What happens to earned wages and vacation of a deceased employee?

If your employee was married or had a registered domestic partner at the time of their passing, you could utilize the forms on HRCalifornia (Deceased Employee Compensation Collection Form and Employer Proof of Identity and Disbursement of Final Pay — Deceased Employee) and disburse the monies to the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner, not to exceed $20,875 net, or, if the employee died between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2025, $18,450 net.

However, when you have a deceased employee who is not married and who has no registered domestic partner, you cannot disburse the monies until you are contacted by either the