Certified Copies in South Dakota: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in South Dakota
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in South Dakota, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $15.00
- Death certificate
- $15.00
- Marriage
- $15.00
- Divorce
- $15.00
Vital records
Issued by: South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records
Post to: Vital Records, 221 W Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
Verify current fees: (605) 773-4961
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $15.00 |
| Death | $15.00 |
| Marriage | $15.00 |
| Divorce | $15.00 |
What South Dakota requires
- Mail applicants must send a clear copy of government photo ID or have their signature notarised.
- Records filed after July 1905.
- Marriage is also available from the County Register of Deeds, divorce from the Clerk of Courts.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a South Dakota entity come from South Dakota Secretary of State, Apostille Office, normally online and often the same day.
South Dakota Secretary of State, Apostille Office
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in South Dakota goes through South Dakota Secretary of State, Apostille Office, at $25.00 per document.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a South Dakota birth certificate?
From South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records. Post to Vital Records, 221 W Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501. A certified copy is $15.00.
Does the South Dakota Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will South Dakota reject?
Mail applicants must send a clear copy of government photo ID or have their signature notarised.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
