DECEASED OWNER HEIR CLAIM

FILING INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION

To claim property reported in the name of a deceased owner, please provide the following:

1. Completed Claim Affirmation Form signed by the deceased property owner’s representative or
heir.1 In general, a Power of Attorney instead of the claimant’s signature will not be accepted.2
A. You must notarize the Claim Affirmation Form if:
1) The total value of the claim is $1,000 or greater;
2) The claim is for safe deposit box contents; or
3) The claim is for securities, such as:
a) Stocks;
b) Mutual funds;
c) Bonds; or
d) Debentures.
B. If multiple claimants are claiming the property, please provide the following:
1) Each claimant must sign a Claim Affirmation Form. Multiple claimants may
submit their Claim Affirmation Forms together if they are sharing the same
documentation to support the claims.
a) If the claimants submit separate Claim Affirmation Forms, each claim
should contain all requested documentation.
2) If you are claiming property that belongs to a deceased co-owner, provide a copy of
the final death certificate for all deceased co-owners.

Note: Each verified claimant will receive his or her portion of the property as determined
from information provided to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) by the company that
reported the property or by proof of entitlement provided by the claimant.

2. Copy of your current Driver License or State-Issued Photo Identification Card.

A. If you do not have a valid Driver License or State-Issued Photo Identification Card, you may
provide:
1) Military Identification Card; or
2) Color copy of the first and last page of your valid passport.
B. If your name is different from the name shown in the deceased owner’s trust, will, or the
Table of Heirship, provide documentation that verifies your name change. Suggested
documents:
1) Marriage certificate
2) Court document

1 The claim form must be signed by one of the following, as appropriate: the heir/claimant, the claimant’s guardian,
custodian, conservator, the executor/executrix or administrator of the deceased owner’s estate, or, if the property is in
the name of a trust, the trustee(s). If multiple conservators, executors, or administrators are appointed, all must sign the
claim form and provide the documentation in Item 2, Copy of your current Driver License or State-Issued Photo
Identification Card. If multiple trustees, either the trust must specifically state that the trustees can act independently,
or all appointed trustees must sign the claim form and provide photo ID.
2 We may accept a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) in cases where a medical condition prevents the claimant from

signing the claim form. In such a case, our Legal Office will determine whether or not to accept a DPOA. To submit a
claim signed by a DPOA, include all pages of the DPOA agreement and a medical verification signed by a licensed
physician that states the claimant who is the subject of the DPOA is unable to sign the claim form because they are
disabled, incapacitated or incompetent and are unable to handle their affairs. Any claim signed by a DPOA that does not
contain medical verification by a licensed physician will be denied without consideration.
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3. Proof of your Social Security Number (SSN). Suggested documents:
A. Copy of your Social Security card
B. Original pay stub (if entire SSN shown)
C. Copy of IRS Form W-2, statement of wages earned (if entire SSN shown)
D. Copy of your medical card (if your entire SSN shown)
E. Copy of your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) authorization letter

4. If you are a foreign citizen and do not have a SSN or ITIN, provide all of the following:
A. Completed and signed U.S. Government Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-8 BEN,
Certificate of Foreign Status, which you can find at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-
pdf/fw8ben.pdf); and
B. Color copy of the first and last page of your valid passport.
1) If you do not have a passport, provide a minimum of two forms of government-
issued identification. 3 Suggested documents:
a) Copy of your certified birth certificate and, if it is in a language other than
English, a certified English translation
b) Copy of your current voter registration card
c) Copy of your current consular identification card
d) Copy of your current resident visa

