County of Alameda
Office of Melissa Wilk, Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder
lake merrit

Requirements for Claiming Uncashed Warrants

Corporations and Government Agencies

1. Affidavit with Original Wet Signature

  • A valid claim must include a signed "Unclaimed Warrant Affidavit for Corporations and Other Agencies" for the re-issuance of an Alameda County warrant. Each claim must have a separate Affidavit containing the payee name, warrant number, issue date, and dollar amount. This information needs to be exactly the same as that shown on the original warrant and can be found using the Uncashed Warrants Listing.
  • If the warrant is payable to a corporation (including Non-Profit Corporate structures), the Affidavit must be signed by TWO officers of the corporation or agency.

2. Valid government issued photo ID

  • A copy of a government issued photo identification of EACH qualifying officer signing the affidavit is required.

3. Notary Acknowledgement form with original wet signatures

  • The Affidavit must be notarized if the claim amount is over $1,000. A notary stamp on the affidavit is not acceptable. The form must be a separate document from the Affidavit. Please see Notary Acknowledgement form here.

4. Original warrant

  • Per Government Code §29802, the original warrant is required when the warrant is over 2.5 years old from the date of issuance.
  • Should you be in possession of the original warrant even if it is not over 2.5 years old, please return it along with the completed Affidavit.

5. Proof of Title

  • Evidence to substantiate EACH qualifying officer's position within the organization is required. Examples of such evidence include: a business card displaying the officer's title, a partnership agreement, articles of organization, etc.
  • Potentially qualifying officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Chairman of the Board
    • President
    • Chief Executive Officer
    • Chief Financial Officer
    • Chief Administrative Officer
    • Corporate Secretary (or Assistant Corporate Secretary)
    • Executive or Senior Vice President
    • Vice President
    • General Counsel
    • Treasurer (or Assistant Treasurer)
    • Controller (or Assistant Controller)
    • Chief Accounting Officer
    • Director (Non-Profit and Government agencies ONLY)
    • Property Tax Manager (ONLY if claim is for a property tax refund warrant)
    • Department Head/Chief (or Assistant Department Head/Chief) (Government agencies ONLY)
    • Bureau Chief (or Assistant Bureau Chief) (Government agencies ONLY)
    • Division Chief (Government agencies ONLY)
    • Fiscal Officer (Government agencies ONLY)

6. Proof of Address (if there is change of address)

  • The claimants must provide evidence that links the payee to the mailing address listed on the affidavit should it differ from the address listed on the original warrant. Such evidence MUST be original and contain the same name and address as printed on the Affidavit.
  • Additionally, claimants are required to disclose their addresses in the past 3 years on the Affidavit when there is a change of address.
  • 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, original utility bill, original bank statement, etc.

7. Power of Attorney (for third party claims)

  • If the payee utilizes a third-party agent (such as an asset recovery company) to file a claim, the agent must use the Unclaimed Warrant Affidavit for an Individual to file an uncashed warrant claim.
  • A notarized Power of Attorney document MUST be submitted to the County and signed by two officers of the payee corporation or agency.
  • A copy of a valid government issued photo ID of EACH person signing the Power of Attorney is required.
  • Warrants reissued via third party claims will be made payable to the original payee and will be sent to the original address on the warrant unless there is a change of address.

8. 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). Warrants reissued for companies that have been acquired or merged will be made payable to the original payee.