South Dakota Death Records

South Dakota averages about 8,976 deaths annually. This implies an age-adjusted mortality rate of 808.7 per 100,000 residents, which is only a little lower than the national death rate average of 805.6 per 100,000 total population. Heart disease and cancer are responsible for most deaths that occur in the state. According to reports, the death rate in South Dakota has been largely stable over the last few years.

Although death records before 1905 are on file, statewide registration of death events did not begin until 1906. However, general compliance across the state was not achieved until 1932. The death records kept before 1905 are not as complete and detailed as those registered after that year. The commonly available form of death record in the state is the death certificate, which is either issued as a certified or informational copy.

Both certified and informational copies of a South Dakota death certificate are issued from the original death certificate, which is typically filed with the state's Vital Records Office in the Department of Health after a person's death. Informational copies of a death certificate are issued on plain paper and often have the statement "For Informational Purposes Only" written on them. They do not contain raised seals and, as such, cannot be used for legal purposes.

On the other hand, certified copies of South Dakota death records are issued on a security paper with a raised seal and the signature of an agent of the issuing authority. The state also issues photostatic copies of a death certificate, which may either be certified or informational. A photostatic copy of a South Dakota death record is a photocopy of the original, which is intended if the computer-generated copy does not have the information needed. They are generally used for genealogy purposes.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in South Dakota?

The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH), through the Vital Records Office, issues certified copies of death certificates to individuals who qualify to obtain them in line with state law. Such persons may request certified copies of a death certificate in any of the following ways:

• Order by Mail - The following steps are required to request a certified copy of a South Dakota death certificate:

  • Fill out a South Dakota Vital Records Request and make sure to provide the required information under the "Death" portion of the request form.

  • Make a clear photocopy of a valid photo ID (tribal ID, military ID, driver's license, state ID, or passport) or notarize the completed application form in front of a notary where a valid photo ID is not available. Alternatively, the requester may provide two additional forms of ID from the following list:

    • Utility bill with current address.
    • Pay stub including the requester's name, social security number, and the business's address.
    • Copy of car title or registration with current address.
    • Copy of Social Security card.
    • Bank statement with current address.
  • Pay $15 per copy of the death certificate requested. Payment can be made by check or money order.

  • Mail the completed request form and other requirements to any South Dakota Register of Deeds or the state's Department of Health at:

    South Dakota Department of Health

    Vital Records Office

    221 West Capitol Avenue

    Pierre, SD 57501

    Processing times generally vary depending on location. Requesters may send their applications to the state's Vital Records Office in prepaid envelopes if they want expedited processing. Expedited processing comes at an additional $5 fee.

• Order in Person - For a walk-in request for a certified copy of a death certificate in South Dakota, submit a completed application form and all other requirements in person at any of the state's Register of Deeds offices or the State Office of Vital Records. For in-person submissions, requesters have multiple payment options. They can pay the applicable fees by check, cash, money order, or debit/credit card ($2.50 surcharge applies). However, the accepted payment option may vary by location.

Are South Dakota Death Records Public?

Death records registered with the South Dakota Vital Records Office are not open to public inspection, per Section 34-25-52.6 of the state's Codified Laws. Unless a person is authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction or state law, the Vital Records Office may not permit the inspection or copying of a death record or disclose any information in the record.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in South Dakota?

Nobody can request an original death certificate in South Dakota. After a person dies, the original death certificate is permanently preserved at the state's Vital Records Office, where certified and informational copies are issued to eligible members of the public. The following persons are authorized by state law to request certified copies of death certificates in the state:

• The decedent's children, spouse, parents, guardians, siblings, and grandparents.
• A designated agent authorized to act on behalf of eligible persons.
• Authorized agents such as physicians, attorneys, and funeral directors.
• Anyone who can demonstrate a personal or property right to the death certificate.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in South Dakota?

It can take anywhere from a few days or weeks to several months to get a copy of a death certificate in South Dakota, depending on the situation and how long it takes to process the original certificate. Typically, when someone dies, the funeral director and a physician complete the original death certificate, after which it is filed with the state's Department of Health. Per Section 34-25-25 and Section 34-25-18 of the South Dakota Codified Laws, the original death certificate must be filed within 5 days of death. Afterward, eligible persons may request and obtain copies of the certificate within a few days or weeks, depending on the method of request.

In certain cases, it takes a longer time (over 5 days after death) to file an original South Dakota death certificate with the Vital Records Office. When this happens, there is a delay in getting copies of that certificate. A common scenario is when the circumstances leading to death are unnatural or suspicious. This kind of case usually requires an autopsy to determine the cause of death, a process that generally delays completing a final, original death certificate and filing.

While initial examination may take only a few days, where there is a need for further testing and investigations, it can take up to 6 weeks or longer (several months) before the final autopsy report is out. Other factors like the volume of autopsy requests, personnel shortage, and the complexity of a case may also delay the completion of a final autopsy report. It is only after a final autopsy report is available that the coroner or medical examiner will prepare the original death certificate for filing with the Vital Records Office. This process lengthens the time it takes to get a copy of such a death certificate, which may take several months in certain cases.

Can I View South Dakota Death Records Online for Free?

Some online resources like FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com offer free access to historic death records in South Dakota. Users may have to create online accounts on these sites to enable them to get access to the several records maintained in their databases. Other third-party websites like SouthDakotapublicrecords.us offer eligible individuals paid access to records of death events in the state. However, the cost is usually small.

Alternatively, interested parties may view information about death events in South Dakota for free through other records known as substitute records. These records serve as replacements for information sources where official death records are unavailable. They include church records, mortuary records, obituaries, newspapers, probate records, funeral cards, cemetery records, court records, tax records, census records, and hospital records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in South Dakota?

Without a copy of a death certificate, it will be challenging for anyone to address certain matters after the death of their loved one. In South Dakota, copies of death certificates are required to fulfill the following legal and administrative purposes:

• Making funeral arrangements.
• Transferring titles of vehicles and real estate to other individuals.
• Notifying government agencies and programs like Medicaid, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and Medicare about a person's death.
• Closing a deceased person's accounts or transferring such accounts. Banks and other financial institutions use death certificates to verify death before granting any authorized persons access to decedents' accounts.
• Filing requests to keep receiving a deceased's pension benefits, Medicaid benefits, and several other employment benefits.
• Terminating deceased persons' subscription to utility services.
• Notifying credit card companies about a person's death and canceling the deceased's credit cards.
• Informing a deceased person's insurance companies of the individual's death and filing insurance claims.
• Establishing legal rights to a deceased's property, land, vehicles, investments/stocks, and other assets.
• Notifying the deceased's mortgage lenders and creditors of the person's passing.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in South Dakota?

Obtaining between 8 and 12 copies (certified) of a death certificate is often recommended in South Dakota. However, certain factors influence the actual number needed by anyone following the death of their loved one. Generally, copies of death certificates are required to address some legal and administrative matters, ranging from making insurance claims to settling deceased persons' estates. Hence, to determine the exact number of copies of a death certificate to request in South Dakota, a person must consider the number of government or private entities that need a copy.

Furthermore, individuals should consider the size of the deceased person's assets and whether such assets are located in multiple states when determining the actual number of copies of the death certificate they need. For a decedent who owned assets in multiple states, additional copies of the death certificates may be required to manage the assets in other locations and transfer deeds. In addition, it is always advised to have a few copies of a death certificate for safekeeping. They usually come in handy when least expected, particularly in exigent situations.