| Clerk of Courts | Lincoln County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 104 N Main Street, Canton, SD 57013-1732 |
| Phone | 605-836-1990 |
| 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)) |
Lincoln County, just south of Sioux Falls and one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, is part of the Second Judicial Circuit along with Minnehaha County. The Lincoln County Clerk of Courts, based in Canton, keeps every trial-court record for the county — circuit court felonies, civil, family, and probate cases, plus magistrate court misdemeanors and small claims — in one office.
Because Lincoln County has grown quickly with Sioux Falls-area suburbs such as Harrisburg and Tea, filers should not assume city police tickets are in the county system: municipal ordinance and traffic citations from those cities' own police departments go to their municipal courts, not the Clerk of Courts.
As statewide, criminal case summaries and protection orders are searchable through the paid PARS tool; other case types require the courthouse's public-access terminal or a direct request to the clerk.
Search Lincoln County court records online
Clerk of Courts
Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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
Lincoln County clerk offices
104 N Main Street, Canton, SD 57013-1732
Phone: 605-836-1990
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
In person. Visit the Clerk of Courts at 104 N Main Street, Canton. Bring the case number if known, or the party names and approximate filing year.
By mail. Write to the Lincoln County Clerk of Courts at the same address, or email lincolncoclerk@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 605-836-1982.
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 Lincoln County court records?
The Lincoln County Clerk of Courts in Canton keeps all circuit court and magistrate court files for the county, including felonies, civil, family, probate, misdemeanors, and small claims.
Are Harrisburg or Tea traffic tickets in the county court system?
Only if issued by a county officer through the justice/magistrate system. Tickets from Harrisburg or Tea's own police departments for city ordinance violations go to that city's municipal court instead.
Is there a free online search for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County Clerk of Courts by email?
The office's email is lincolncoclerk@ujs.state.sd.us. Include the case number or party names and year, and specify whether you need a plain or authenticated copy.
Sources
- Lincoln County Court Finder (SD Unified Judicial System) — https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/second-judicial-circuit/lincoln-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.