A South Dakota divorce certificate is an official vital record issued by the South Dakota Department of Health that provides certified proof a divorce occurred, including the names of both parties and the date and location of the dissolution. Unlike divorce decrees, which contain detailed court decisions about property division and custody, divorce certificates serve as simple verification documents used for name changes, remarriage, and other official purposes requiring proof of marital status.
What Is a South Dakota Divorce Certificate?
A South Dakota divorce certificate is a vital record stating that a divorce occurred, maintained by the South Dakota Department of Health as part of the state of South Dakota's vital records system alongside birth, death records, and marriage certificates.
Certificate vs. Decree vs. Complete Record
Government bodies document divorce records in three distinct ways. A divorce certificate includes the names of both parties and the date, time, and location at which the divorce took place. This certificate provides basic confirmation that the dissolution happened without details about settlement terms.
A divorce decree contains much more information than a divorce certificate. It includes the judge's overall decisions and terms of the divorce, case number, and signature. The agreements listed include alimony arrangements, child custody agreements, spousal and child support, visitation schedules, and allocation of debt and property. Divorce decrees can only be requested from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the divorce was filed, not from the South Dakota Department of Health.
A complete divorce record is a full court record documenting a divorce case. It contains all the above information plus transcripts and testimonies created during the divorce process. These are maintained by the court clerk in the courthouse where the divorce was finalized.
Who Can Request Divorce Certificates
Certified copies of divorce certificates are typically only available to involved parties such as the two divorcees, their children, and any attorneys involved. They are usually requested when one of the divorced parties wishes to change their name or obtain a new marriage license. Certified records may be issued to the registrant, the registrant's spouse, children, parents, guardian, next of kin, or authorized representative. Proof of relationship may be required at the time of request.
How to Obtain a South Dakota Divorce Certificate
South Dakota divorce certificates can only be obtained from the State Office of the South Dakota Department of Health, unlike some other South Dakota vital records that may be available from county offices.
Available Ordering Methods
South Dakota birth, death, marriage, and divorce records may be requested in person, through the mail, online, or over the phone. A $15 search fee is applicable for all certificates requested. Online orders and those over the phone include additional expedited fees.
Important Requirements Before Ordering
Before applying for a record, note these critical requirements: Copies of records cannot be faxed or emailed. The fee is required before any search. If no record is located, the fee is non-refundable, and you will be issued a Notification of Records Searched. Genealogy requests should be mailed to the State Office with no online or over-the-phone orders. Tribal marriage and divorce can only be obtained directly from the tribe. Divorce certificates can only be obtained from the State Office, while divorce decrees can only be requested from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the divorce was filed.
Ordering In Person
To request copies of a South Dakota divorce certificate in person, visit the Vital Records office and provide valid identification such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport.
In-Person Process
Download and print a vital records application form to save time. Fill out this form completely and pay the necessary fee of $15 per copy. This is payable in person by cash, money order, or check. Visit the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501. Business hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Central Time), Monday through Friday.
Cash payment is preferred for copies of vital records. The Register of Deeds office works closely with the South Dakota Department of Health concerning vital records matters in the state of South Dakota.
Ordering by Mail
To request a South Dakota divorce certificate by mail, find and print out the application form from the South Dakota Department of Health website.
Mail Order Requirements
Once the form is filled out, it must be signed in the presence of a notary public and sent by mail along with the necessary fees. Mail-in applicants must send in a clear copy of a government-issued photo ID OR have their signature notarized. Personal check or money order should be made payable to the South Dakota Department of Health.
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your money order. Mail to South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501.
Ordering Online or By Phone
For convenience, you can process phone or online requests through an independent company that the state has partnered with to provide this service: VitalChek Network, Inc.
VitalChek Ordering Process
VitalChek is the only third-party vendor authorized by the South Dakota Department of Health to accept orders for South Dakota vital records. VitalChek has partnered with vital record agencies within South Dakota to bring you the ability to order the vital records you need.
