South Dakota Vital Records

South Dakota vital records are a compilation of all life events documented by government entities in the state. The term "life event" refers to significant milestones in a person's life. These major milestones include birth, death, marriage, divorce, and adoption events.

South Dakota's public records laws regulate the safekeeping and access to documented vital records. The state law appoints specific government entities as record custodians for the records. These agencies maintain and disclose the records, provided the inquirer meets the legal requirements. The South Dakota Vital Records Office is one of the official custodians of vital records in the state.

Public Access to South Dakota Vital Records

Per South Dakota Codified Laws 34-25-52.6, vital records are generally classified as confidential documents. The state may restrict public access to confidential and certified vital records. Persons, such as the record subject, immediate relations, and legal representatives, are generally eligible to view and obtain such records.

However, the South Dakota open records laws permit public access to informational and non-confidential parts of vital records. The public may access these records through options like online search portals and offline requests to the record custodian. There is usually no need to provide a valid ID or other documents when requesting an informational copy. You only need to provide relevant search details and pay the required fees to access such records.

Types of Vital Records Available in South Dakota

Types of vital records in South Dakota may include the following:

• Birth records: Birth records are official documentation of birth events that occurred within the county. Such records typically reveal the record subject's names, birthdate, birth location, and parents.
• Death records: South Dakota's agencies keep records of all documented deaths that occurred within the state. Death records provide information on the deceased, including the name, birthdate, age, sex, next of kin, medical conditions, and cause of death. A death certificate might also include the funeral director's details.
• Marriage records: These are government files that document marriages legally solemnized in South Dakota. The record typically contains the couple's name, age, sex, marriage date and location, parents' names, and the name of the officiating minister.
• Divorce records: Divorce records are court documents that detail the proceedings of a divorce case. Such records typically include court decrees, case summaries, and related files about the divorce event.

Birth, death, and marriage records are under the purview of the South Dakota Vital Records Office. The agency preserves and issues certified and informational copies of these records to record seekers. Only eligible parties may access certified copies of the record.

South Dakota Birth Records

South Dakota birth records typically include these details:

• The record subject's name and personal data, like birthdate, sex, birthmarks, and weight at birth.
• Parents' names, including the mother's maiden name.
• Parents' occupation and residential address.
• Place and date of birth.

Under the state laws, only the following parties are eligible to obtain certified copies of birth records:

• The record subject.
• Parents listed on the certificate.
• Legal representatives of persons listed on the certificate.

The South Dakota Office of Vital Records allows mail-in and in-person requests for certified and informational copies of birth certificates. To get birth certificates in South Dakota, inquirers are typically required to send a completed request form along with other required information to the agency at:

Mail address

Vital Records

Physical address.

Vital Records Office

County-level agencies also provide access to birth certificates in their custody. For instance, local Vital Records Offices under any of the local Registers of Deeds are official custodians of birth certificates. You may submit a request to the nearest vital records office.

South Dakota Death Records

South Dakota death records typically include these details:

• The deceased's name, age, address, and occupation.
• The surviving spouse.
• Place and date of death.
• Medical report, including the cause of death.
• Funeral director or coroner's name and other related information.
• Name of next of kin.

South Dakota death records are accessible through the state- and local-level vital records offices. Under the state law, only the following parties may access confidential or certified death certificates:

• The deceased's immediate family members.
• Next of kin.
• Persons with a personal or property right to access the record.
• Funeral directors, physicians, and attorneys acting on behalf of eligible parties.

To find death records in South Dakota, inquirers must either contact the state's vital records office or any of the local Register of Deeds' offices. The South Dakota Vital Records Office receives mail-in or in-person requests at this address:

Mail address

Vital Records

Physical address.

Vital Records Office

South Dakota Marriage Records

South Dakota marriage records provide information on marriage events. These records are important for genealogy research and legal processes.

Record custodians in South Dakota may disclose confidential and certified marriage certificates to eligible parties, such as the following:

• Record subjects.
• Immediate family members.
• Legal representatives of eligible parties.
• Persons backed by a court order.

You can generally obtain a marriage certificate in South Dakota by sending a request to state- or local-level vital records offices. You may locate the nearest local vital records office via an online directory. However, the state's vital records office receives requests at this address:

Mail address

Vital Records

Physical address.

