Not a government site. We do not sell certificates. About us

VitalRecordsByState
Menu

South Dakota vital records

The South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office is the vital records office for South Dakota.1 It issues certified birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and divorce records12. Local offices also issue certified copies.2

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The state office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Current notices from the office

  • New Vital Records Services Portal for Parents Worksheets and Marriage License Applications (not for ordering certificates)1

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office11905 to today3$154–
Death certificateSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office11905 to today3$154–
Marriage certificateSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office11905 to today3$154–
Divorce recordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office1–$154–

Birth certificate

Who holds it
County Registers of Deeds also issue certified birth copies from the statewide database5
Older records
Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 19053
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc., by mail, in person, at a local office, by phone

How to get a South Dakota birth certificate

Death certificate

Who holds it
Any SD Register of Deeds can issue death certificates for deaths from January 1, 1960 to the present (per Minnehaha County ROD)6
Older records
Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 19053
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc., by mail, in person, at a local office, by phone

How to get a South Dakota death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
County Registers of Deeds furnish certified marriage copies; tribal marriages only from the tribe7
Older records
Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 19053
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc., by mail, in person, at a local office, by phone

How to get a South Dakota marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
Divorce certificate: State Office only. Full divorce decree: Clerk of Courts of the county where the divorce was filed2
Older records
Full divorce decrees: Clerk of Courts in the county where the divorce was filed2
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc., by mail, in person, at a local office, by phone

How to get South Dakota divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
Yes2
Which offices
County Register of Deeds (local registrar of vital records), 64 counties8
Any office for any county
Yes3

Access rules and the law

Laws and rules the office cites

  • SDCL chapter 34-25 (Vital Records)10
  • ARSD 44:09:06 (Disclosure of information), amended effective November 5, 202611
  • ARSD 44:09:05 (Amendment of records)12
  • SDCL 34-25-52.6: no inspection or copies unless authorized by chapter or court13
  • SDCL 34-25-52.2: $2 children's trust fund charge on each certified birth copy14
  • SDCL 34-25-52.7: one free certified birth certificate on proof of homelessness15
  • SDCL 34-25-52.3: one free birth certificate with a Head Start enrollment form16
  • SDCL 34-25-32.14: $10 fee for a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth17
  • ARSD 44:09:06:02.01: $5 state expedite fee for phone/internet credit-card requests18
  • SDCL 16-2-29(7): clerk of courts fee for authenticated copies (divorce decrees)19

The state office

Office
South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office1
Mailing address
Vital Records, South Dakota Department of Health, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
1
Walk-in address
State Office (Vital Records), 221 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
2
Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday1

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in South Dakota?

A certified birth certificate costs $15 for the first copy and a death certificate $15.4

What is the phone number of the South Dakota vital records office?

South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office: 605-773-4961.1

Where do I get a marriage certificate in South Dakota?

South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office. County Registers of Deeds furnish certified marriage copies; tribal marriages only from the tribe.17

Where do I get divorce records in South Dakota?

South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office. Divorce certificate: State Office only. Full divorce decree: Clerk of Courts of the county where the divorce was filed.12

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Vital recordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  2. Order Vital RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  3. Genealogy resourcesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 13, 2026
  4. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  5. SDLRC - Codified Law 34-25-16.6 - Copies of birth certificatesSouth Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  6. Register of Deeds: Vital RecordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  7. Section 25-1-10South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  8. Section 34-25-4.1South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  9. Find a Register of Deeds OfficeSouth Dakota Department of Health
  10. Section 34-25-52South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  11. Section 44:09:06:02South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  12. Section 44:09:05South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  13. Section 34-25-52.6South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  14. Section 34-25-52.2South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  15. Section 34-25-52.7South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  16. Section 34-25-52.3South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  17. Section 34-25-32.14South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  18. Rule 44:09:06:02.01 Fee for expedited servicesSouth Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated July 4, 2004
  19. SDLRC - Codified Law 16-2-29 - Fees charged by clerk of courts--ExemptionsSouth Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)