5. If you are claiming property on behalf of a minor, provide:

A. Proof of minor’s SSN. Suggested documents:
1) Copy of minor’s Social Security card
2) Minor’s original pay stub (if entire SSN shown)
3) Copy of minor’s IRS Form W-2, statement of wages earned (if entire SSN
shown)
B. Proof of minor’s age. Suggested documents:
1) Copy of minor’s birth certificate
2) Copy of minor’s Driver License or State-Issued Photo Identification card
3) Color copy of the first and last page of the minor’s passport
C. Proof of custody/guardianship. Suggested documents:
1) In the case of married parents, copy of minor’s birth certificate
2) In the case of divorce, court documents
3) Conservator/Guardianship letters
4) Adoption documents

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We may contact you for authentication of any foreign documentation.
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6. Proof of your current mailing address. Suggested documents:
A. Original pay stub
B. Copy of received tax statement, such as:
 IRS Form W-2, statement of wages earned
 IRS Form 1098, statement of interest paid
 IRS Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, statement of interest or dividends earned
C. Copy of mortgage statement or real estate property tax bill
D. Original telephone, cable, or utility bill
E. Original bank or credit card statement

7. All pages of the deceased owner’s certified final death certificate.

A. If the deceased owner died in California, you can obtain the certified final death
certificate by contacting the appropriate county recorder’s office:
1) To determine the county in which a city is located go to:
http://www.csac.counties.org and enter “cities” in the search box.
2) To access the website of a particular county recorder, go to:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/CountyRecorderOffice.aspx
B. If the deceased owner died in a state other than California, you will need to contact the
Office of Vital Records for that state. To access the website of a particular Office of Vital
Records, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm
C. If the deceased owner died outside the United States, and the death certificate is in a
foreign language, you must submit both a copy of the certified final death certificate and a
certified English translation.4
1) If the deceased owner was a foreign citizen, provide a copy of the first and last
page of deceased owner’s passport or some other government issued
identification.

8. If not identified on the death certificate, provide proof of the deceased owner’s SSN. Suggested
documents:
A. Copy of deceased owner’s Social Security card
B. Original pay stub (if deceased owner’s entire SSN shown)
C. Copy of IRS Form W-2, statement of wages earned (if deceased owner’s entire SSN
shown)
D. Copy of deceased owner’s medical card (if deceased owner’s entire SSN shown)
E. Copy of the deceased owner’s ITIN authorization letter

9. Proof that the deceased owner received mail at the reported address, if reported address is not
identified on the death certificate. You can find the reported address on the claim details page
printed with your claim form. If you cannot provide this documentation with your claim, we may
contact you for additional information. Suggested documents:
A. Original bill or account statement from the reporting company
B. Original pay stub
C. Copy of received tax statement, such as:
 IRS Form W-2, statement of wages earned
 IRS Form 1098, statement of interest paid

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We may contact you for authentication of any foreign documentation.
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  IRS Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, statement of interest or dividends earned
D. Copy of mortgage statement or real estate property tax bill
E. Original telephone, cable, or utility bill
F. Original bank or credit card statement

10. If there is no reported address on the claim details page printed with your claim form, provide
proof that the property belongs to the deceased owner. If you cannot provide this
documentation with your claim, we may contact you for additional information. Suggested
documents:
A. Original bank statement (if the property is from a bank or financial institution)
B. Stock certificate or original account statement (if the property is from an investment
company)
C. Original invoice or receipt from the reporting company
D. List of the safe deposit box contents (if the property is a safe deposit box)

11. If you are claiming Mineral Rights or Royalties, provide proof that the property belongs to the
deceased owner. Suggested documents:
A. Copy of royalty payment (check stub or copy of check)
B. Division Order
C. Copy of IRS Form 1099-MISC, statement of miscellaneous income earned
D. Statement of Royalties (from the company)

12. If the property you are claiming is a negotiable instrument, such as a check, cashier’s check,
traveler’s check, money order, bond, or bond coupon, and you have the original instrument,
provide a copy of the negotiable instrument with your claim. If we determine that we have your
funds, we will contact you for additional information.

