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A divorce certificate and the divorce decree answer different questions

South Dakota’s State Vital Records Office supplies divorce certificates. The divorce decree comes from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed. A certificate records that a divorce happened; the decree contains the court’s terms. If you need to establish the property division, support obligation or another order, request the decree and any later amendment that matters.

Divorce certificates are available only from the State Office, even though the general vital-record page also describes county Register of Deeds services for other records. A tribal divorce must be requested directly from the tribe. Identify the issuing court and jurisdiction before placing a state order.

Decide whether you qualify for a certified copy

South Dakota vital records are not open for public inspection. Certified-copy eligibility includes the named person, spouse, child, parent, guardian, grandparents and siblings, plus authorized or designated agents and people with a documented personal or property right. Evidence of relationship or authority may be required. A designated agent must complete the application’s authorization section.

An informational copy is issued without the seal and signature used for certification and is not legal identification. The application says a person who supplies the application, identification and fee may request an informational copy. Select certified, informational or the corresponding photostatic version deliberately; a photostatic copy reproduces the original when the computer-generated record omits needed detail.

Prepare names, event details and identification

Use the state Vital Records Request application and select Divorce. Complete both people’s names as recorded, including required surname and maiden-name fields, the event date, city or county, copy type and number of copies. Add your contact and mailing information, relationship and signature. Missing a record-type selection can cause rejection.

The applicant needs government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, tribal ID, passport or military ID. The mail application allows a clear ID copy or a notarized signature. The eligibility page also lists a two-document alternative when photo ID is unavailable, using items such as a current utility bill and vehicle registration. Follow the applicable form instructions and send identity documents only to the official recipient.

Budget for the certificate search and delivery

The state charges $15 for a certified or informational copy or notification that a record was searched. The search fee is not refunded if no record is found. Mail payments may be a check or money order payable to South Dakota Department of Health. In-person card payments have a listed $2.50 surcharge.

The ordering page lists VitalChek as the only authorized third-party vendor: one certificate with regular-mail delivery totals $26.50 ($15 certificate, $6.50 vendor fee and $5 expedite fee). Optional UPS Next Day totals $44. Each additional record on the same order adds $15. The fee page groups the $11.50 online/telephone surcharge together; it is not another charge on top of that $26.50 total.

Submit a State Office request

Mail the completed divorce-certificate application, identification or notarization and payment to Vital Records, 221 W. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501. The State Office also takes in-person orders. For online or telephone orders, use the VitalChek link on the state ordering page or call 605-773-4961. Records are not faxed or emailed.

Published processing guidance says timing varies; the state does not promise a fixed completion date for an ordinary mail request. Optional expedited handling or faster shipping does not establish that an incomplete application will be processed immediately. Before paying for rush delivery, verify the names, county, date, eligibility and required destination.

Obtain the decree or a missing court filing

For the decree, give the filing county’s Clerk of Courts the parties’ names, case number if known, approximate divorce date and the exact document requested. Ask for certification if the receiving agency requires it. UJS says copy charges depend on page count and whether the copy is ordinary, certified or authenticated, and payment generally accompanies copy or search requests.

A free eCourts account lets a party follow case-number docket entries and hearings, but does not open the filings themselves. Public courthouse kiosks provide access to many documents; the clerk is the route for copies and older files not scanned into the system. Some court documents remain restricted. A docket entry showing a filing is not the decree’s text.

Handle older records, missing results and corrections

South Dakota’s vital-record system began in July 1905, and CDC lists state divorce records from that date. Send genealogy inquiries by mail so spelling and date variations can be considered. For earlier events or a missing certificate, ask the filing court about its retained divorce file rather than assuming no divorce occurred.

If the certificate and court order disagree, identify the exact name, date or entry in question and contact State Vital Records at 605-773-4961 for the certificate, or the filing clerk for the court record. Keep the search notification and order details. A new copy request does not itself amend a record or change the divorce judgment.

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