43-41B-18. Report of abandoned property.
(a) A person holding property tangible or intangible, presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall report to the administrator concerning the property as provided in this section. The expiration of any period of time specified by statute or court order, during which an action or proceeding may be commenced or enforced to obtain payment of a claim for money or recovery of property, does not prevent the money or property from being presumed abandoned property, nor affect any duty to file a report required by this chapter or to pay or deliver abandoned property to the state treasurer.
The holder of unclaimed property shall, before filing the annual report required by this section, communicate with the owner and take necessary steps to prevent abandonment from being presumed by exercising due diligence to ascertain the whereabouts of the owner. This includes the mailing of notice to each person having an address if the person is entitled to property of the value of fifty dollars or more presumed abandoned under this chapter.
The mailed notice shall contain:
(1)A statement that according to the records of the holder, property is being held to which the addressee appears to be entitled;
(2)Information regarding any changes of the name of the holder; and
(3)A statement that the property will escheat to the state.
(b) The report must be verified and must include:
(1)Except with respect to travelers checks and money orders, the name, if known, and last known address, if any, of each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the owner of property of the value of ten dollars or more presumed abandoned under this chapter;
(2)In the case of unclaimed funds of ten dollars or more held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, the full name and last known address of the insured or annuitant and of the beneficiary according to the records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds;
(3)In the case of the contents of a safe deposit box or other safekeeping repository or of other tangible property, a description of the property and the place where it is held and may be inspected by the administrator and any amounts owing to the holder;
(4)The nature and identifying number, if any, or description of the property and the amount appearing from the records to be due, but items of value under ten dollars each may be reported in the aggregate;
(5)The date the property became payable, demandable, or returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the apparent owner with respect to the property; and
(6)Other information the administrator prescribes by rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter.
(c) If the person holding property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property is a successor to other persons who previously held the property for the apparent owner or the holder has changed his or her name while holding the property, the person shall file with the report all known names and addresses of each previous holder of the property.
(d) The report must be filed before November first of each year as of June thirtieth, next preceding, but the report of any life insurance company must be filed before May first of each year as of December thirty-first next preceding. On written request by any person required to file a report, the administrator may postpone the reporting date or waive any interest fees or penalties.
(e) The holder in possession of property presumed abandoned and subject to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall, between the time of the commencement and the termination of the applicable dormancy period, send written notice to the apparent owner at the owner's last known address informing the owner that the holder is in possession of property subject to this chapter if:
(1)The holder has in its records an address for the apparent owner which the holder's records disclose to be accurate;
(2)The claim of the apparent owner is not barred by the statutes of limitations; and
(3)The property has a value of fifty dollars or more.
Source: SL 1992, ch 312, §17; SL 1993, ch 326, §4; SL 2019, ch 194, §2.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 41B - Uniform Unclaimed Property Act
Section 43-41B-1 - Definitions and use of terms.
Section 43-41B-2 - Property presumed abandoned--General rule.
Section 43-41B-3 - General rules for taking custody of intangible unclaimed property.
Section 43-41B-4 - Travelers checks and money orders.
Section 43-41B-6 - Bank deposits and funds in financial organizations.
Section 43-41B-7 - Funds owing under life insurance.
Section 43-41B-8 - Deposits held by utilities.
Section 43-41B-9 - Refunds held by business associations.
Section 43-41B-10 - Stock and other intangible interests in business associations.
Section 43-41B-11 - Property of business associations held in course of dissolution.
Section 43-41B-13 - Property held by agents and fiduciaries.
Section 43-41B-14 - Property held by courts and public agencies.
Section 43-41B-15 - Gift certificates and credit memos.
Section 43-41B-18 - Report of abandoned property.
Section 43-41B-20 - Payment or delivery of abandoned property.
Section 43-41B-22 - Crediting of dividends, interest, or increments to owner's account .
Section 43-41B-23 - Public sale of abandoned property.
Section 43-41B-23.1 - Sale of securities, stocks, bonds, and other intangible ownership interests.
Section 43-41B-24 - Deposit of funds.
Section 43-41B-24.1 - Continuous appropriation of fund--Report--Approval of certain expenditures.
Section 43-41B-25 - Filing claim with administrator--Handling of claims by administrator.
Section 43-41B-26 - Claim of another state to recover property--Procedure.
Section 43-41B-27 - Action to establish claim.
Section 43-41B-28 - Election to take payment or delivery.
Section 43-41B-30 - Period of limitation.
Section 43-41B-31 - Requests for reports and examination of records.
Section 43-41B-32 - Retention of records.
Section 43-41B-33 - Enforcement.
Section 43-41B-35 - Interest on untimely payments.
Section 43-41B-36 - Agreements to locate reported property.
Section 43-41B-37 - Effect of new provisions--Clarification of application.
Section 43-41B-40 - Open-loop prepaid cards exempt.
Section 43-41B-41 - Rewards cards exempt.
Section 43-41B-43 - Certain gift certificates and closed-loop prepaid cards exempt.