§ 50055 Unclaimed Small Funds Transfer

Government Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•If something worth less than $15 is left unclaimed for a year, the government can take it without telling anyone.
•If they don’t know who owns the money, they can take it no matter how much it is.
•They don’t have to put a notice in the newspaper to take it.
•A court can also order the money to be taken.

Example

You leave a $10 jacket at the city lost and found, and no one picks it up for a year.

The city can take the jacket and use the money from selling it for other things without telling you or putting an ad in the paper.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 50055 Unclaimed Small Funds Transfer

Any other provision of this article notwithstanding, any individual items of less than fifteen dollars ($15), or any amount if the depositor’s name is unknown, which remain unclaimed in the treasury or in the official custody of an officer of a local agency for the period of one year or upon an order of the court may be transferred to the general fund by the legislative body without the necessity of publication of a notice in a newspaper. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 89, Sec. 1. Effective July 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

claim custody effective july necessity publication

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Government Code. Section 50055.

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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