Place your order by visiting www.vitalchek.com or by calling 605-773-4961. All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. The credit card must be in your name for security purposes. Ordering birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce certificates from VitalChek is easy.
You may order copies of South Dakota vital records through VitalChek on an expedited basis. Online orders and phone orders include additional expedited fees beyond the standard $15 search fee.
Record Availability and History
The South Dakota Department of Health issues certified copies of South Dakota birth certificates, South Dakota death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce certificates for events that occurred within the State of South Dakota.
Records Dating Back to 1905
Divorce records are available for events that occurred within the State of South Dakota from July 1, 1905, to the present. The state office has records filed after July 1905. South Dakota birth records filed with the South Dakota Department of Health also date back to approximately 1905.
The state's office of South Dakota Vital Records only holds the records for events occurring in South Dakota. If your divorce occurred in another state, you must contact that state's vital records office.
Fees and Payment Methods
A $15 search fee is applicable for all divorce certificates requested. The $15 fee is required by law, regardless of whether the record is found.
Payment Options
For in-person requests, payment is accepted by cash, money order, or check. For mail requests, include a money order or personal check made payable to the South Dakota Department of Health. Credit and debit cards are accepted for online and phone orders through VitalChek, though additional expedited fees apply. Some county Register of Deeds offices can take payment by debit or credit card, though there will be an additional expedited fee.
Non-Refundable Search Fee
If no record is located, the fee is non-refundable, and you will be issued a Notification of Records Searched. If the Department of Health fails to locate the record, the fee will be retained as a search fee, and a "no record letter" will be issued by the Department of Health.
When You Need a Divorce Certificate
South Dakota divorce certificates serve specific purposes different from divorce decrees or complete court records.
Common Uses
Divorce certificates are usually requested when one of the divorced parties wishes to change their name or obtain a new marriage license. They provide simple proof of marital status without revealing sensitive financial or custody information. Government agencies, employers, and other institutions may require divorce certificates as proof of eligibility for benefits, name changes, or other administrative purposes.
When You Need a Decree Instead
If you need information about the actual terms of your divorce, including property division, child custody arrangements, spousal support, or child support orders, you must request a divorce decree from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the divorce was filed, not from the South Dakota Department of Health.
Other South Dakota Vital Records
The South Dakota Department of Health maintains several types of vital records beyond divorce certificates.
Birth Certificates
South Dakota birth records filed with the South Dakota Department of Health date back to approximately 1905. Birth certificates use the same $15 fee and a similar application process. Birth records that are over 100 years old may be found online through the state's historical records database.
Death Certificates
Death certificates for deaths occurring in South Dakota from January 1, 1960, to the present may be issued by any South Dakota Register of Deeds office. Death records follow the same ordering process and fee structure as divorce certificates.
Marriage Certificates
Marriage certificates for marriages that occurred in South Dakota from 1950 to the present can be issued by any Register of Deeds office in the state, regardless of the county where the marriage occurred. Marriage records in some counties date back to 1872, when South Dakota was known as "Dakota Territory."
Contact Information for Assistance
To verify current fees or get additional information, contact the South Dakota Department of Health Vital Records office.
Office Contact Details
Phone: 605-773-4961. Address: South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records, 221 West Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501. Business hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Central Time), Monday through Friday.
Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the internet at the South Dakota Department of Health website. The state is committed to a high standard of customer service and provides customer satisfaction surveys for feedback.
Moving Forward with Your South Dakota Divorce Certificate Request
Obtaining a South Dakota divorce certificate requires following specific procedures through the South Dakota Department of Health, the only agency authorized to issue these vital records. Whether you need proof of divorce for remarriage, name change, or other official purposes, the certificate provides simple verification without the detailed financial and custody information found in divorce decrees.
Remember that divorce certificates can only be obtained from the State Office, must be requested with proper identification and the $15 search fee, and are available for divorces occurring in South Dakota from July 1905 to the present. Choose the ordering method that works best for your timeline and circumstances: in person for immediate service, by mail for standard processing, or through VitalChek for expedited delivery.