| Statewide case search | UJS Public Access Record Search (PARS) |
|---|---|
| Criminal history check | South Dakota DCI Identification Section — Criminal History Background Check |
| Appellate opinions | South Dakota Supreme Court Opinions |
| Federal cases | PACER (1 district) |
| Plain copy fee | Not fixed by statute or the UJS Schedule of Court Costs; ask the county Clerk of Courts for the per-page charge |
| Certified copy fee | $15.00 per authenticated, exemplified, or double-certificate copy (SDCL 16-2-29(7)) |
| Who keeps trial records | Clerk of the Supreme Court; Clerk of Courts of the county |
South Dakota's court system is genuinely unified: the state's Unified Judicial System (UJS) runs every trial court in all 66 counties, and a single office — the Clerk of Courts — keeps the file for both circuit court and magistrate court in each county. There is no separate "district clerk" and "county clerk" as in some states; one clerk's office per county handles felonies, civil suits, family cases, probate, small claims, and misdemeanors alike, because magistrate court is a division of circuit court rather than a standalone court.
The UJS runs one statewide search, Public Access Record Search (PARS), a paid, name-based lookup of criminal case information, protection orders, and case summaries. It is not free, and it does not show full case documents online — those are viewed at public-access terminals inside each courthouse or requested from the clerk. South Dakota does not appear to operate a separate public "Odyssey" e-filing portal for consumer searches; PARS, run on the state's own platform, is the actual statewide tool.
The most common mistake is assuming a background check requires only a name. The state's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) background check program is fingerprint-based only — there is no DCI name-only option — so anyone searching by name alone should use PARS or contact the county Clerk of Courts directly, understanding that a name search can return matches that belong to someone else.
How South Dakota courts are organized
Which court heard a case decides who keeps the file. Use this table to pick the right clerk before you search, and see the guides to criminal, civil, family, and probate records for what each court's file contains.
| Court | Handles | Who holds the records |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court |
| Clerk of the Supreme Court Five justices, each elected from a geographic district, choose the chief justice from among themselves. |
| Circuit Courts (7 judicial circuits) |
| Clerk of Courts of the county South Dakota's principal trial courts; circuit judges are elected to eight-year terms. The seven circuits cover every county. |
| Magistrate Courts |
| Clerk of Courts of the county Magistrate court is a division of circuit court, not a separate court system — the same Clerk of Courts office keeps both dockets. |
Search South Dakota court records online
Statewide case search
UJS Public Access Record Search (PARS)
- Cost
- $20.00 per search, charged on submission whether or not a record is found
- Coverage
- Name-based or business search returning a summary of criminal case information, domestic protection orders, stalking protection orders, and foreign protection orders statewide; criminal coverage generally runs from 1989 forward unless sealed
- Records
- Criminal
Guest searches are available per-search; frequent users can set up a UJS drawdown account. PARS shows summaries only — full documents are viewed at public-access terminals in any South Dakota courthouse or requested from the county Clerk of Courts. Civil, family, and probate cases are not included in PARS and must be searched with the county clerk.
Criminal history (convictions)
South Dakota DCI Identification Section — Criminal History Background Check
- Cost
- $30.00 for a personal (state-only) record; $50.00 for a combined state-and-FBI record for employment or licensing
- Coverage
- Fingerprint-based South Dakota (and, for the combined option, FBI) criminal history record
- Records
- Criminal
DCI's background check is fingerprint-based only; there is no name-only option. Apply online, then have fingerprints taken at a South Dakota LiveScan location within 10 days. For a name-based public search instead, use PARS above.
Appellate courts
South Dakota Supreme Court Opinions
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Slip opinions of the South Dakota Supreme Court
- Records
- Appeals
Posted opinions are slip opinions subject to revision; the official text is the version later published in the North Western Reporter. Docket status for a pending appeal is available through PARS or by contacting the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
Federal court records in South Dakota
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal crimes, lawsuits under federal law) are not in state portals. They live in PACER, organized by district. South Dakota has 1 federal judicial district.
| District | Main courthouse | Court website |
|---|---|---|
| District of South Dakota | Sioux Falls | www.sdd.uscourts.gov |
Read our PACER guide for registration, the per-page fee, and the quarterly fee waiver.
South Dakota county court records
Trial-court records are kept by the clerk in the county where the case was filed. These are the largest counties in South Dakota; each guide covers the clerk of courts and other court offices, their addresses, and what is searchable online.
- Minnehaha County court records County seat: Sioux Falls Online search Free
- Pennington County court records County seat: Rapid City Online search Free
- Lincoln County court records County seat: Canton Online search Free
- Brown County court records County seat: Aberdeen Online search Free
- Brookings County court records County seat: Brookings Online search Free
- Meade County court records County seat: Sturgis Online search Free
- Codington County court records County seat: Watertown Online search Free
- Lawrence County court records County seat: Deadwood Online search Free
- Yankton County court records County seat: Yankton Online search Free
- Davison County court records County seat: Mitchell Online search Free
Request records in person or by mail
In person. Go to the Clerk of Courts for the county where the case was filed — the same office handles both circuit court and magistrate court files. Bring the case number if you have it; if not, the party names and an approximate year. Public-access terminals at the courthouse let you search the index and view non-confidential documents at no charge; printed copies are paid at the counter.
By mail. Contact the county Clerk of Courts with the case number or party names and year, exactly which document you need, whether you need a plain or authenticated (certified) copy, and payment or a request for a fee quote. Statewide, non-parties seeking records not otherwise public can also use the UJS's civil (2006-forward) or criminal (1989-forward) records request forms available through the Unified Judicial System's Cases and Records page.
