What rule governs attorney trust accounts in South Dakota?

Attorney trust accounts in South Dakota are governed by South Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 (SDCL ch. 16-18, App. A); trust accounting procedures at SDCL 16-18-20.2. It requires attorneys to hold client funds separate from firm funds, maintain complete records, and account for client property.

How often must South Dakota attorneys reconcile their trust accounts?

South Dakota requires monthly reconciliation of attorney trust accounts. Reconciliation compares the adjusted bank balance, the trust register balance, and the total of all individual client ledgers — all three must agree.

How long must South Dakota attorneys keep trust account records?

South Dakota requires trust account records to be retained for 5 years. Records include bank statements, cancelled checks, deposit slips, client ledgers, journals, and reconciliation worksheets.

Who regulates attorney trust accounts in South Dakota?

Trust account compliance in South Dakota is overseen by the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota.

South Dakota · Trust Accounting

South Dakota IOLTA Trust Account Rules

What South Dakota attorneys must do to keep client trust funds compliant — the governing rule, how often you must reconcile, and how long records must be kept.

South Dakota Trust Account Requirements at a Glance

Governing rule

South Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 (SDCL ch. 16-18, App. A); trust accounting procedures at SDCL 16-18-20.2

Reconciliation required

Monthly

Record retention

5 years

Regulator

Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota

IOLTA program

South Dakota Bar Foundation

Source: Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota . Rules change — always confirm against the current text before relying on it.

Three-Way Reconciliation in South Dakota

South Dakota requires attorneys to reconcile trust accounts monthly. A three-way reconciliation compares three totals that must all agree. If they do not, the difference has to be found and resolved before the reconciliation is complete.

Adjusted bank balance

Bank statement balance, adjusted for outstanding checks and deposits in transit.

Trust register balance

Your internal trust account register as of the same date.

Sum of client ledgers

The total of every individual client ledger balance on that date.

For a full walkthrough of the procedure, common violations, and what examiners look for, see our IOLTA compliance guide.

What South Dakota Attorneys Must Keep, and for 5 Years

South Dakota requires trust account records to be retained for 5 years. In practice that means keeping:

Individual ledgers for each client and matter, showing every receipt and disbursement
A transaction journal listing all deposits and withdrawals by date
Bank statements, cancelled checks, and deposit slips
Completed and signed reconciliation worksheets
Outstanding check lists, reconciled each period

This page is a summary, not legal advice. IOLTA Guard is not a law firm. Confirm current requirements with the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota — rules change, and your obligations as the attorney of record are yours alone.

Stay Compliant with South Dakota Trust Account Rules

IOLTA Guard automates three-way reconciliation, blocks negative client ledgers, and keeps the audit trail South Dakota attorneys are expected to maintain.

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