Introduction to South Dakota Death Certificates

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

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

South Dakota Death Certificates with Death Dates Over 100 Years

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

South Dakota Death Certificate Authorized Persons

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

• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the South Dakota Death Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the South Dakota Death Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the South Dakota Death Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the South Dakota Death Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the South Dakota Death Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the South Dakota Death 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 Death Certificate

South Dakota Death Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

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

South Dakota Death Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order South Dakota Death Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your South Dakota Death Certificate.  Order online and you will get your South Dakota Death 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 Death Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your South Dakota Death 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 Death certificate:

• Full name of person at Death on the South Dakota Death certificate
• Date of Death on the South Dakota Death certificate
• Sex on the South Dakota Death certificate
• County (or city) of Death on the South Dakota Death certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose South Dakota Death certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the South Dakota Death 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 Death certificate. Most South Dakota Death certificates can be issued while you wait.

South Dakota Death Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a South Dakota Death certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the South Dakota Death certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the South Dakota Death 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.