California is urging residents to check if they have any unclaimed property including lost money and other valuables. Residents are encouraged to check the online database to see if any money held by the State Controller's Office could be theirs.

Last year the office's press secretary, Jennifer Hanson told NBC7 "It's uncashed paychecks, inactive bank accounts, insurance benefits, safe-deposit box contents... Your grandma may have bought Treasury bonds in your name that you never knew about and they were sitting there for years. We will have them sitting there waiting for you to claim."

The most common types of unclaimed property also include stocks, bonds, and wages. So, how does this money end up there? California's Unclaimed Property Law requires entities like banks, insurance companies, and corporations to report and submit their customers' property to the State Controller's Office when there has been no activity for a period of time, usually three years. Luckily, there is no deadline for claiming your property once it is transferred over to the State Controller's Office.

You can search for your property HERE and narrow down the results by entering an address and property number. Claims can be made electronically or by mail. For filing instructions and information on required documentation, click here.

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