Meade County Court Records Search

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    Meade County, South Dakota, is located in the western part of the state, with Sturgis serving as the county seat. The county courthouse on Sherman Street is the hub of judicial activity, housing both the Meade County Circuit Court and the Magistrate Court. These courts generate a continuous record of legal proceedings — from felony criminal trials and civil disputes to probate and family law matters — that collectively form the official documentary history of the county’s judicial system. Court records in Meade County can include case numbers, party names, docket entries, motions, transcripts, evidence summaries, and final judgments.

    How to Search for Court Records in South Dakota

    South Dakota residents and researchers can access court case information through several channels, including clerk of court offices, public access computer terminals at any state courthouse, and online tools provided by the state judiciary. SouthDakotaCourts.us can serve as a starting point for locating publicly available case information across the state. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS) also maintains several dedicated online platforms for searching court records, checking court dates, and accessing civil judgment information statewide.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Meade County?

    The Meade County Clerk of Court is the official custodian of all court records filed in the county. Clerk Linda Keszler and her office maintain records across civil, criminal, family, and probate case types, assist with jury trials, provide procedural information, and accept new case filings.

    Meade County Clerk of Court
    Address: 1425 Sherman Street, P.O. Box 939, Sturgis, SD 57785
    Phone: (605) 347-4411
    Fax: (605) 347-3526
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    The courthouse also serves as the administrative hub for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses multiple counties in western South Dakota. The circuit administrative offices are located in the same building, and the presiding judge is Judge Michelle K. Comer.

    Online Search Tools

    The UJS provides several distinct online platforms for searching Meade County court records:

    • eCourts — Provides summary information on public cases, including party names, attorney records, documents filed, and hearing history. Free registration is required; registration is confidential.
    • Public Access Records Search (PARS) — An online tool providing summaries of public criminal court records, domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders. A $20.00 fee applies per search, charged at submission regardless of whether records are found. A drawdown account for multiple searches can be arranged by contacting UJSPARSsupport@ujs.state.sd.us.
    • Civil Money Judgment Query — Provides public access to the UJS civil judgments database. Users can search by name and date on a pay-as-you-go basis or via a subscription account.
    • Find Your Court Date — Allows searches by party name and date of birth, or by case number, to locate upcoming hearing dates.

    Public Access Terminals

    Every courthouse in South Dakota, including the Meade County Courthouse in Sturgis, is equipped with a public access computer terminal for viewing open court records electronically on site. Records viewed at these terminals are free to inspect; copies cost $0.20 per page.

    For cases predating 1989, records must be requested directly from the Meade County Clerk of Court, as PARS only covers criminal cases from 1989 forward.

    Are Court Records Public in Meade County?

    Access to court records in South Dakota is governed primarily by SDCL Chapter 15-15A, which establishes a comprehensive framework for public access to court records. Under this chapter, “public access” means that any person may inspect and obtain a copy of information in a court record, unless access is restricted by statute, court rule, or court order.

    The state’s broader public records policy is also grounded in SDCL 1-27-1, which declares that all public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen unless otherwise expressly restricted.

    Despite the general presumption of openness, the following categories of records are not publicly accessible in Meade County:

    • Juvenile records — all criminal cases involving juveniles are confidential and excluded entirely from court record searches
    • Sealed records — cases or documents sealed by judicial order are not available
    • Expunged records — criminal records that have been expunged are removed from public access
    • Records containing private personal information — including Social Security numbers and financial account details, which are redacted from public copies
    • Records that could interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings

    Under SDCL 15-15A-6, a court may limit the manner of public access for good cause, applying the least restrictive means necessary. Under SDCL 15-15A-13, any party to a case or any individual identified in a court record may petition to restrict public access to specific information.

    Meade County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal matters in Meade County are handled at two levels depending on the severity of the offense. The Meade County Circuit Court — the county’s highest trial court — has general jurisdiction over all felony cases and more serious criminal matters. The Meade County Magistrate Court, operating alongside the Circuit Court at the same location, handles misdemeanor criminal cases and lower-level offenses. Under SDCL Chapter 16-12B, a magistrate court with a law-trained magistrate judge has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court for misdemeanor cases.

    Meade County Circuit and Magistrate Courts
    Address: 1425 Sherman Street, P.O. Box 939, Sturgis, SD 57785
    Phone: (605) 347-4411
    Fax: (605) 347-3526

    Searching Criminal Records

    • Online: Use the PARS portal to search criminal case summaries from 1989 to present. The $20.00 fee applies per search. Entering both a person’s name and date of birth returns the most accurate results.
    • In person: Visit the courthouse and use the public access terminal to view criminal court records at no charge. Printed copies are $0.20 per page.
    • By request: Contact the Clerk of Court directly for records predating 1989 or for full case file documents not summarized through PARS.

