Introduction to South Dakota Birth Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a South Dakota birth certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Personal birth certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want your birth certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your birth certificate.  

South Dakota birth certificates have been maintained by the South Dakota Department of Health – Vital Records for individuals born in the state of South Dakota since 1905.

South Dakota Birth Certificates with Birth Dates Over 100 Years

South Dakota allows any one to search for South Dakota birth records the Department of Health has on file with dates of birth over 100 years of age online. If the South Dakota birth certificate is not located on the site, the birth certificate has never been filed with the South Dakota Department of Health – Vital Records.

South Dakota Birth Certificate Authorized Persons

By South Dakota state law, South Dakota birth certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Someone who needs the certificate to prove personal or property rights, will need to provide documentation of the right with the application
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the South Dakota Birth Certificate

South Dakota Birth Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a South Dakota informational birth certificate, these are appropriate for genealogy or other reasons.

South Dakota Birth Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order South Dakota Birth Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your South Dakota Birth Certificate.  Order online and you will get your South Dakota Birth Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order South Dakota Birth Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your South Dakota birth certificate online.  It usually takes 30 days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the South Dakota birth certificate:

• Full name of person at birth on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Date of birth on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Sex on the South Dakota birth certificate
• County (or city) of birth on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Hospital of birth - if not in a hospital state "home" 
• Full maiden name of mother on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Full name of father on the South Dakota birth certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose South Dakota birth certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the South Dakota birth certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

South Dakota Vital Records

207 E Missouri Ave, Ste 1A

Pierre, SD 57501

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in South Dakota: You may go to any county health department in the State of South Dakota to obtain a certified copy of a South Dakota birth certificate. Most South Dakota birth certificates can be issued while you wait.

South Dakota Birth Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a South Dakota birth certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the South Dakota birth certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the South Dakota birth certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $15.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "South Dakota Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.