Introduction to South Dakota Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a South Dakota Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure.
  

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

South Dakota Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

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

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

South Dakota Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

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

South Dakota Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order South Dakota Divorce Certificate Online

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

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

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

South Dakota Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

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