Lawrence County Court Records Search

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    Lawrence County, South Dakota operates a court system unified under the South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS), with both circuit and magistrate courts based in Deadwood. Every case that moves through these courts generates a file of official documents — motions, petitions, judgments, transcripts, bonds, writs, and orders. Whether you're tracing a case history, verifying a judgment, or conducting a background investigation, knowing where Lawrence County's records are kept and how to request them will save you real time.

    A good starting point for South Dakota case information is SouthDakotaCourts.us, which links to online case search tools, court date lookups, public access terminals at courthouses statewide, and clerk of court contact information. You can search records electronically through the UJS portal systems, review them in person at the courthouse using public access terminals, or request them directly from the Clerk of Courts by mail or phone.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Lawrence County?

    Lawrence County's courts are part of the South Dakota Fourth Judicial Circuit and operate out of the county courthouse in Deadwood. The circuit court handles the full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters; magistrate court proceedings are held at a separate facility.

    Lawrence County Clerk of Courts 
    Physical/Mailing AddressP.O. Box 626, 78 Sherman Street, Deadwood, SD 57732-0626
    Magistrate Court Location50 Tatanka Drive, Deadwood, SD
    Phone(605) 578-2040
    Fax(605) 578-1571
    Office Hours8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday

    The UJS provides several online tools for searching Lawrence County case information:

    • eCourts — Free registration gives registered users access to case summaries for public cases, including party names, attorneys of record, filed documents, and hearing history. Search by party name or case number.
    • Find Your Court Date — Look up upcoming court dates by entering a party name and date of birth or a case number. Useful if you've received a summons or filed a case.
    • Civil Money Judgment Query — Retrieve civil judgments from the UJS database by name and date. Available on a pay-as-you-go basis or through a subscription account for high-volume searches.
    • Public Access Terminals (PATs) — Computer terminals at the Lawrence County Courthouse let in-person visitors view electronic court records at no charge. The UJS Court Finder can confirm PAT availability at specific locations.
    • Bulk Court Records Request — Organizations or individuals needing large volumes of compiled court records can submit a bulk request through the UJS.

    For records predating 1989 that aren't available electronically, submit your request to the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts in writing or in person.

    Under SDCL § 16-2-29.5, a $20.00 records search fee applies to each search conducted at the request of a non-exempt individual or entity. Certain requesters, such as qualifying government agencies, may be exempt under SDCL § 16-2-29. Additional per-page copying fees may also apply to reproduced documents.

    Are Court Records Public in Lawrence County?

    South Dakota's public access framework for court records is set out in SDCL Chapter 15-15A, the Unified Judicial System Court Records Rule. The default position is that court records are open for public inspection and copying unless a specific statute, rule, or court order says otherwise. The statute broadly defines "the public" to include private individuals, businesses, nonprofits, media entities, and government agencies without their own existing access policy.

    Certain categories of records are expressly excluded from public access under SDCL § 15-15A-7 and related sections. Records withheld from public inspection include:

    • Juvenile court proceedings and records — all juvenile matters are confidential statewide and will not appear in any public records search
    • Abuse and neglect records
    • Voluntary termination of parental rights records
    • Presentence investigation reports
    • Financial documents — including wage stubs, income tax returns, bank statements, and credit card statements filed in court proceedings
    • Civil case filing statements containing confidential financial information
    • Trade secrets submitted as court exhibits
    • Records sealed by court order or exempted under federal or state law
    • Unexecuted search warrants

    Some generally restricted records — such as search warrants and health-related information — may become publicly accessible if they are admitted into evidence during open proceedings. SDCL § 15-15A-9 sets out the procedures for filing confidential financial documents, specifying how those materials must be handled to protect sensitive information while preserving case integrity.

    Lawrence County Criminal Court Records

    The Lawrence County Circuit Court and magistrate court share criminal jurisdiction. The magistrate court handles misdemeanor-level offenses and select lower-level proceedings; the circuit court maintains authority over felonies and more serious criminal matters.

    For online searches, the Public Access Record Search (PARS) system operated by the UJS is the main tool for retrieving criminal case summaries. PARS covers criminal cases, domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders filed across South Dakota.

    Key details for PARS searches:

    • Fee: $20.00 per search, charged when the search is submitted and non-refundable regardless of whether records are found
    • Coverage: Criminal cases from 1989 to present (cases prior to 1989 require a direct request to the Clerk of Courts)
    • Search options: Guest/pay-as-you-go access, or a drawdown account for frequent users (contact UJSPARSsupport@ujs.state.sd.us)
    • Results: PARS returns a case summary; full document review requires visiting a PAT at the courthouse or requesting copies from the Clerk

    For comprehensive criminal history background checks that draw on records from multiple agencies statewide — not just court case filings — the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Identification Section is the official source. Background checks can be submitted two ways:

    • Electronic/Livescan submission — Create an account and complete the Background Check Request Form online, then have fingerprints submitted electronically at a Livescan facility in South Dakota. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office (78–80 Sherman Street, Deadwood) is among the local fingerprinting locations.
    • Mail submission — Submit a fingerprint card and signed authorization by U.S. mail with a check or money order payable to the DCI.

