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

VitalRecordsByState
Menu

How to get a South Dakota death certificate

In South Dakota, order a certified death certificate from the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office.1 Any SD Register of Deeds can issue death certificates for deaths from January 1, 1960 to the present (per Minnehaha County ROD).2 Each certified copy costs $153. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a South Dakota death certificate costs
  3. Who can order a South Dakota death certificate
  4. ID you need
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Forms
  7. Years held and older records
  8. Special situations
  9. Warnings from the office
  10. The state office
  11. Questions people ask
  12. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.$154, plus $6.504 VitalChek fee
+ 2 possible extra charges		––
By mail$153–Check and money order4
In person$153
+ one extra charge		–Cash, check, money order and card4
At a local office$152 (Minnehaha County)––
By phone$155
+ one extra charge		–Card5

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.6

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor
VitalChek Network, Inc.4
Vendor status
The state's only authorized vendor4
Fees
  • Per copy $154
  • VitalChek fee $6.504
  • Expedite Fee (Regular Mail) $54
  • Optional UPS Next Day $17.504
  • Each additional copy in the same order $154
  • Total for one copy, regular mail $26.504
  • Total for one copy, UPS Next Day $444
Expedited service
$17.50. UPS Next Day shipping instead of regular mail4

Good to know

  • Genealogy requests by mail only; no online or phone orders4
  • Credit card must be in the applicant's name4
  • Online/phone identity: copy of government photo ID or electronic authentication7

Go to the ordering site4

By mail

Fees
  • Per copy $153
Expedited service
Optional prepaid priority return envelope for faster return4
Payment
Check and money order4
Mail to
Vital Records, South Dakota Department of Health, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
1

Good to know

  • Records cannot be faxed or e-mailed4

Open the application or mail instructions4

In person

Fees
  • Per copy $153
  • Credit/Debit Card $2.504
Payment
Cash, check, money order and card4
Office
State Office (Vital Records), 221 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
4
Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday1

Open the official page1

At a local office

Run by
County Register of Deeds (local registrar)8
Fees
  • Per copy $152

Find a local office9

By phone

Run by
VitalChek Network, Inc. (orders placed at 605-773-4961)4
Fees
  • Per copy $155
  • Expedited service $11.503
Payment
Card5

Good to know

  • No genealogy orders by phone4

What a South Dakota death certificate costs

First certified copy
$153
Each additional copy
$155
Expedite fee
$11.503
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee4
Fees in effect since
Nov. 5, 202610

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified copy11Identification and other legal purposes11$153
Informational copy11Not for legal proof of identification11$153
Certified photostatic copy (photocopy of the original record)11Legal purposes11$155
Informational photostatic copy12Genealogy; not legal use11$155
Notification of Records Searched4–$153

No-fee copies

  • Military/veterans: free certified copies for a claim against the government13

Who can order a South Dakota death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • The person named on the record11
    Proof: Not stated for the registrant4
  • Spouse and child11
  • A parent named on the record and legal guardian11
  • Grandparent and brother or sister11
  • Grandchild over 18 (listed on the application form)5
  • Attorney or legal representative and funeral director11
    Proof for each of the 5 lines above: May be required4
  • Designated agent (notarized designation by an eligible person)11
    Proof: Notarized designation14
  • Anyone with a personal or property right to the record11
    Proof: May be required4

Other kinds of copies

  • Informational copy Anyone: The department or authorized local registrars shall upon receipt of an application, issue informational copies to any applicant of any vital record.15
    Proof: Not required for informational copies16

ID you need

Photo ID
Required11
Accepted ID
  • Photocopy of driver's license
  • Photocopy of state ID card
  • Photocopy of tribal ID
  • Photocopy of passport or Visa
  • Photocopy of military ID11
Without that ID
  • Social Security card
  • Utility bill with current address
  • Bank statement with current address
  • Pay stub (must include your name, Social Security number plus name, and address of business)
  • Car registration or title with current address
11
Notarization
Mail applications: notarized signature OR a clear copy of a photo ID4
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID7

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.16

  • Applicant's full name
  • Applicant's current home or business address
  • Signature or electronic authentication
  • Telephone number
  • Type of record
  • For a certified copy: relationship to registrant
  • Name of the registrant and date of death, or enough information to locate the record

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1905 to today12
Older records
Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 190512

Special situations

Stillbirth
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth (20+ weeks), issued to either parent; $10; by mail or in person only17 Details
Fetal death
Report of Fetal Death: Vital Records Request form + $15 + copy of state-issued photo ID17
Military and veterans
Free copies for military/veterans' claims18
If no record is found
If a Register of Deeds cannot find the record, the request goes to DOH; if DOH cannot find it, the $15 is kept and a "no record" letter is issued2

Warnings from the office

  • VitalChek is the only authorized third-party vendor4
  • Copies cannot be faxed or e-mailed4
  • The fee is required before any search4
  • Not open for public inspection1

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
4
Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday - Friday1

Questions people ask

How much is a certified South Dakota death certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.35

Can I order a South Dakota death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.4

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Photocopy of driver's license; Photocopy of state ID card; Photocopy of tribal ID; Photocopy of passport or Visa; Photocopy of military ID.11

Where are older South Dakota death certificates kept?

Some county Registers of Deeds hold records filed before 1905.12

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. Register of Deeds: Vital RecordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  3. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  4. Order Vital RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  5. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  6. Vital Records Services PortalSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  7. Section 44:09:06:06South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  8. Section 34-25-4.1South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  9. Find a Register of Deeds OfficeSouth Dakota Department of Health
  10. Section 44:09:06:02South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  11. Vital Records Eligibility & IdentificationSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  12. Genealogy resourcesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 13, 2026
  13. Military Fee Waiver RequestSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  14. Section 44:09:06:05South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  15. Section 34-25-52South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  16. Section 44:09:06:04South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)dated November 5, 2026
  17. Certificate of Birth Resulting in StillbirthSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  18. Section 34-25-54South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)