Vital Records Office

South Dakota Divorce Records

South Dakota divorce records are court documents regarding marriage dissolutions. Divorce records are not the same as court decrees. Court decrees contain the final terms of a divorce case, while divorce records contain all information regarding divorce case proceedings.

Divorce decrees in South Dakota are under the purview of state- and local-level entities. The South Dakota Public Access Records Search (PARS) provides a statewide search platform for divorce cases. On the other hand, you may access divorce records via the clerk of courts in the county where the divorce event occurred. The circuit court may also maintain records of divorce cases heard at the courthouse.

How to Order Vital Records in South Dakota

Interested persons may order South Dakota vital records via any of these options:

Online orders for vital records

You may view and order vital records via online platforms maintained by designated record custodians. For instance, the South Dakota PARS platform allows online searches for divorce cases in the state. The South Dakota State Archives may also keep records of vital records.

To find records on these platforms, inquirers are typically required to provide relevant search information. For example, you may provide the case number and divorce year to search divorce records on the PARS platform.

Mail-in orders for vital records in South Dakota

Mail-in orders generally require sending a written or fillable request form to the record custodian. For mail-in requests to the State Vital Records, inquirers may follow these general steps:

1. Fill out the request form for vital records.
2. Provide a valid government-issued ID or any documents that provide proof of a relationship with the record subject.
3. Attach the required fees as a check. It costs $15 per copy of the record.
4. Send the required files and fees to the agency at:

Vital Records

In-person orders for vital records in South Dakota

To order vital records in person, you may make a request at the physical address of the record custodian. For example, the state's vital records office attends to in-person requests at:

The agency may require copy fees and relevant information about the requested document.

Who Can Request South Dakota Vital Records?

In South Dakota, eligibility for vital records varies depending on the record type. Non-confidential or informational vital records are open and accessible to the public. However, there are restrictions on who can access confidential or certified copies of vital records. The state may only disclose such records to the following parties:

• Record subjects.
• Immediate family members.
• Legal representatives of eligible parties.
• Persons backed by a court order.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	All parties (if the certificate is informational). - Otherwise, parties named in the record, legal representatives, and persons backed by a court order.	May require ID, proof of relationship, or court documents	South Dakota Vital Records Office 221 West Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 vitalrecords@state.sd.us Phone: (605) 773-4961 Fax: (605) 773-2680 Doh.sd.gov
Death Certificate	- Otherwise, parties named in the record, legal representatives, next of kin, and persons backed by a court order. All parties (if the certificate is informational).	May require ID, proof of relationship, or court documents to obtain certified copies.	South Dakota Vital Records Office 221 West Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 vitalrecords@state.sd.us Phone: (605) 773-4961 Fax: (605) 773-2680 Doh.sd.gov
Marriage Record	- Anyone (if unrestricted) - Otherwise, eligible requestors vary by county	May require ID, proof of relationship, or court documents to obtain certified copies.	Doh.sd.gov
Divorce Record	- Anyone (if unrestricted) - Otherwise, parties named in the record or legal representatives	Certified copies often require a photo ID or a court request	Doh.sd.gov

Processing Times for South Dakota Vital Records Requests

In South Dakota, the processing time for vital records may vary depending on factors such as record type and age. Based on record type, certified photocopies may have a longer processing time than informational copies. The document age might also impact the processing time since it generally takes longer to retrieve older records. Other factors, such as public holidays and request backlogs, may affect the processing time of vital records in South Dakota.

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	- Request method (mail, in-person) - Verification of eligibility - Volume of requests	- Restricted access records require additional review
Death Certificate	- Record type - County vs. state processing - Method of submission	- Some counties have longer retrieval times - Additional documentation may be required
Marriage Record	- County of record - Whether a search is required - Request method	- County clerks' workloads vary - Certified copies may take longer than informational copies
Divorce Record	- Court retrieval procedures - Complexity of the case - Request method	- Timelines vary by court and county - Expedited processing may be available

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in South Dakota

Vital records fees may vary based on the record type, the record custodian's fee structure, and the number of requested copies. For example, birth certificates cost $15 at the state's Vital Records Office. The fees may differ if you're requesting from a local record custodian agency.

How to Search Vital Records Online in South Dakota

You may search South Dakota vital records online via online databases maintained by government entities. For example, you can search divorce records via the state's PARS platform.
The platform provides access to divorce case files and related court records. Alternatively, you may find online vital records via the South Dakota State Archives. The archive may contain older vital records, which are important for genealogy research in South Dakota.