Guide
Where to Look in South Dakota
South Dakota courts share one statewide record system, but online searches cost a fee; the clerk of court terminals in each courthouse are free. These state offices are the usual first stops before the county register of deeds and director of equalization.
- UJS Public Access Record SearchStatewide civil and criminal record search, $20 per search
- SD Secretary of State business searchCorporations, LLCs and limited partnerships with agents
- SD DOC Offender LocatorCurrent inmates, parolees and absconders
- SD Sex Offender RegistryKept by the Division of Criminal Investigation
- SD Department of Health, Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage and divorce records
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About People Search in South Dakota
Public records in South Dakota are governed by the Open Records Law (SDCL Chapter 1-27). Court records are statewide, while South Dakota trust and corporate laws keep many details of trusts and companies private.
The state has 66 counties and 7 judicial circuits, and a large part of its land is under tribal jurisdiction.
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Official State Sources
The Secretary of State keeps business filings statewide; its search is linked in Where to Look.
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Court Records
South Dakota has one unified court system, so the records of all 66 counties are in one database. Searching it online costs a fee.
Researcher Tip: the online record search costs $20 per search. Searches are free at the public access terminals in the clerk of court's office of each county courthouse.
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Property & Tax Records
South Dakota uses unique terminology for its county-level property officials. Deeds and mortgages are recorded by the Register of Deeds, while property assessments and tax valuations are managed by the Director of Equalization. Searching address history requires visiting the specific county's Director of Equalization online portal.
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Business & Licensing Records
Most occupational licenses are issued through the Department of Labor and Regulation, and doctors and lawyers by their own boards. A license record can confirm where a person works and any discipline.
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Corrections & Inmate Lookup
The Department of Corrections offender locator and the sex offender registry are linked in Where to Look.
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Vital Records
The Department of Health keeps birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Birth records more than 100 years old can be searched online; certified copies of other records go to people with a direct and tangible interest.
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Voter Registration
Voter files are public but are requested from the Secretary of State, not searched online, and may be used only for election or political purposes, not for commercial skip tracing. Voters can check their own registration on the Voter Information Portal.
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Archives, Genealogy & Obituaries
The South Dakota State Archives in Pierre holds territorial records, state census records and early records of Native American agencies.
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County & City Resources
Researching physical assets and localized court filings requires county-level knowledge.
| County | County Seat | Major Cities & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha | Sioux Falls | Largest county; commercial hub. |
| Pennington | Rapid City | Gateway to the Black Hills. |
| Lincoln | Canton | Fast-growing Sioux Falls suburb. |
| Brown | Aberdeen | Northern SD economic center. |
| Meade | Sturgis | Home of the yearly Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. |
| Lawrence | Deadwood | Historic mining; modern gaming center. |
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People Search Tips for South Dakota
Several reservations, such as Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock, have their own tribal courts. Civil and minor criminal cases involving tribal members on reservation land are usually in tribal court, not in the state court system.
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Privacy & Legal Framework
South Dakota trust laws allow long lasting dynasty trusts and keep trust details confidential, so assets held in trusts are hard to trace in public records.
Privacy Note: trusts are private, but criminal and civil court records stay open to the public.
Straight answers
South Dakota People Search, questions
How do I search South Dakota court records by name?
Use the Public Access Record Search of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Enter the person's name and date of birth. Each search costs $20.00, charged even when no record is found.
What does the South Dakota court record search show?
It shows docket entries in criminal cases and in domestic protection, stalking protection and foreign protection order cases. Dockets are updated during business hours, but the newest filings at the clerk's office may be missing.
How do I find someone in a South Dakota prison?
Search the Department of Corrections Offender Locator by last and first name. It covers felony offenders sentenced to prison. People sentenced to county jail, probation or other supervision are not included.
Does the South Dakota sex offender registry list every offender?
Yes. Since 2006, state law has required a public website listing all offenders registered in South Dakota. The Division of Criminal Investigation keeps it, and listings may not show a person's current home, job or school.
Can I run a South Dakota criminal history check on someone?
Only with their fingerprints and signed waiver. The DCI Identification Section keeps criminal history records that are fully fingerprint based, and every applicant check needs a signed waiver and a $30.00 processing fee.
Who can get a certified South Dakota death or marriage record?
South Dakota vital records are not open for public inspection. Certified copies go to the person on the record, a spouse, child, parent, guardian, grandparent or sibling, or an authorized agent. Informational copies on plain paper are also issued.
Where are South Dakota marriage records kept?
The Department of Health holds all marriages in the state since 1905. Each county Register of Deeds keeps marriages where the license was bought or solemnized. A state record search costs $15.
Who holds unclaimed money in a South Dakota resident's name?
Property left untouched for three years, for most kinds, whose owner the holder cannot find goes to the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Treasurer's Office. Call 1-866-357-2547 in state or 605-773-3379.