    Background check fees:

    • Personal/State of SD check only: $30.00
    • State and FBI combined check: $50.00
    • DCI does not issue refunds

    Arrest records and incident-level reports are maintained by local law enforcement — including the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office — rather than by the courts. Direct those requests to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

    Lawrence County Civil Court Records

    The Lawrence County Circuit Court has broad original jurisdiction over civil matters, including contract disputes, property actions, tort claims, and small claims proceedings. Magistrate court handles smaller civil disputes within its statutory jurisdictional limits.

    Civil case records are searchable through eCourts, which gives registered users free access to case summaries. The Civil Money Judgment Query tool provides targeted access to the UJS civil judgments database and is especially useful for creditors, title companies, and attorneys running lien or judgment searches.

    To request civil records in person or by mail:

    • Visit the Lawrence County Courthouse at 78 Sherman Street during business hours, or send a written request to P.O. Box 626, Deadwood, SD 57732
    • Include the party name(s) or case number to identify the record
    • Prepay the applicable search fee ($20.00 per search under SDCL § 16-2-29.5) and any per-page copy costs
    • Specify whether you need copies, certification, or exemplification of records

    Clerk of Courts staff can help in-person visitors locate case files and reproduce documents. Case files that predate the electronic records system must be retrieved from physical archives and may take additional processing time.

    Self-represented litigants who need forms for civil filings can find standardized court forms, procedural guides, and instructions for common civil actions in the UJS self-help section at ujs.sd.gov.

    Lawrence County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Lawrence County — divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic protection orders, and adoption — are handled by the circuit court. The Clerk of Courts at the Sherman Street courthouse maintains all family court records, which are subject to the same public access rules that apply to all South Dakota court records.

    Divorce case records, including decrees and supporting filings, can be searched through eCourts or PARS (for protection orders) and requested from the Clerk the same way as other civil court records. The $20.00 search fee and standard copy fees apply.

    If you need a divorce certificate rather than the underlying court file — for example, to verify marital status or update identification documents — that record is a vital record held separately from court case files. Divorce certificates can be ordered from the South Dakota Department of Health by mail, in person, or through a third-party vendor. The fee is $15.00 per certificate.

    Marriage licenses in Lawrence County are issued by the Register of Deeds, not the courts. Both parties must appear in person at the Register of Deeds office. Requirements include:

    • Valid photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
    • Fee: $40.00 (cash or credit card; no checks accepted)
    • No blood test or waiting period required
    • The license is valid for 90 days from issue and must be used within South Dakota
    Register of Deeds 
    Physical Address90 Sherman Street, Deadwood, SD 57732
    Mailing AddressP.O. Box 565, Deadwood, SD 57732
    Phone(605) 578-3930
    Fax(605) 722-6212
    Emailrod@lawrence.sd.us

    Certified copies of marriage certificates can be obtained from the Register of Deeds using the South Dakota Vital Records Request Form, available on the Lawrence County website. Each copy costs $15.00. South Dakota is a closed vital records state, meaning only eligible individuals — the registrant, their spouse, parents, children, or a duly authorized legal representative — may obtain certified copies. All others may request informational copies, which cannot be used for legal identity purposes.

    Birth and death certificates are also issued by the Register of Deeds at the same $15.00 per copy fee. For death certificates not held locally or records the Register of Deeds cannot provide, the South Dakota Department of Health maintains statewide vital records and accepts mail, online, and phone orders through a licensed third-party vendor.

    Lawrence County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Lawrence County — administration of decedents' estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships — fall under the jurisdiction of the Lawrence County Circuit Court. The Clerk of Courts at the Sherman Street courthouse maintains all probate case files.

    Here's how to search probate records:

    • In person: Visit the courthouse during business hours and use a public access terminal or ask staff for assistance. Bring the name of the decedent, ward, or other case party, along with any case number if known.
    • Online: Probate cases filed in Lawrence County can be searched through eCourts by party name or case number. Summary information is available to registered users at no charge.
    • By mail: Submit a written request to the Clerk of Courts at P.O. Box 626, 78 Sherman Street, Deadwood, SD 57732. Include the party name, approximate case year, and type of record needed. The $20.00 search fee under SDCL § 16-2-29.5 applies to staff-conducted searches, plus any applicable copy costs.

    Historically significant probate records — including earlier court orders, administrator appointments, executor bonds, and guardianship estate records — are preserved through the South Dakota State Archives, which maintains archival collections for Lawrence County's circuit and probate courts dating back to the county's earliest judicial history.

    If you're a current guardianship applicant who needs to submit a fingerprint-based background check as part of the court process, call the Clerk of Courts at (605) 578-2040 for specific instructions. That process involves coordination between the DCI and the court.