Minnehaha County Court Records Search
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Minnehaha County, home to Sioux Falls and the largest population base in South Dakota, generates a high volume of court activity each year. The county’s trial-level courts operate within the Second Judicial Circuit and hear everything from felony prosecutions and complex civil litigation to family disputes and probate matters. Whether you need to verify the outcome of a past lawsuit, check the status of a pending criminal charge, or obtain a copy of a divorce decree, the records you are looking for are maintained by the Clerk of Courts office inside the Minnehaha County Courthouse.
South Dakota provides multiple avenues for locating court records. The state’s Unified Judicial System operates online search tools, and courthouse terminals are open to walk-in visitors during business hours. The SouthDakotaCourts.us website can help users identify the correct court, find contact information, and connect to statewide case-search platforms. For Minnehaha County specifically, both online portals and in-person services at the courthouse in Sioux Falls offer direct access to case dockets, filings, and official documents.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Minnehaha County?
Minnehaha County court cases can be researched through several methods, each suited to different needs and levels of detail.
Online Search Tools
The Unified Judicial System maintains two primary platforms for remote record searches:
- eCourts — The South Dakota eCourts portal provides summary docket information for public civil, domestic, probate, and other non-criminal cases. Users must register for a free account to search by party name or case number. Docket entries show parties, attorneys of record, filed documents, hearings, judgments, and case outcomes. Document images can be purchased at $0.10 per page, with a $3.00 maximum per document. Note that eCourts does not currently support online viewing or purchasing of document images through the public portal due to personally identifiable information concerns; full documents must be accessed at courthouse public-access terminals.
- Public Access Record Search (PARS) — The PARS system covers criminal cases, domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders. A search costs $20.00 regardless of whether records are found. Guest searches allow pay-as-you-go access with a credit card, while frequent users can request a drawdown account by contacting UJS PARS support. PARS includes criminal cases from 1989 to the present; records before 1989 must be obtained directly from the Clerk of Courts.
- Find Your Court Date — The UJS also offers a court-date lookup tool where anyone with a pending case can search by name and date of birth or by case number.
- Civil Money Judgment Search — A separate civil judgments database allows public users to search judgments by name and date on a pay-as-you-go basis or through a subscription account.
In-Person Access
Two public-access computer terminals are available at the Minnehaha County Courthouse. One is located outside the Clerk of Courts Civil/Small Claims Office on the second floor, and another is in the Clerk of Courts reception area on the first floor. These terminals provide free access to open court records statewide and allow users to view and print documents that may not be available through the online portals. A public copy machine and scanner are available on the second floor; users can scan to or print from any USB drive.
Clerk of Courts Contact Information
Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts
425 N. Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2470
Phone: (605) 367-5900
Fax: (605) 367-5916
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
By Mail
Written requests for record copies can be mailed to the Clerk of Courts at the address above. Include the full case number or the names of the parties involved, a description of the documents needed, and a return address. Contact the office by phone to confirm applicable copy fees before sending payment.
Are Court Records Public in Minnehaha County?
Court records in Minnehaha County are presumptively open to the public. Access is governed by SDCL Chapter 15-15A, which establishes the framework for public access to court records throughout South Dakota’s unified judicial system.
However, the statute carves out a substantial list of records that are excluded from public access. Under SDCL 15-15A-7, the following categories of court records are not accessible to the public:
- Adoption files and court records (with limited statutory exceptions)
- Abuse and neglect files
- Juvenile court records and proceedings
- Mental illness court proceedings and records
- Grand jury proceedings
- Presentence investigation reports
- Guardianship and conservatorship records (with exceptions)
- Domestic abuse victim location information
- Custody or visitation mediation proceedings
- Attorney-client communications and attorney work product
- Trade secrets protected under discovery rules
- Wills (with statutory exceptions)
- Trust documents sealed upon petition
- Records of probationers under suspended imposition of sentence after successful completion
- Civil case filing statements
- Any record declared confidential by federal or state law or court order
Additionally, SDCL 15-15A-9 requires that Social Security numbers, employer or taxpayer identification numbers, financial account numbers, and the names of child victims be filed in a manner that excludes them from public access. Parties and their attorneys bear the responsibility for redacting these identifiers before filing documents with the court.
