Español

South Dakota · Unclaimed property

Unclaimed money in South Dakota: how to find and claim it

South Dakota may be holding money that belongs to you. Searching and claiming are free.

Checked against official sources: Oct 21, 2026

Search South Dakota's official list of unclaimed property by name.

Search South Dakota's list (free, official) →

Scam warning: the state never charges a fee to claim, and the FTC warns that state programs don't text you alerts or links. How to spot a scam

$49.6 millionpaid to rightful owners in fiscal 2025 (year ended June 30, 2025)
Freeto search and claim
MissingMoney.comalso searches South Dakota's list

How to claim in South Dakota

  1. Search your name for free on the State Treasurer's unclaimed property site. The site does not show amounts; you see the value after your claim is approved.

  2. Start a claim online. You will get an email with a claim form listing the documents your claim needs.

  3. Sign the claim form and gather a copy of your photo ID and your Social Security number, plus anything else the form lists, such as proof of the address on the property.

  4. Email the form and documents to [email protected], or mail them to the Treasurer's unclaimed property office in Pierre.

  5. Track your claim online. If you hear nothing within three weeks, call 605-773-3379.

Official instructions for claims

Documents you may need

  • A completed and signed claim form
  • A copy of your photo ID
  • Your Social Security number (if you lost the card, a tax return, insurance card or other document showing your name and SSN works)
  • Proof of the address listed on the property: an old utility bill, tax return, mortgage or lease papers, a postmarked letter, or anything showing your name with that address
  • Proof of any name change, such as a marriage certificate or court document
  • If there are several owners, each one signs and sends ID unless only a partial payment is requested

Money owed to a relative who died

Send court papers showing you are the personal representative or executor (a will, court appointment or probate). If there was no will, you may use a small estate affidavit if it meets SDCL 29A-3-1201; a death certificate comes from the S.D. Department of Health.

Contact the program

Program
South Dakota State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division
Phone
605-773-3379 (toll-free in South Dakota: 866-357-2547)
Claims by mail
SD State Treasurer - UCP, 124 E Dakota Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
Processing time
The state says claims generally take about two to three weeks; contact the office if you have not heard back in three weeks. By law the Treasurer must consider each claim within 180 days and tell you if it is denied.

Finder fees in South Dakota

Any agreement to pay someone to recover your property is unenforceable if made in the 12 months before the property is reported or within 24 months after it is turned over to the state. After that, an agreement charging more than 25% of the property's value is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by you, and you can always challenge a fee as excessive. Violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Law: SDCL § 43-41B-36

Claiming is free. Your state never charges a fee to search or to claim. Be careful with letters, calls or texts that ask for a fee, a percentage or your bank login to release money. Search the official state site yourself.

Good to know

  • There is no deadline to claim; the state holds the property until the owner or heir claims it.
  • Stock turned over to the state is sold after three years, so you may receive cash instead of shares.
  • Safe deposit box contents may carry unpaid box rent and drilling fees that must be paid before release.

Also check outside South Dakota

Search every other state where you lived or worked. Some money, like old savings bonds and IRS refunds, is held by federal agencies.

MissingMoney.com and NAUPA state unclaimed property search

Money that businesses could not return to you and had to hand over to a state, such as old bank accounts and insurance policies. USA.gov says state governments hold most unclaimed money.

Official site

U.S. savings bonds (TreasuryDirect)

Old paper or electronic U.S. savings bonds that were never cashed, including bonds that have matured and stopped earning interest (EE and I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years), plus lost, stolen or destroyed bonds.

Official site

IRS refunds from tax returns never filed (3-year rule)

Tax refunds owed to people who never filed a federal tax return for a year, often because they earned little and were not required to file. The IRS says taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim a refund; after that the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

Official site

Questions about South Dakota

How do I find unclaimed money in South Dakota?

Search the official database run by the South Dakota State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property Division. Searching is free. Search every name you have used and every address where you lived in South Dakota.

Does it cost anything to claim money in South Dakota?

No. The state does not charge a fee to claim. Any agreement to pay someone to recover your property is unenforceable if made in the 12 months before the property is reported or within 24 months after it is turned over to the state. After that, an agreement charging more than 25% of the property's value is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by you, and you can always challenge a fee as excessive. Violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor.

How do I claim money for a relative who died in South Dakota?

Send court papers showing you are the personal representative or executor (a will, court appointment or probate). If there was no will, you may use a small estate affidavit if it meets SDCL 29A-3-1201; a death certificate comes from the S.D. Department of Health.

How long does a claim take in South Dakota?

The state says claims generally take about two to three weeks; contact the office if you have not heard back in three weeks. By law the Treasurer must consider each claim within 180 days and tell you if it is denied.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026.

Other states