Kershaw County Unclaimed Money Records
Kershaw County residents may be owed money that is sitting unclaimed at the South Carolina State Treasurer's office. Dormant bank accounts, forgotten insurance policies, utility deposits, and other financial assets end up in the state's hands when businesses can no longer reach their customers. Camden, the historic county seat, is home to the local offices that manage county-level records and can direct residents toward the right resources. Searching for unclaimed property in South Carolina costs nothing, and the state will return your funds in full whenever you come forward.
Kershaw County Quick Facts
Kershaw County Treasurer and Property Tax Records
The Kershaw County Treasurer, Randy Roberts, manages all local tax accounts and county finances. His office is at 515 Walnut St, Camden, SC 29020, and can be reached at (803) 425-1529. The Treasurer's page at kershaw.sc.gov provides contact details and services. Residents who have overpaid property taxes or have credits on their accounts should start with this office. Refund checks mailed to old addresses and never cashed are a common source of county-level unclaimed funds.
Kershaw County is governed under SC Code Title 4, Chapter 11 when it comes to funds held on behalf of residents. This law requires the county to follow specific steps before declaring funds abandoned. If you have a pending refund, the Treasurer's office can trace it through their records. Residents of Elgin and Lugoff who have paid county taxes should check with this office, not just the state portal, since county-level credits and refunds are separate from the state's unclaimed property database.
Note: County-level tax credits and state-held unclaimed property are two separate pools, and residents should search both to get a complete picture.
Kershaw County Auditor Records
The Kershaw County Auditor, Dennis Arledge, manages property assessments and maintains the county's personal property tax rolls. His office is at 515 Walnut St, Camden, and can be reached at (803) 425-1528 ext. 5324 or by email at dennis.arledge@kershaw.sc.gov. More information is available at kershaw.sc.gov/government/departments-a-g/auditor.
The Auditor prepares the tax bills for all real property and personal property in Kershaw County. This includes vehicles, equipment, and business property. When a vehicle is sold or a registration is cancelled mid-year, a prorated credit may appear on the account. These credits sometimes go uncollected, especially when a taxpayer moves. If you sold a car, relocated from Camden, or cancelled a registration in recent years, contacting the Auditor's office is a smart step to confirm your account is settled.
The Auditor also processes homestead exemptions and other reductions for qualified residents. If you qualified for an exemption but it was not applied correctly, you may have overpaid on past tax bills. The office keeps detailed records and can review your account history on request.
South Carolina State Unclaimed Property for Kershaw Residents
The SC State Treasurer holds unclaimed property tied to Kershaw County addresses. Use the free search portal at southcarolina.findyourunclaimedproperty.com to look up your name. The image below is from the state portal at southcarolina.findyourunclaimedproperty.com.
The portal covers all property types reported from holders across the state, and results are updated each year as new reports come in after the November 1 deadline.
Full program details are at treasurer.sc.gov, and you can call the Treasurer's office at 803-737-4771. The program has returned more than $420 million to South Carolina residents, with $36.7 million returned in a single recent year. Kershaw County residents in Camden, Elgin, and Lugoff are all part of this statewide effort to reunite people with lost funds.
When you find a match, the claim process begins online. You will need to provide documentation proving you are the owner. Acceptable documents typically include a government-issued photo ID and proof of the address associated with the property. The Treasurer's office reviews claims and returns funds within a reasonable processing window.
Note: Searching under multiple name variations and maiden names increases your chances of finding all property tied to your history in Kershaw County.
Types of Unclaimed Funds in Kershaw County
Dormant bank accounts are the most common source of unclaimed property in Kershaw County. Savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit that show no owner activity for five years are turned over to the state. When banks merge or are acquired, dormant accounts from the predecessor institution also transfer. Camden and the surrounding area have seen numerous bank consolidations over the years, and former customers of acquired institutions should check the state portal.
Life insurance and annuity proceeds make up another large share. When a policyholder passes away and the insurer cannot locate beneficiaries, the proceeds are eventually reported to the state. If a family member died in Kershaw County and you are not sure all their insurance policies were found and paid out, a name search on the state portal can reveal whether any proceeds are waiting. The state accepts claims from estate representatives and heirs with appropriate supporting paperwork.
Utility deposits are another frequent category. Residents who moved from rentals in Camden and never received their deposit back may find it in the state's database. Utility deposits have a one-year dormancy period, meaning they reach the state faster than most other property types. The full dormancy schedule is available at southcarolina.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/app/dormancy-table.
Kershaw County Clerk of Court and Court Records
The Kershaw County Clerk of Court, Ginger Farmer, manages official court records including civil cases, estate proceedings, and judgments. Her office is at 1121 Broad St, Room 313, Camden, SC 29020, and can be reached at (803) 425-1500. More information is available at kershaw.sc.gov/government/departments-h-z/clerk-of-court. Court records matter for unclaimed property when a civil judgment was entered in your favor but never collected, or when an estate distribution was ordered but not received.
Federal bankruptcy proceedings can also leave unclaimed funds behind. The US Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina maintains a separate unclaimed funds list at scb.uscourts.gov/unclaimed-funds. You can call 803-765-5436 for assistance. Kershaw County residents involved in past bankruptcy cases, either as debtors or creditors, should check this resource in addition to the state portal.
SC Unclaimed Property Law Applying to Kershaw County
All unclaimed property in Kershaw County is governed by SC Code Title 27, Chapter 18. This law sets out dormancy periods, reporting obligations, and claim procedures for every type of property. Reading the statute helps residents understand how the process works from start to finish. The law is clear that the state holds funds permanently on behalf of owners and does not take them as state revenue.
The image below comes from the SC Code of Laws page at scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c018.php.
Understanding the code helps Kershaw County residents recognize when their property has likely been reported and what their rights are when it comes to reclaiming it.
Section 27-18-180 requires holders to perform due diligence by notifying owners at least 120 days before the November 1 annual deadline. You can review this section at Justia's SC code page. If you receive a dormancy notice from a bank or utility company, that is your signal to act before the funds leave the holder's hands and are sent to the state.
Communities Across Kershaw County SC
Kershaw County includes Camden, the county seat and one of South Carolina's most historic cities, along with growing communities like Elgin and Lugoff. Residents across the county use the same state portal to search for unclaimed property.
Nearby Counties
Kershaw County borders several counties in central South Carolina. Residents who have lived in Richland, Lancaster, Lee, or other nearby areas should search those counties as well for property tied to former addresses.