About South Dakota Public Records

About South Dakota public records

Explore documents, files, transactions, registry and reports for the state of South Dakota. Perform criminal background, and personal history. Verify a Social Security number (SSN). Find documents from courts. Find a marriage license, birth certificate or death certificate. Inquire into a business. Check out South Dakota professional licenses of attorneys, teachers, nurses, and more. Keep an eye on sex offenders in your neighborhood.

State background and court information

South Dakota is located in the mid-western region of the U.S. and was the 40th territory to become a state in 1889. There are 66 counties functioning as local governments in the state of South Dakota. Agencies carry out many of the state's responsibilities on behalf of the state and local governments. The South Dakota Open Records (SDCL) allows members of the public to request information from their governments for better transparency. Better access to government information presents a tool for journalists to uncover stories of mishanding of public affairs. Concerned South Dakota residents can request to see employee salaries, budgets, minutes of meetings between elected officials and many other records and information for oversight of any abuses.

Criminal records are commonly the most important part of background checks. Searching criminal history can be challenging as protected data is not available to the public. The state of South Dakota offers step by step instructions on how to obtain a criminal history report. Look up the requirements and see what you need from the state's official division of criminal investigation and see how to conduct a finger based background check of an employee or yourself. You can order records of misdemeanors and felonies statewide as well as seeing how to obtain records from federal agencies as the central repository of criminal information on individuals.

For a thorough investigation you can expand your search to include other information derived from public records. The South Dakota Department of Health offers several easy and simple ways of obtaining a birth, death or marriage record. Electronic court record searches from the state of South Dakota judicial system offers online access to criminal cases, filings and civil lawsuits. Instant databases are offered to verify a professional license issued by the state. Regardless of your search needs and goals, a search of records available to the public can reveal an abundance of substantive information resulting in an informative final report.

The South Dakota supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile,disciplinary, and original proceeding cases, discretionary jurisdiction in advisory opinions for the state executive, interlocutory decision, and original proceeding cases.

Circuit courts have exclusive civil jurisdiction, including civil appeals, small claims for cases up to $8,000, domestic relations, criminal trials, including criminal appeals, exclusive traffic, except for uncontested parking violations, which is handled administratively, and exclusive juvenile jurisdiction. The South Dakota circuit court also handles preliminary hearings and has jury trials except in small claims.

The South Dakota family courts dictate that a marriage can only be dissolved by death or divorce and limited cases, marriages may be annulled by an action in circuit court.

Court records and filings

South Dakota court records are maintained by the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction serving multiple counties in each judicial circuit.

Case records can be searched through the South Dakota Unified Judicial System online portal at ujs.sd.gov.

Criminal records and background checks

South Dakota criminal records are maintained by the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) under the state Attorney General. The DCI Identification Section processes fingerprint-based criminal background checks statewide. The Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system contains arrest data for misdemeanors and felonies in South Dakota. Court records are accessible through the Unified Judicial System (UJS) Public Access Records Search (PARS), which provides statewide criminal and civil case information online. The South Dakota Department of Corrections maintains an offender locator for felony offenders sentenced to DOC custody. County sheriff offices across South Dakota’s 66 counties maintain local arrest records, jail rosters, and warrant information.

Vital records

Statewide South Dakota vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in South Dakota and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in South Dakota to conduct research online. Department of health, ordering records, birth dates over 100 years, genealogy resources, state historical society cemetery record search, ordering multiple records, eligibility requirements to obtain certified copies and identification required.

Property and asset records

Locating assets in South Dakota using public records can reveal information other than just property records. Business filings with the Secretary of State online database showing company status, address and images of documents filed. View information of others involved with the subject of you search in partnerships, LLCs, corporations and other entity types. Bankruptcy filings can be obtained just as other court records, and can be accessed easily with the availability of the PACER system. Other court records from county and circuit courts can include judgments, divorces and other lawsuit related information.

Government records and agencies

Access South Dakota government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Direct South Dakota official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of South Dakota. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous South Dakota criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

South Dakota genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Department of Health and Genealogy resources.

Missing children resources

South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies join forces when a child is reported missing in South Dakota. The South Dakota Missing Children Clearinghouse has a vast amount of information on abduction and plays an important role by providing resources for citizens and law enforcement agencies to assist in the recovery of children who go missing from South Dakota. The South Dakota Child Amber Alert program quickly notifies all South Dakota law enforcement and all South Dakota media as soon as possible after a child has been abducted. This will enable citizens to recognize the child, the suspect or the vehicle used in the abduction and call law enforcement immediately. The South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Enforcement Unit provides public education about the dangers of the Internet, investigates Internet based child exploitation crimes, and provides computer forensics expertise to other law enforcement agencies. Parents can find guidelines to prevent internet crimes against their children. Family members can download information for those who have experienced a family abduction, learn about the laws that will help them, prevention methods, and suggestions for aftercare following the abduction.