13. If the deceased owner’s estate is held in a trust, provide all of the following documentation:
A. A complete and signed copy of the deceased owner’s trust, including all codicils and
amendments; and
B. If you are a trustee, provide the trust’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
Suggested documents:
1) Letter of Confirmation from the IRS showing assignment of the FEIN
2) Copy of received tax statement, such as:
a) IRS Form 1098, statement of interest paid
b) IRS Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, statement of interest or dividends earned
3) IRS assignment of FEIN internet confirmation page
C. If you are a beneficiary and the trust has been distributed, provide a copy of your final
Schedule K-1.
1) We may contact you for additional information about the trustee(s).
D. If the property was not reported in the name of the trust, or the property is not identified
in the trust document, also provide a copy of the decedent’s pour-over will.

Note: If you are the trustee and the estate does not have a FEIN, you can apply for one by
submitting to the IRS Form SS-4, which can be found on the IRS website at http:www.irs.gov, or by
contacting the IRS at (800) 829-4933.

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14. If you are the appointed personal representative for the estate, provide:
A. Proof of your appointment. Suggested documents:
1) Endorsed and/or Filed copy of your Letters Testamentary or Administration
signed by a judicial officer of the court;
2) Final Decree of Distribution5 (closed probate only); or
3) Other document(s) issued by the court.
B. FEIN for the estate. Suggested documents:
1) Letter of Confirmation from the IRS showing assignment of the FEIN
2) Copy of received tax statement, such as:
a) IRS Form 1098, statement of interest paid
b) IRS Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, statement of interest or dividends
earned
3) IRS assignment of FEIN internet confirmation page

Note: If the estate does not have a FEIN, you can apply for one by submitting to the IRS Form SS-4,
which can be found on the IRS website at http: www.irs.gov, or by contacting the IRS at
(800) 829-4933.

15. If you are the beneficiary of a probated estate, provide:

A. An endorsed/filed copy of a court ordered Final Decree of Distribution for the deceased’s
estate signed by a judicial officer; and
1) If the final decree names, as beneficiary to the estate, a trust for which you area
trustee, also provide all documents requested for estates held in trust, as listed
above in item 13.
B. We may contact you for additional information about the personal representative for the
estate.

16. If you are the executor/executrix of the deceased owner’s will or a beneficiary named in the will,
provide the following:
A. A complete copy of the deceased owner’s signed will, including all codicils and
amendments, if applicable; and
B. A completed and signed Declaration Under Probate Code Section 131016, which you can
find on our website at: http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_form_claim.html.

17. If you are the heir to a deceased owner who did not leave a will, provide:
A. A completed and signed Declaration Under Probate Code Section 131016, which you can
find on our website at: http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_form_claim.html;
B. A completed Table of Heirship, which you can find on our website at:
http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_form_claim.html; and

5We will not accept a petition or an unsigned order for a Final Decree of Distribution.
6 The Declaration Under Probate Code Section 13101 declares that the decedent’s estate is $150,000 or less and no
proceeding is now or has been conducted to administer the estate. If the decedent died on or between January 1,
2020, and March 31, 2022, this amount increases to $166,250. If the value of the property you are claiming exceeds
this amount, we may request that you petition the court to appoint a personal representative for the estate.

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 C. Documentation of your relationship to the deceased owner. Suggested documents:
1) Marriage certificate(s)
2) Death certificate(s)
3) Certified birth certificate(s)
a) If your name is different than the name on your birth certificate, provide
documentation to verify your name change. Suggested documents:
 Marriage certificate
 Court document

Send all documents to: State Controller’s Office

Unclaimed Property Division
P.O. Box 942850 Sacramento,
CA 94250-5873

Send overnight mail or hand deliver documents to:

State Controller’s Office Unclaimed
Property Division 10600 White Rock
Road, Suite 141 Rancho Cordova, CA
95670

If you have any questions regarding these instructions or requested documents, please call us at (800)
992-4647.

Note: If you have an outstanding debt with a California state, city, or county agency, your
unclaimed property payment may be intercepted to pay the debt.

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