Unclaimed County Warrants (Checks)

If, after reviewing the Unclaimed Warrant listing, you determined that the County may be holding funds belonging to you or your business, please complete the appropriate forms referenced in the procedures for claiming uncashed warrants.

The County of Sacramento is required to release funds only to the rightful payee. To ensure this, we ask the claimants to provide documentation to validate their claims so that no one other than the rightful payee receives the Unclaimed Monies. Payees may claim their monies directly from the County of Sacramento. No service charges or fees are required. Please follow the procedures outlined below for claiming uncashed warrants.

Procedures for claiming Uncashed Warrants

Affidavit

A valid claim must include a signed "Affidavit" for the re-issuance of a Sacramento County warrant. Each claim requires a separate Affidavit containing the payee’s name and current address, the warrant number, issue date, and dollar amount. Payee name, warrant number, issue date, and dollar amount must exactly match the information shown on the original warrant from the website's Unclaimed Warrant Listing.

The following guidelines will outline who is authorized to sign the Affidavit:

1. Individual. If the payee listed on the warrant is a single individual, the person named as the payee may complete and sign the Lost Warrant Affidavit online using DocuSign. The lost Warrant Affidavit link will take you to a DocuSign PowerForm.  Enter your email, and you will receive an access code via email.  Retrieve that code and enter it in the window and proceed to the form.  Follow the instructions to complete the form and click Submit button to send the form to the Department of Finance. If the information provided on the Lost Warrant Affidavit does not match our records, the individual will be required, upon notice, to complete and sign the hard copy of Unclaimed Warrant Affidavit for an Individual

2. Multiple Payees. If there are multiple payees listed on the warrant, the form cannot be submitted via DocuSign. A hard copy of Unclaimed Warrant Affidavit for Multiple Payees must be completed and signed by each payee.

3. Businesses: If the payee is a business, then the Unclaimed Warrant Affidavit for a Business must be completed and signed by an authorized agent for that business. The following payee types fall under this form: 

• Corporation: If the warrant is payable to a corporation (including Non-Profit Corporate structures), the Affidavit form for a business must be signed by an officer of the corporation. Qualifying officers include the following:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • President
  • Chief Executive Officer 
  • Chief Financial Officer  
  • General Counsel
  • Treasurer
  • Controller
  • Chief Accounting Officer
  • Director (Non-Profit ONLY)
  • Property Tax Manager (ONLY if claim is for a property tax refund warrant)

• Partnership. If the warrant is payable to either a General Partnership or a Limited Partnership, then the Affidavit must be signed by a General Partner of the organization. A Limited Partner is approved to sign the Affidavit ONLY if this person has been specifically authorized by the partnership to participate in the control and management of the business.

• Limited Liability Company. If the warrant is payable to a Limited Liability Company, the Affidavit must be signed by a Managing Member of the organization. A Manager is approved to sign the Affidavit ONLY if this person has been specifically authorized by the membership to participate in the control and management of the business.

• Sole Proprietorship. If the warrant is payable to a Sole Proprietorship, the Affidavit must be signed by the owner of the business.

• Government Agency. If the warrant is payable to a Government Agency, the Affidavit must be signed by an officer of the agency. Qualifying officers include the following:

  • Executive Officer
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Finance Director
  • Agncy Director
  • Department Head/Chief
  • Bureau Chief
  • Division Chief
  • Treasurer
  • Controller

• Trust. If the warrant is payable to a Trust, the Affidavit must be signed by EACH individual who has been appointed as a trustee. The required supporting documentation includes a copy of the Trust Agreement that gives the names of each trustee.

• Estate/Deceased Payee. If the warrant is payable to the estate of a deceased individual or to a person who is now deceased, the Affidavit must be signed by either the executor or the administrator of the estate. Required supporting documentation includes a copy of the Death Certificate and evidence of appointment as executor or administrator.

Notarized Affidavit

If the dollar amount of the warrant is $250 or greater, the completed Affidavit MUST be notarized, and the original notarized document must be submitted to our department.

Proof of Address

The claiming person or company must provide evidence that links the payee to the address shown on the warrant. Such evidence MUST contain the same name and address as printed on the warrant. Please note that neither a Substitute Property Tax Bill nor an Adjusted Property Tax Bill can be accepted as proof of address. Examples of such evidence include the following: driver's license, utility bill, bank statement, etc. To help meet this requirement, please complete the Unclaimed Previous Addresses form included in this section that lists your last address for the past three years.

Proof of Officer's Title

If the warrant is payable to an organization, rather than an individual, company documents such as a partnership agreement, operating agreement, statement of information or corporate resolution will also need to be provided.  The document should be publicly filed or used, show the signor’s name and title and the company name on the Affidavit.

Proof of Acquisition (or Merger)

If the warrant is payable to a company that has since been acquired by (or merged with) another company, the acquiring company must provide legal evidence of such acquisition (or merger) such as a copy of the acquisition or merger agreement. If a company was dissolved, a copy of the articles of dissolution must be provided.

Power of Attorney

If the payee utilizes a third-party agent (such as an asset recovery company) to file a claim, an original notarized Power of Attorney must be submitted to the County and signed by the same individual who signed the Affidavit(s). In addition, a copy of the agreement between the asset finder and the claimant is required.​

Government Issued Identification

When submitting an unclaimed warrant Affidavit, a valid copy of a government-issued photo identification (unredacted) must be provided. The identification must match the individual(s) who signed the Affidavit.

Claim Submission and Review

Please ensure to include ALL required information with your claim request. Failure to submit a claim with the required documentation may result in the claim being denied and returned to the sender. To help expedite the review process and substantiate the claimant’s right to the uncashed warrant, claimants are encouraged to provide as much information as possible. If, for any reason, you are unable to prov​ide the requested documentation, pleas​e include a letter explaining why you are entitled to the uncashed warrant and describing any special circumstances related to your claim.

The completed claim(s), along with all required supplemental documentation, should be mailed or delivered to:

County of Sacramento
Department of Finance
Auditor-Controller
700 H Street, Room 3650
Sacramento, CA 95814
ATTN: Warrant Accounting Unit

Please note that we will review the submission within 30 days and will either provide notice of approval, request additional information, or issue a denial. If ​approved, payment processing may take up to an additional 30 days from the approval date. This process may take longer under certain circumstances. All additional questions should be directed to the Unclaimed Warrant Staff.​

Disclaimer: Claimant agrees that if, for any reason, it is determined that the claimant is not entitled to the payment or if a duplicate payment is received, the claimant will return the funds to the County of Sacramento Department of Finance Auditor-Controller Division within fifteen (15) days.