2019 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 27 - Property and Conveyances
Chapter 18 - Uniform Unclaimed Property Act
Section 27-18-30. Property presumed abandoned; demand for payment not required.

(A) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, all intangible property, including any income or increment derived therefrom, less any lawful charges, that is held, issued, or owing in the ordinary course of a holder's business and has remained unclaimed by the owner for more than five years after it became payable or distributable is presumed abandoned.

(B) Property is payable or distributable for the purpose of this chapter notwithstanding the owner's failure to make demand or to present any instrument or document required to receive payment.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 658, Part II, Section 34A; 2011 Act No. 44, Section 6, eff June 7, 2011.

Editor's Note

2011 Act No. 44, Sections 1, 4, and 7, provide as follows:

"SECTION 1. The General Assembly determines it is in the best interest of South Carolina, the electric cooperatives, and their members to advocate energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in South Carolina.

"The General Assembly determines it is prudent to update and clarify procedures for South Carolina's electric cooperatives to contribute, allocate, and retire patronage capital.

"The General Assembly determines it is prudent to clarify that South Carolina's electric cooperatives may utilize the defense known as the "business judgment rule".

"The General Assembly determines it is in the best interest of South Carolina's electric cooperatives and their members that unclaimed patronage credits are hereafter exempt from the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act."

"SECTION 4. The General Assembly determines it is in the best interests of South Carolina, the telephone cooperatives, and their members to assist with educational, charitable, and economic development efforts in the rural areas of South Carolina.

"The General Assembly determines it is prudent to update and clarify the procedures for South Carolina's telephone cooperatives to contribute, allocate, and retire patronage capital.

"The General Assembly determines it is prudent to clarify that the "business judgment rule" applies to South Carolina's telephone cooperatives.

"The General Assembly determines it is in the best interest of South Carolina's telephone cooperatives and their members that unclaimed patronage credits are hereafter exempt from the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act."

"SECTION 7. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to patronage capital determined to be unclaimed as of the effective date of the act."

Effect of Amendment

The 2011 amendment deleted subsection (C) relating to patronage allocations.