Orange County residents can tap into $700 million in unclaimed property – money that has been abandoned – through a recently introduced county and state initiative. 

The money isn’t new – it’s cash that has been left behind in things like savings and checking accounts, unpaid wages, uncashed checks and refunds.

Orange County Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton teamed up with State Controller Malia Cohen to introduce a new refund program, unveiling a series of websites designed to help Californians find missing money owed to them and assist them in getting it into their hands.

“The start of a new year is a great time for people to take stock of their finances, set goals, and make [sure] they’re not leaving money on the table. For many Orange County residents, that could mean unclaimed property they didn’t realize was theirs,” Hamilton wrote in a statement to the Voice of OC.

“Taking a few minutes to check and submit a claim could put real dollars back in your pocket, and every bit helps as families plan for the year ahead.”

Here in Orange County, to create a site connecting the dots between owed funds and specific addresses, the County partnered with State Controller data and Orange County Public Works, allowing residents to search their address and find any of the leftover money attached to the location.

To check the Orange County Auditors’ website on unclaimed property, click here.

According to officials, the county auditor worked with OC Public Works to put together their website to help residents find old cash easier by linking it to an address, instead of a last name, which could be easily misspelled.

According to a map provided by the OC Unclaimed Property website, residents living in the cities of Irvine, Anaheim and Santa Ana have the most funds – Anaheim with nearly $77.5 million in reported cash, Santa Ana at $75 million and Irvine with over $165 million.

Once residents have determined that they are owed something, they are redirected to the State Controller’s Office website, where they can submit a formal claim and provide documentation to prove ownership.

Officials say most requests will only take a few weeks to process and are issued directly from the State to the person claiming the funds. Some requests may take longer, like if the amount owed is over $1,000, it may require additional documentation or a notary.

The OC Controller’s website also offers some other places residents might find old cash, like the Orange County Auditor-Controller Uncashed Checks site and Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector site.

If a resident has lived in a different county within California, they should check claimit.ca.gov to find money held across the state. Residents can check how much they’re owed by using their last name, and other details like first name, zip code or city to help refine results.

According to the California State Controller, unclaimed property is “abandoned” financial assets – any amount in an individual’s name that has been untouched for a specific amount of time, usually around three years.

The business or institution in possession of the money will attempt to contact the owner before handing the funds over to the State Controller’s Office where it will remain until the owner or heir claims it.

The money is held by the state indefinitely and can be claimed at any time, according to Cynthia Kaui, chief public information officer for the OC Auditor-Controller. While the funds may be temporarily used for cash flow and interest is collected by the State, it is always available to the rightful owner.

“Unclaimed financial property is money that already belongs to Californians, and my office works every day to reunite it back to you,” Cohen wrote in a statement to the Voice of OC. “You may find funds that help ease the burden of rising costs. We are proud to reconnect people with money that can empower and uplift them…”

Claims can also be made for property of family members who are deceased and of joint accounts, though they may require additional documentation, like a will or trust.

The State Controller’s office reported a total of $15 billion in unclaimed property as of 2025.