of SSN, a signed form, mailing, and follow-through during review. Unclaimit handles the verification, paperwork, mailing, and follow-through that often stand between an initiated claim and a recovery.
What's the most a service can charge in California?
For the state unclaimed-property claims described here, the fee is capped at 10% of what is recovered and applies only after the property is reported to the State.
Search first — then decide
Search official records. You do not have to choose a recovery path just to see whether a candidate exists.