South Dakota’s open-records law under SDCL Chapter 1-27 provides additional context for public access to government records more broadly, including exemptions for medical records, personnel evaluations, and records relevant to pending litigation.
Minnehaha County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Minnehaha County are handled by the Second Judicial Circuit Court at the Minnehaha County Courthouse. Circuit court judges hear all felony trials and Class 1 misdemeanors, while magistrate judges handle Class 2 misdemeanors, petty offenses, and traffic violations. Both levels operate from the same courthouse location.
Searching Criminal Records Online
The PARS portal is the primary tool for searching criminal court records remotely. Each search costs $20.00 and returns a summary of public criminal case information, including charges, dispositions, and sentencing data. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and cases resulting in a suspended imposition of sentence where probation was successfully completed will not appear. Criminal cases from before 1989 are not in the PARS database and require a direct request to the Clerk of Courts.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), operating within the Office of the Attorney General, processes fingerprint-based criminal background checks. Two options are available:
- Electronic submission: Create an account at the Background Check Request Form portal, pay the fee online, print the receipt, and visit a Livescan fingerprinting location within 10 days. Fingerprints must be submitted electronically through a Livescan machine located in South Dakota. The fee is $30.00 for a personal/state-only check or $50.00 for a combined state and FBI check. DCI does not offer refunds.
- Mail submission: Send a completed fingerprint card, signed authorization, and a check or money order for $30.00 to the DCI. Cash should not be sent, and fingerprint cards must not be folded. Details and mailing instructions are available on the DCI mail submission page.
Arrest and Jail Records
The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office maintains booking records for its jail facility. Current inmates and recent bookings are searchable through the Who’s Behind Bars online tool. This database reflects jail bookings only and does not correspond to court case outcomes.
Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office
320 W. 4th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Email: civildivision@minnehahacounty.gov
For felony offenders sentenced to state custody, the South Dakota Department of Corrections Offender Locator provides searchable incarceration and supervision records.
Court Costs for Criminal Cases
Based on the UJS Schedule of Court Costs, criminal filing fees include:
| Case Type | Filing Fee | Surcharges | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| All felonies | $50.00 | $66.50 | $116.50 |
| Class 1 misdemeanors | $50.00 | $46.50 | $96.50 |
| Class 2 misdemeanors (excluding traffic) | $50.00 | $46.50 | $96.50 |
Minnehaha County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Minnehaha County range from breach-of-contract disputes and personal-injury lawsuits to landlord-tenant actions and small claims. The circuit court has general civil jurisdiction, while magistrate judges preside over small claims proceedings.
Searching Civil Case Records
Civil case dockets are available through the eCourts portal. After free registration, users can search by party name or case number. Summary information includes filed documents, hearing dates, and dispositions. Document purchases cost $0.10 per page up to a $3.00 cap per document. Full document viewing is available at the public-access terminals in the courthouse.
The civil money judgment database is a separate tool for researching judgments specifically, useful for lien searches and collections research.
Small Claims
South Dakota’s small claims limit is $12,000. The UJS Self-Help Center provides filing instructions, fee information, and forms. Small claims filing fees vary by the amount in controversy. The Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts office on the second floor of the courthouse processes small claims filings during regular business hours.
The UJS also offers a Guide and File tool that generates court-ready forms for self-represented litigants at no cost. Completed forms must be printed and submitted in person at the Clerk’s Office.
Civil Process Service Fees (Minnehaha County Sheriff)
When civil papers need to be served by the Sheriff’s Office, the following fees apply as of July 1, 2025:
| Service Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summons, Complaint, Notice, Petition, Affidavit | $50.00 + $10.00 mileage |
| Small Claims | $50.00 + $10.00 mileage |
| Execution of Judgment | $95.00 + $10.00 mileage |
| Eviction/Lockout | $95.00 + $10.00 mileage |
| Subpoena | $20.00 per person + $10.00 mileage |
| Garnishment | $50.00 + $10.00 mileage |
| Printing (emailed/faxed documents) | $0.25 per page |
Papers can be submitted to the Civil Division in person, by mail, by email at civildivision@minnehahacounty.gov, or by fax at (605) 367-7319. All fees must be prepaid and are generally non-refundable. A Civil Process Cover Letter must accompany all submissions.
