South Dakota Marriage Records

South Dakota began maintaining a centralized system for vital records, including marriages, in July 1905 under the state's Vital Records System. Marriage records predating 1905 were maintained at the county level in the jurisdiction where the license was issued.

Recent data show South Dakota's marriage rate is slightly below the U.S. average. The data from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control reveals that South Dakota has a marriage rate of 5.9 marriages per 1,000 residents, against the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

South Dakota marriage records are the official records documenting the legal union of two individuals in the state. In South Dakota, these documents include:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a pre-ceremony application made by the couple and permission granted by the County Register of Deeds, authorizing them to get married. Marriage licenses contain the full names of the couple, birthdates, gender, current addresses, officiant's information, and previous marital status of both applicants. In addition, marriage licenses contain the license number, issued date, and the date the document expires.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is the documentary proof that two people have been joined together legally in marriage. After the wedding, the officiant signs and returns the marriage license to the Recorder of Deeds office within 10 days of the wedding. The officer files the license and creates the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates contain information about the couple, including the full names of the couple, marriage date, place of marriage, gender, the names and addresses of witnesses, and the names after solemnization. The document also includes information about the document, such as a unique certificate number, the filing date, the signature of the issuing officer, and a raised embossed county seal.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in South Dakota?

Eligible persons may look up South Dakota's marriage records from the following state agencies:

• The South Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records, maintains and provides access to marriage certificates from 1950 to the present.
• The County Recorder of Deeds office provides access to marriage certificates issued before 1905 and all marriage licenses.

You may order certified copies of a North Dakota marriage certificate issued from 1950 to date from the State Vital Records office by mail, in person, or online. Online requests for marriage certificates are through an independent service provider approved by the South Dakota Department of Health. The vendor charges additional fees for processing and mailing the document.

Persons ordering a marriage certificate by mail or in person may complete the marriage section of the South Dakota Vital Records Request form. Mail or drop off the record request at:

Certified copies of South Dakota marriage certificates from 1905 to date and marriage licenses are also accessible at the County Recorder of Deeds office in the jurisdiction where the marriage license was issued.

Generally, all requests for marriage records request may include the following:

• The full names of the couple
• The marriage date
• A copy of a valid government-issued ID
• Notarize the application form
• Proof of eligibility to order the record, if not the couple named on the marriage certificate
• A self-addressed stamped envelope for mail requests
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in South Dakota?

South Dakota law considers marriage records to be public documents under the South Dakota Public Records Laws. However, the type of copy you can obtain and who may request it depends on the purpose and your relationship to the individuals listed on the record. Generally, only eligible persons may access certified copies of marriage records. Public access is restricted to noncertified copies to protect individual privacy.

How Much Do South Dakota Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $15 to order a certified copy of a South Dakota marriage certificate, irrespective of whether the document is obtained by mail, in person, online, or at the County Recorder of Deeds office. Expedited requests for marriage certificates include an extra $11.50 to process and ship the record by regular mail. Expedited processing for marriage certificates is also available for online requesters for an additional $17.50 shipping fee.

The standard processing time for marriage certificates ordered from the South Dakota Vital Records Office is 1-2 weeks. Online requests are typically processed within 3-5 business days, with expedited processing within 1-2 business days. Persons who walk into the State Vital Records or County Recorder of Deeds office may obtain the document on the same day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in South Dakota?

South Dakota does not offer a confidential marriage license, which would make the marriage certificate close to everyone, including eligible requesters. Under South Dakota law, all marriage licenses are public information, making the marriage certificate open to the general public once filed. However, public access to marriage records in South Dakota is restricted to informational copies. Similarly, South Dakota has no legal framework permitting couples to seal their marriage records in the state.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of South Dakota Marriage Records?

Whether you are applying for a spousal visa, updating your name on a passport, researching your family history, or settling tax, insurance, Social Security, or divorce matters, you need to know that the marriage document you hold is the genuine, official version filed with the state.

