South Dakota Court Records

Accessing South Dakota Court Records

By probing court records, you can privately investigate on anyone and learn what the ultimate judgment was. There are a lot of reasons for you to perform a court records search, for instance from uncovering information on a case brought against a friend or a colleague, to confirming that your fiance's divorce is for real. Court records are some of the most complete and plausible public records available. This is one of the chief reasons which might clarify why court records are the most widely preferred form of public records in the United States.

Other than detailing the particulars of a specific case, court records will also allow you to learn about someone's public information such as the age, maiden or alias name, private or public associations, all addresses and others.

What are Court Records?

Each litigation that is filed in a South Dakota state court is stored in the court records, along with the details of the case. These court records include details starting with the full names and sometimes addresses of the applicants, defendants and lawyers, and it includes the specific US statute violation in question, and of course, the case's final judgment. There are as many court record and court case types.

Public Records Law

Those who are residents of the state are lucky because they can benefit from the public records law in South Dakota. You can gain from this law because you can perform a background check whenever you require. A business in the state too can enjoy the same rights as an individual does. So, if a company can carry out a detailed background search before deciding whether to hire a person or not. The business just needs to fill out a request, and once done, can receive the required information.

Court Record Limitations

Since the record is in the public domain, it is sharable with the public. However, not all information may be made available. There are several records that are kept confidential and are not sharable.

There is a fee that you must pay to receive a copy of the record. However in some instances, the fee is waived.

Various Courts in South Dakota

There are various courts in South Dakota. Major South Dakota courts have kept records of genealogical value, which were recognized in 1889, when South Dakota became a state.

These courts include: Justices of the Peace, Municipal Courts, District County Courts, Circuit Courts and The Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the statewide appellate court.

Copies of court records for South Dakota are available at the Clerk's office in the various county courthouses. The Family History Library does not have these copies.

How to Access South Dakota Court Records

You can apply in person by visiting the Clerk's office, or you can mail your application. If you cannot visit personally, you can also place an order over the telephone. All of these are acceptable. One more way to access the record is over the Internet. There is a fee that you must pay to search online.

Here, is the address that you must contact to access the record offline,

Jerauld County Clerk of Court

PO Box 435

Wessington Springs, SD 57382-0435

(605) 539-1202 (phone)

(605) 539-1203 fax