| Clerk of Courts | Brown County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | PO Box 1087, 101 SE 1st Avenue, Aberdeen, SD 57402-1087 |
| Phone | 605-626-2451 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| 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)) |
Brown County, seated in Aberdeen, is the largest county in northeastern South Dakota and part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Brown County Clerk of Courts, at the county courthouse in Aberdeen, keeps every trial-court file in the county: circuit court felonies, civil, family, and probate cases, and magistrate court misdemeanors and small claims, all in a single office.
As statewide, the county has no free online case index of its own. Criminal case summaries and protection orders are searchable through the Unified Judicial System's paid PARS tool; other records are viewed at the courthouse's public-access terminal or requested from the clerk directly.
Aberdeen operates its own municipal court for city ordinance and traffic tickets written by Aberdeen police; those are not part of the county Clerk of Courts' records.
Brown County also serves as a hub for surrounding rural counties in northeastern South Dakota, so its circuit court caseload is larger than its population alone would suggest. Anyone researching an older case should expect that the file itself, rather than just the index entry, may need to be requested from the clerk if it predates the county's electronic case-management records.
Search Brown County court records online
Clerk of Courts
Brown County Clerk of Courts
- Cost
- Free index search at the courthouse terminal; fees apply for copies and PARS searches
- Coverage
- All circuit court and magistrate court cases filed in Brown County — felonies, civil suits, family and probate matters, misdemeanors, and small claims
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
One office serves both circuit and magistrate court dockets, as in every South Dakota county.
What is available online
The clerk's office does not operate its own online case-search system. Criminal case summaries and protection orders appear in the statewide PARS tool for $20 per search. Civil, family, and probate documents are viewable at the courthouse public-access terminal or by request to the clerk.
Which clerk has your record
In South Dakota, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the South Dakota page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (7 judicial circuits) | Felony criminal cases; Civil suits of any amount; Divorce, custody, and other family cases | Clerk of Courts of the county |
| Magistrate Courts | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Small claims; Preliminary hearings in felony cases | Clerk of Courts of the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Brown County clerk offices
PO Box 1087, 101 SE 1st Avenue, Aberdeen, SD 57402-1087
Phone: 605-626-2451
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
In person. Visit the Clerk of Courts at 101 SE 1st Avenue, Aberdeen. Bring the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing year.
By mail. Write to Brown County Clerk of Courts, PO Box 1087, Aberdeen, SD 57402-1087, or email BrownCoClerk@ujs.state.sd.us, with the case number or party names and year, the document you need, whether it should be plain or authenticated, and payment or a request for a fee quote. The office's fax is 605-626-2280.
Online. Use PARS for a paid, name-based summary of criminal cases and protection orders statewide.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in South Dakota |
|---|---|
| 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 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.
The South Dakota guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Which office keeps Brown County court records?
The Brown County Clerk of Courts in Aberdeen keeps all circuit and magistrate court files, including felonies, civil, family, probate, misdemeanors, and small claims.
Are Aberdeen traffic tickets part of the county court records?
No. Citations from Aberdeen police for city ordinance and traffic violations go to Aberdeen Municipal Court, a separate city system.
Is there a free online search for Brown County court records?
Not a complete one. PARS offers a paid ($20 per search) name-based summary of criminal cases and protection orders. Civil, family, and probate records require the courthouse terminal or a request to the clerk.
How do I reach the Brown County Clerk of Courts by email?
The office's email is BrownCoClerk@ujs.state.sd.us. Include the case number or party names and year, and specify whether you need a plain or authenticated copy.
Sources
- Brown County Court Finder (SD Unified Judicial System) — https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/fifth-judicial-circuit/brown-county/
- 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/
See also: all South Dakota counties.