Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corp. Law › CHAPTER 17. General Provisions Relating to Dissolution [8710 - 8724]

California Corporations Code § 8720. Distributions to Unknown Persons; Deposit With Controller

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 860, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Text current as of August 17, 2026, per California Legislative Information.

(a) If any members, creditors, or other persons are unknown or fail or refuse to accept their payment or distribution in cash or property or their whereabouts cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry, or the existence or amount of a claim of a creditor, member or other person is contingent, contested, or not determined, or if the ownership of any memberships is in dispute, the corporation may deposit any such payment, distribution, or the maximum amount of the claim with the Controller in trust for the benefit of those lawfully entitled to the payment, distribution, or the amount of the claim. The payment or distribution shall be paid over by the depositary to the lawful owners, their representatives or assigns, upon satisfactory proof of title.

(b) For the purpose of providing for the transmittal, receipt, accounting for, claiming, management, and investment of all money or other property deposited with the Controller under subdivision (a), the money or other property shall be deemed to be paid or delivered for deposit with the Controller under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1500) of Title 10 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and may be recovered in the manner prescribed in that chapter.

The text of the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law is provided for reference and convenience only, from the California Legislative Information website (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). It is not legal advice, and the official version of California statutes is published by the state. Statutes may have been amended after the “current as of” date shown above. Consult counsel regarding the application of any statute to your association.