Online. PARS provides a paid, name-based summary of criminal case information and protection orders for a $20 fee per search. It does not substitute for the clerk's file and does not cover civil, family, or probate cases.
Bulk or research requests. The UJS accepts a separate Bulk Court Records Request for parties needing data across many cases; see the Cases and Records page for the form and requirements.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Not fixed by statute or the UJS Schedule of Court Costs; ask the county Clerk of Courts for the per-page charge |
| Certified copy | $15.00 per authenticated, exemplified, or double-certificate copy (SDCL 16-2-29(7)) |
SDCL 16-2-29 sets the clerk of courts fee for reproducing an authenticated (certified) copy of a record at $15, and the UJS Schedule of Court Costs (rev. July 1, 2026) lists the same $15 for authenticated copies. A clerk record search requested by a non-party costs $20 per name under SDCL 16-2-29.5 ($5 when the search supports a pending state or federal case; no charge for named parties or attorneys of record). Neither source sets a per-page price for plain copies, so confirm that amount with the clerk. The $20 PARS online search fee is separate.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed, expunged, and restricted records
South Dakota court records are open unless a specific statute or court order closes them. Access, and the process for closing a record from public view, is governed by SDCL Chapter 15-15A (public access to court records) and the expungement statutes in SDCL Chapter 23A-3.
- Expungement. Under SDCL 23A-3-26, "expungement" means sealing — not destroying — all records of an arrest, detention, or disposition held by courts, law enforcement, and the Department of Public Safety. SDCL 23A-3-27 allows a petition one year after an arrest with no charges filed, one year after a prosecutor dismisses the case, or any time after an acquittal. SDCL 23A-3-33 allows expungement of certain misdemeanor convictions once a statutory waiting period and all sentence conditions are met. Some petty offenses, ordinance violations, and Class 2 misdemeanors are automatically expunged ten years after final disposition if no new offense occurred.
- Diversion and suspended imposition of sentence. Under SDCL 23A-3-35 through 23A-3-37, records are sealed automatically on notice of successful completion, without a separate petition.
- Sealing by court order. Under SDCL 15-15A-7 a party may move to seal a record for compelling privacy reasons that outweigh the public's right of access; the motion is filed with the Clerk of Courts in the case.
- Categories closed by default. Juvenile case records, adoption files, and certain protection-order and mental-health matters are confidential under separate statutes and do not appear in PARS or at the public-access terminal.
Motions to expunge use UJS form UJS-391 (Motion for Expungement and Statement of Mailing), filed with the circuit court that had or would have had jurisdiction over the case; the court's Guide and File tool can help generate the packet.
To remove your own record from public view, read how to expunge or seal a criminal record.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one clerk for both circuit and magistrate court in South Dakota?
Yes. Because magistrate court is a division of circuit court rather than a separate court, the same county Clerk of Courts keeps the files for both — felonies, civil suits, and family cases as well as misdemeanors and small claims.
Is there a free statewide search for South Dakota court records?
No. The state's only statewide tool, PARS, charges $20 per search and covers criminal case summaries and protection orders only. Civil, family, and probate records must be searched with the county Clerk of Courts, often for free at the courthouse's public-access terminal.
How do I run a criminal background check in South Dakota?
For a name-based summary, use PARS ($20 per search). For an official personal or employment background check, DCI requires fingerprints taken at a South Dakota LiveScan location; there is no DCI name-only search.
Does South Dakota have an Odyssey or similar e-filing public portal?
Not under that name. The state's public court-record search is PARS, run on the Unified Judicial System's own platform; there is no separate "Odyssey" consumer portal.
How do I get a certified copy of a South Dakota court record?
Request an authenticated copy from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed, in person or by mail, with the case number and payment or a request for a fee quote. Public-access terminals at the courthouse allow free viewing but do not issue certified copies.
How do I expunge a criminal record in South Dakota?
File a Motion for Expungement (UJS-391) with the circuit court that heard, or would have heard, the case, once the waiting period in SDCL 23A-3-27 or 23A-3-33 has passed. Some petty offenses and Class 2 misdemeanors expunge automatically ten years after final disposition.
Sources
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System — Court Records Access — https://ujs.sd.gov/cases-and-records/
- UJS Public Access Record Search (PARS) — https://ujspars.sd.gov/default.aspx
- South Dakota Understanding the Courts — Court Structure — https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/understanding-the-courts/court-structure/
- South Dakota Supreme Court Opinions — https://ujs.sd.gov/supreme-court/opinions/
- SDCL 16-2-29 — Fees charged by clerk of courts — https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/16-2-29
- SDCL 16-2-29.5 — Records search fee — https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/16-2-29.5
- UJS Fees and Costs (Schedule of Court Costs) — https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/understanding-the-courts/fees-and-costs/
- South Dakota DCI Background Check (backgroundcheck.sd.gov) — https://backgroundcheck.sd.gov/
- South Dakota Attorney General — Background Check Requirements — https://atg.sd.gov/LawEnforcement/Identification/backgroundcheckrequirements.aspx
- SDCL Chapter 15-15A — Public Access to Court Records — https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/15-15A
- SDCL 23A-3-27 — Petition for Expungement — https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/23A-3-27
- SD UJS Self Help — Expungement — https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/expungement/
- United States District Court, District of South Dakota — https://www.sdd.uscourts.gov/