The County Register of Deeds holds the original marriage license application and the recorded marriage certificate in South Dakota. Therefore, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage record by contacting the same county office that issued your license. Request to view or obtain a certified copy of the on-file certificate. Compare the seal, clerk's signature, and document layout against the copy you hold.

Authenticated marriage records contain features that guarantee the document's legitimacy. Generally, certified copies of marriage certificates contain a unique certificate number, filing date, and a raised or embossed seal. In addition, certified marriage certificates are printed on security watermarked paper to deter duplication of the document.

Can I Find South Dakota Marriage Records Online for Free?

While South Dakota restricts public access to certified marriage records, several non-governmental platforms provide free or subscription-based access to informational copies or historical records.

FamilySearch.org offers a vast collection of digitized historical South Dakota marriage records, including indexes, licenses, and certificates, primarily for records older than 1925. The database provides couples' names, marriage dates, and county.

Ancestry.com is a subscription-based platform with a wide range of South Dakota marriage records, including indexes, certificates, and census data. The database includes records from the 1800s to the mid-20th century. While post-1950 records may require eligibility verification or limited-time trials, many public libraries offer free access to Ancestry's library version without restriction.

PublicRecords.us compiles marriage data from multiple public sources, offering basic details, such as names, birthdates, and counties, without a charge. The database holds more recent data on marriage records sourced from county databases. While basic information is free, detailed access may require a subscription fee.

What Is Required to Get a South Dakota Marriage License?

Persons planning to get married in South Dakota must meet state requirements and submit appropriate documents to obtain the marriage license. These include:

• Both parties must be 18 years or older. Persons aged between 16 and 17 may get married if they have parental or guardian consent, signed on the state-provided Parental Consent Form.
• Appear together at the County Recorder of Deeds office.
• Provide valid copies of a government-issued photo ID.
• Proof of termination of previous marriage, such as a death certificate or divorce decree, if either party was previously married.
• The marriage license fee.

The marriage license fee is $40 across all South Dakota counties. Marriage licenses are valid immediately after the document is issued. Therefore, couples may get married immediately as there is no waiting period. However, marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the issue date. The couple must conduct their wedding within the period. If the ceremony is not held and the document expires, the couple may reapply for the marriage license.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in South Dakota?

Yes. South Dakota permits the following amendments to marriage licenses and certificates:

• Misspelled names in the first, middle, or last names of either spouse
• Incorrect dates in birthplaces or marriage dates, or incorrect places of marriage
• Clerical errors such as typos in addresses or officiant details
• Omitted information, such as missing middle names
• Transposed digits in birth dates or Social Security numbers
• Misrecorded gender designation. Requires a physician's statement confirming the error
• Legal name changes. Require a court order

Amending South Dakota Marriage License

You may amend errors on your South Dakota marriage license before the marriage is solemnized. To process the amendment, contact the County Recorder of Deeds office that issued the marriage license. Submit a written amendment request stating the error and providing proof of the correct information, such as birth certificates or a government-issued ID.

Bring the original license with the error to the Recorder of Deeds office. The clerk will strike through the incorrect entry, write the correct information, and initial or stamp next to the correction to certify it. There is no amendment fee for this correction. However, if the correction requires reissuing the marriage certificate, the couple may pay the marriage license fee to amend the record.

Amending the South Dakota Marriage Certificate

You may correct errors on your South Dakota marriage certificate as follows:

• Errors Discovered within 1 Year: Complete the Marriage Amendment Request form available at the State Vital Records office. List the incorrect information and specify the accurate information. Both parties may sign the form in the presence of a notary public. No supporting documents or fees are required.
• Errors Discovered After 1 Year: Complete and notarize the Marriage Amendment Request form. Provide documentary evidence proving the correct information, such as school records, census data, or medical records. Documentary evidence must be dated at least seven years before the amendment request. Pay the $8 amendment fee. Submit the amendment request to the State Vital Records office.