Abandoned Property Dormancy Periods in California

Property Type	Presumed Abandoned After
Bank account	three years
Checks or drafts	three years
Demutualization proceeds	by the date of demutualization However, the dormancy period increase to two years if notices to the owner are returned undeliverable, and three years if notices are not returned at all.
Gift certificates, gift cards, and credit memos	no specific provision
Insurance policies	Life or annuity policies: three years.
IRAs or retirement funds	IRAs, SEPs, and employee benefit plan distributions: three years.
Money orders	seven years
Other intangible personal property not otherwise specified	three years
Proceeds from class action suits	no specific provision
Property distributable by a business association in the course of dissolution	six months after the date set for final distribution Money that a business association has been ordered by the court or administrative agency to refund is presumed abandoned if it remains unclaimed by the owner for more than one year after it became payable in accordance with the final determination or order providing for the refund (regardless of whether the final determination or order requires the owner to make a claim for it).
Property held by courts or public agencies	three years
Property held by fiduciaries	three years
Safe deposit boxes	three years
Shares in a financial institution	three years
Stocks, dividends, and distributions	three years
Traveler's checks	15 years
Deposits and advances owed utility company customer	no specific provision
Wages or salaries	one year