The California claim form: signing, notary and sending

Updated November 8, 2026

The claim form is where many claims go wrong. These are the Controller's rules for signing and sending it.

Signing

• The claimant signs in wet ink. An electronic signature is not accepted on the claim form.
• A power of attorney is not accepted in place of the claimant's signature, apart from narrow medical exceptions.
• For a business, the signer is an officer or a person with documented authority to act for it.
• If a record lists more than one owner, each owner may need to sign.

When it must be notarized

• When the cash properties on the claim total $1,000 or more.
• For all securities claims, at any value.
• For safe-deposit box property.

California caps the notary's fee at $15 per signature (Government Code 8211). More on our notary page.

Sending

New claim packages go to the Controller by mail, courier or in person. They cannot be emailed or faxed. Use a tracked method and keep a copy of everything.

What goes with the form

Proof of identity, proof of the address on the record and, for a business, proof of authority and the FEIN. See the business checklist.

Our part

We pre-fill the form, mark where to sign, help arrange the notary, and file the package. Our agreement with you is separate, signed online, and needs no notary.