South Dakota Marriage Records: Vital Records Office
The South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records holds the state’s marriage records from July 1, 1905 forward. Before that, you chase paper at the county courthouse where the license was issued.
Address:
South Dakota Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
600 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-2536.
Fees:
Certified copy of a marriage record: $15.00
Additional copies of the same record (ordered at the same time): $10.00 each
Verification search (if record not found): $15.00 (non-refundable).
Payments go to “South Dakota Department of Health” by check or money order. Online orders go through VitalChek (they add service fees). Mail orders take 3-5 business days.
Free Online Sources for South Dakota Marriage Records
FamilySearch indexes South Dakota marriages from 1905 to 2016. The index gives names, dates, and county. No certificate images. Free at FamilySearch.org (create a free account).
South Dakota State Archives gives free access to the South Dakota Marriage Index, 1905-1949. Digital images of original licenses and returns. No subscription. No fees.
South Dakota Digital Archives holds select historical marriage records from various counties. Some counties have digitized records through partnerships. Search by county and date.
GenealogyBank and Ancestry.com index South Dakota marriages. Full records may require a subscription. FamilySearch and the State Archives stay free.
County Courthouse System for Marriage Records
South Dakota’s 66 counties issue marriage licenses. Each county’s Clerk of Courts or Register of Deeds holds original records. Before 1905, county courthouses are the only game in town.
Common county offices: Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts (Sioux Falls). Pennington County Register of Deeds (Rapid City). Lincoln County Clerk of Courts (Canton).
County fees run $10-$20 per certified copy. Most counties take mail orders. Some offer online search portals for recent records.
Step-by-Step Search Instructions
Step 1: Find the County. Figure out the county where the marriage happened. If you don’t know, start with statewide indexes. Check multiple counties.
Step 2: Free Online Indexes. Start with FamilySearch South Dakota Marriage Index (1905-2016). Search groom and bride names. Note the marriage date and county.
Step 3: Vital Records (1905-present). Order a certified copy from Vital Records. Provide names, marriage date, county. Include $15 fee.
Step 4: County Courthouse (pre-1905). Contact the county Clerk of Courts or Register of Deeds. Provide details. Expect $10-$20.
Step 5: State Archives. South Dakota State Archives holds pre-1905 records. Use their online index. Some records are on microfilm.
Step 6: Certified Copy. Order a certified copy for legal use. Provide payment and self-addressed envelope.
Requirements for Obtaining Marriage Records
Certified Copies: Anyone can request a certified copy. No relationship required. For legal purposes, a certified copy is required.
Non-Certified Copies: For family history, a non-certified copy works. Some sources provide free copies.
Proof of Identity: Government-issued ID for certified copies. No ID for genealogical research.
Payment: Check or money order for mail orders. Credit/debit card for online or in-person at Vital Records. County offices vary.
Processing Time: Vital Records: 3-5 business days. County courthouse: 1-2 weeks. Online indexes: Instant. Archives: 1-2 weeks.
Historical Marriage Records in South Dakota
South Dakota marriage records before 1905 are historical records. These records are not digitized everywhere. Many pre-1905 records are on microfilm at the South Dakota State Archives. Some are available online via FamilySearch and the South Dakota Digital Archives.
Historical records include marriage licenses, marriage returns, and marriage indexes. These records contain names, ages, occupations, residences, and witnesses. Records after 1905 are public records.
South Dakota State Archives: The South Dakota State Archives in Pierre holds original marriage records from 1905 to present. They provide free online index (1905-1949). Pre-1905 records are on microfilm.
County Historical Societies: Many county historical societies hold original marriage records. Some have indexes and microfilm.
Genealogical Resources: Free online indexes: FamilySearch (1905-2016). State Archives (1905-1949). County courthouse indexes. Historical societies. Marriage license applications (post-1905). Marriage returns (post-1905). Marriage banns (religious records). Church marriage records.