    Arrest Records

    Arrest records connected to filed criminal cases may be found within the court case files accessible through the clerk’s office or PARS. The Meade County Jail inmate roster is maintained separately by the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and provides current booking and detention information. Criminal history and background check requests should be directed through PARS for court-based records.

    Meade County Civil Court Records

    The Meade County Circuit Court handles all civil matters exceeding the Magistrate Court’s jurisdictional threshold, including personal injury lawsuits, contract disputes, real property disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and other non-criminal matters. The Meade County Magistrate Court handles minor civil actions up to $12,000 in dispute value.

    Searching Civil Records

    • eCourts: Use South Dakota eCourts for case summaries of public civil matters. Free registration is required.
    • Civil Money Judgment Query: Search the UJS civil judgments database to find judgment records by name and date. Pay-as-you-go and subscription access are both available.
    • Public Access Terminals: Available at the Meade County Courthouse for on-site electronic review of civil case records at no charge.

    Requesting Civil Records

    To obtain copies of civil case documents, contact the Clerk of Court in person or by mail:

    1. Provide the full names of the parties, the case number if known, and the approximate filing year.
    2. Specify which documents are needed (filings, orders, judgments, transcripts, etc.).
    3. Submit the request in person at the courthouse, by mail to P.O. Box 939, Sturgis, SD 57785, or by phone at (605) 347-4411.
    4. Pay the applicable copy fee of $0.20 per page for standard copies.

    Court forms for civil filings are available through the UJS Forms and File Search tool, which allows filtering by category, circuit, and case type.

    Meade County Family Court Records

    Family law cases in Meade County — including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, and domestic protection orders — are handled by the Meade County Circuit Court. Domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders are among the records searchable through PARS in addition to criminal cases.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce proceedings are filed with the Meade County Circuit Court. The Clerk of Court maintains divorce case files and can provide copies upon request. Certified copies of divorce certificates — as distinct from full case files — are available through the South Dakota Department of Health Vital Records Ordering Page and the Meade County Register of Deeds. The fee is $15.00 per certified copy.

    Marriage Records and Licenses

    Marriage licenses in Meade County are issued by the Register of Deeds Office, not the court clerk. Both parties must appear together in person with valid ID. The marriage license fee is $40.00, payable in cash only at the time of issuance. State law requires the marriage ceremony to occur within 90 days of the application date. The completed license must be returned by the officiant to the Register of Deeds within 10 days of the ceremony.

    Certified copies of marriage records cost $15.00 each and are available back to 1905. To request a copy, complete the appropriate vital records application and submit it with a valid photo ID to:

    Meade County Register of Deeds
    Address: 1300 Sherman Street, Suite 138, Sturgis, SD 57785
    Phone: (605) 347-2356
    Fax: (605) 720-6619
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    Marriage and divorce certificates may also be ordered online through the South Dakota Department of Health Vital Records portal.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death records in Meade County are maintained by the Register of Deeds. Under South Dakota law, birth records are confidential for 100 years after the date of birth. During this period, access is limited to the record owner (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a demonstrated personal or property interest. Death records are confidential for 50 years after the date of death, with access similarly limited to immediate family of the deceased, legal representatives, and authorized persons.

    Eligible individuals may request records using the South Dakota Vital Records Request Form, available from the Department of Health. Submit the completed form, valid government-issued photo ID, and the applicable fee to the Meade County Register of Deeds or the:

    State Vital Records Office — South Dakota Department of Health
    Address: 221 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
    Phone: (605) 773-4961

    The fee for a certified or informational copy of a birth, death, or marriage record is $15.00 per copy at both the state and county level. Informational copies bear the notation “For informational purposes only. Not for legal proof of identification”. Both types are available at the same cost.

    Meade County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Meade County — including the probate of wills, administration of decedents’ estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships — fall under the jurisdiction of the Meade County Circuit Court. Probate records are generally public documents, though specific items within a case file may contain restricted personal information subject to redaction.

    Searching Probate Records

    Probate case information may be searched through South Dakota eCourts by entering the name of the deceased or other involved party along with the case number where available. The public access computer terminals at the Meade County Courthouse also provide on-site access to probate case records at no charge, with printed copies available for $0.20 per page.

    Requesting Probate Records

    To obtain copies of specific probate case documents — such as a filed will, letters testamentary, inventory of estate assets, or guardianship orders — contact the Meade County Clerk of Court directly:

    1. Identify the case by the decedent’s name or ward’s name, approximate filing year, and case number if known.
    2. Submit the request in person during office hours, by mail, or by phone.
    3. Note that fees vary depending on the document type; contact the clerk’s office directly at (605) 347-4411 for a fee estimate before submitting a request.

    Court forms related to probate proceedings are available through the UJS Form and File Search, which can be filtered by case category. The UJS Self Help Center also offers guidance for individuals representing themselves in probate matters before the Meade County Circuit Court.