Frequently Asked Questions

Unclaimed funds are financial assets abandoned or forgotten by their rightful owners. Common causes:

• Address changes: You moved without updating all institutions
• Forgotten accounts: Old bank accounts, insurance policies, or investments left inactive
• Uncashed checks: Refunds, dividends, or payroll checks never deposited
• Deceased relatives: Inheritance or assets you were unaware of
• Business closures: Deposits or refunds from companies that shut down

In the United States, over $60 billion in unclaimed property is held by state governments. In California alone, over $14 billion is waiting to be returned to rightful owners.

Many people are surprised to discover they have unclaimed funds. You may have money waiting if:

• You have moved frequently and lost track of accounts
• Relatives have passed away and may have left assets
• You have worked for companies that closed or changed ownership
• You held insurance policies, utility deposits, or investment accounts
• You received unclaimed property notifications and ignored them

The only way to know for certain is a comprehensive search. We use proprietary methods including licensed Private Investigator access to databases not available to the public — going far beyond what state websites show.

DIY limitations:

• State websites only show a fraction of available funds
• You must search each state individually — most people have lived in multiple states
• Many databases are not publicly accessible
• 47% of DIY claims denied for incomplete paperwork (CA State Controller, 2024 Annual Report)
• DIY filers wait 6–12 months vs. our 3–6 months with direct State relationships

Our approach:

• Multi-state database search using current and all previous names
• Access to federal and private databases not available to the public
• Professional document preparation by licensed Private Investigators
• State-commissioned notary included — no out-of-pocket notary costs
• Direct relationships with California State Controller for faster processing

We find 3x more funds than typical self-searches, with a 98% success rate vs. 53% for DIY.

Zero upfront costs. We work on a contingency fee basis:

• No fees if we do not recover your money
• You only pay when funds are successfully recovered
• No hidden fees, retainers, or surprise charges
• Our fee is a percentage of funds recovered at industry standard rates
• You keep the majority of all recovered funds
• We also cover notary costs — no out-of-pocket expenses at all

Our contingency model means our incentives are perfectly aligned with yours. We only win when you win.

Timeline breakdown:

• Initial search: 1–2 business days
• Document preparation: 3–5 business days
• Claim submission: Same day documents are ready
• California State processing: 3–6 months for standard claims
• Estate/probate cases: 6–12 months due to probate requirements

What affects timing:

• Claim complexity and documentation required
• Current California State Controller backlog
• Whether genealogical research is needed

If the State requests additional documentation, we file an appeal or response within 48 hours at no additional charge.

Yes — fully licensed and bonded in California.

• Licensed Private Investigators on staff (CA Bureau of Security and Investigative Services)
• State-commissioned notary public — background checked and bonded
• Bonded and insured for client protection
• BBB A+ rating with verified accreditation
• 5.0 stars from 43 verified Google reviews
• Physical office: 3 E 3rd Ave Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94401

Red flags that signal a scam: upfront fees, pressure to sign immediately, no physical address, no verifiable license numbers, guaranteed specific dollar amounts before searching.

Our 98% success rate and $5M+ recovered for 100+ Californians speak for themselves.

Required to begin a search:

• Full legal name, including all previous names (maiden name, name changes)
• Current and all previous addresses
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number — for identity verification only, never shared

Helpful additional information:

• Names of deceased relatives who may have left assets
• Previous employers or business associations
• All states where you have lived or worked
• Any unclaimed property notices you have received

Your data is protected: 256-bit bank-level encryption, fully compliant with California privacy law (CCPA), and never shared with third parties.

We recover all types of California unclaimed property:

• Bank accounts: Dormant savings, checking, and CDs
• Life insurance: Payouts and policy refunds
• Investment accounts: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, dividends
• Payroll and benefits: Uncashed paychecks, commissions, retirement funds
• Utility deposits: Electric, gas, water, phone refunds
• Court funds: Judgments, settlements, class action distributions
• Tax refunds: Unclaimed federal and state refunds
• Safe deposit boxes: Contents from abandoned boxes
• Bankruptcy distributions: Funds from dissolved companies

We search for every type of unclaimed asset you may be entitled to under California law — not just the obvious ones.

We specialize in complex inheritance and estate cases.

• Heir location: We find all eligible beneficiaries
• Genealogical research: Licensed PI conducts professional family tree investigation
• Legal documentation: Probate court documents, heir affidavits, letters testamentary
• Multi-heir coordination: We work with all parties for smooth distribution

Typical documentation required:

• Death certificate from county registrar
• Proof of relationship (birth or marriage certificates)
• Probate court documents if estate was probated
• Heir affidavits signed by all beneficiaries

Average estate recovery: $42,000–$69,000. These are often the largest and most impactful cases we handle.

Honest answer: No one can guarantee unclaimed funds exist for every person. What we can tell you: 1 in 10 Americans has unclaimed property, and California holds over $14 billion waiting.

What we guarantee:

• Comprehensive search of every available California and federal database
• Zero cost if we find nothing — you pay nothing if we do not recover funds
• Regular updates throughout the entire process
• 98% success rate on cases we accept

Track record: $5M+ recovered for 100+ California clients. Average recovery of $12,000 per successful case. Many clients recover funds they never knew existed.

Verifiable credentials:

• CA Private Investigator License — verify at CA Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
• State-Commissioned Notary — background checked, bonded by CA Secretary of State
• BBB A+ rating — verify at bbb.org
• 5.0 stars, 43 Google reviews — real clients, real names
• Physical office: 3 E 3rd Ave Suite 200, San Mateo, CA 94401
• Direct phone: (650) 761-7847

Actual scam warning signs:

• ❌ Demands upfront fees or credit card before searching
• ❌ High-pressure tactics to sign immediately
• ❌ Guarantees specific dollar amounts before any search
• ❌ No physical address, no verifiable license numbers
• ❌ Communication only by email or text, no phone

Still unsure? Call the California State Controller Office at (800) 992-4647 — they will confirm that licensed recovery firms like ours are legal, regulated, and commonly used for complex claims.