Civil Filing Fees
Per the UJS schedule, civil filing fees in circuit court include a base filing fee plus automation and law library surcharges. For actions claiming more than $10,000, the standard filing fee is $70.00 plus applicable surcharges. Divorce filings total $97.00 ($50.00 filing fee plus $40.00 automation surcharge and $7.00 law library fee).
Minnehaha County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Minnehaha County are heard by the circuit court. There is no separate family court division; instead, circuit judges handle divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, domestic violence protection orders, and juvenile proceedings as part of the court’s general jurisdiction.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees and related filings are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Minnehaha County Courthouse. These records can be searched through the eCourts portal by party name. Certified copies of divorce records must be requested in person or by mail from the Clerk’s Office.
The total filing fee for a divorce action in South Dakota is $97.00. The circuit court in Sioux Falls processes divorce filings at:
Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts
425 N. Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-5900
Protection Orders
Domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders are searchable through the PARS system. There is no filing fee for protection order service by the Sheriff’s Office.
Adoption and Juvenile Records
Adoption files are closed under SDCL 25-6-15, and juvenile court records are confidential under SDCL 26-7A-36 through 26-7A-38. These records cannot be accessed through public search tools and are available only to authorized parties as specified by statute or court order.
Marriage Records
Marriage certificates are not court records in South Dakota. They are maintained by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds. Marriage records in Minnehaha County date back to 1872, including some from the Dakota Territory period. Certificates for marriages occurring anywhere in South Dakota from 1950 to the present can be issued by any Register of Deeds office statewide.
To obtain a certified copy, complete the South Dakota Vital Records Request form, have it notarized or present identification, and submit it with a $15.00 fee. The fee is required by law regardless of whether the record is located.
Minnehaha County Register of Deeds
415 N. Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-4223
Mail requests should include a money order payable to the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The South Dakota Department of Health Vital Records office in Pierre also issues marriage, birth, and death certificates.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are confidential under South Dakota law and may only be released to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, or other authorized individuals such as physicians and funeral directors. The same $15.00 fee and vital records application process described above applies. Birth records over 100 years old are public and can be searched online through the Department of Health.
Burial permits, which are separate from death certificates, are public records and have been maintained by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds since the 1920s. There are no access restrictions for burial records.
Minnehaha County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in South Dakota are heard by the circuit court. Minnehaha County probate cases — including estate administration, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes — are filed with and managed by the Clerk of Courts at the Minnehaha County Courthouse.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case dockets can be searched through eCourts using the decedent’s name or the case number. Summary information includes the names of personal representatives, filings, and hearing dates. Full probate files, including the original will and inventory documents, can be reviewed at the public-access terminals inside the courthouse.
For cases predating the eCourts system, contact the Clerk of Courts directly at (605) 367-5900 to arrange an in-person file review.
Access Limitations
Several probate-related record types carry statutory restrictions:
- Wills: Under SDCL 29A-2-515, certain will documents may be sealed and are not publicly accessible unless statutory exceptions apply.
- Trusts: Under SDCL 21-22-28, trust documents may be sealed upon petition, with limited exceptions.
- Guardianships and Conservatorships: Under SDCL 29A-5-311, these records are closed with statutory exceptions. This is particularly relevant for guardianship applicants, who should contact the Clerk of Courts for instructions on required background checks before filing.
Filing Fees for Probate Matters
Probate filing fees follow the UJS Schedule of Court Costs. Estate proceedings, guardianship petitions, and conservatorship filings each carry a base filing fee plus applicable surcharges. The Clerk of Courts can confirm current fee totals before filing. The UJS Self-Help resources include guidance and form-preparation tools for individuals handling estate matters without an attorney.
Property Records
While not court records, property ownership information is frequently relevant to probate and estate matters. Minnehaha County property data is searchable through the Beacon property search portal, which replaced the county’s previous property information system in 2023. The Minnehaha County GIS open data site offers interactive mapping and parcel data. Electronic requests for copies of recorded real estate documents can be submitted through the Register of Deeds document request form.