A recent LA Times Article reveals the answer: The County of Los Angeles will auction off the items to the highest bidder at one of several auctions that occur 10 times a year.
If you die in Los Angeles County without heirs or a will, your worldly belongings will probably end up here, in a 122,000-square-foot warehouse along the railroad tracks in the City of Industry, protected by surveillance cameras and extra security. The walls are piled high with hundreds of 7-by-5-foot wooden crates. County employees and private auctioneers break open crates, divide the contents into lots and sell them at daylong auctions held on the second Saturday of the month, typically 10 times a year. Proceeds go back into the estate and often are used to cover burial expenses and other costs. Whatever is left goes to the state of California.
I personally take the position that one would rather make arrangements ahead of time and benefit a charity that does work which is meaningful to you rather than the State of California. Although, the state needs all the money it can get it would seem like one might want a greater control over where the proceeds would go.
ABOUT CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
Christopher R. Twining, Attorney at Law, based in the Westwood Neighborhood of Los Angeles is an innovative estate planning, probate & trust administration, and elder law attorney, who offers in home services for busy and movement challenged clients. The Law Office of Christopher R. Twining serves the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Burbank and the neighborhoods of West Los Angeles, Westwood, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Pico-Robertson and Encino. Dedicated to helping individuals and couples prepare comprehensive estate plans according to their wishes; he offers them these services at an affordable price, in the relaxed comfort of their homes. For more information about his services, please visit http://www.twininglaw.com or call (310) 492-5990.
CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
LAW OFFICES OF CHRISTOPHER R. TWINING
1440 VETERAN AVENUE, SUITE 509
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024
(310) 492-5990 Fax (310) 775-9774
http://www.twininglaw.com

