State law prohibits South Dakota birth records from being freely available to the public, but they do offer multiple types of documents that can be accessed by anyone who makes an official request.
Certified copies of a birth record will have the raised seal of the state and can be used for other legal identification purposes. These kinds of copies are only given out to the person who is themselves on the record, or their immediate family (parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent).
On the other hand, an informational copy of a South Dakota birth record is just a printout on plain paper and will be issued to anyone. These are not considered to be official documents and are generally only for genealogy or family research.
Both of these are computer-generated documents. A final option is an actual photocopy of the original, which can then be certified or not. The same restrictions apply for getting a certified copy in this case. For all 4 types of documents, the fee is the same.
The form to request a copy of a South Dakota birth record can be downloaded from the Department of Health website (http://doh.sd.gov/vitalrecords/Forms/BirthRecordApp.pdf). There is one page to fill in, and one page for the most recent fees and eligibility regulations. You need the person's full name, date and place of birth, and their parent's full names as well. There are also fields for your own contact info and you have to indicate what kind of document you want.
Regardless of what type of South Dakota birth record you want (certified or not), you will need to include a photocopy of your own photo ID, or have your signature notarized.
The fee to get a record searched is $15 USD, which is non-refundable whether your record is found or not. You can pay the fees as a check or money order, made out to the South Dakota Department of Health.
With all the papers together, you can mail the entire thing to Vital Records, 207 E Missouri Ave, Suite 1A, Pierre SD, 57501 USA or drop it off at the same address in person. Their counter service is offered during regular weekday business hours.
You can also submit your request for a South Dakota birth record at any county-level Register of Deeds office, either in person or by mail. The state website has a list of the Deeds offices (http://doh.sd.gov/vitalrecords/County/default.aspx) with their addresses and a list of what records you will be able to access from their locations. Most have access to all birth records.
The state-wide collection of South Dakota birth record information begins roughly in 1905, though some counties may have records that go back farther than that. For any pre-1905 material, you will have to contact the county where the birth occurred to see if they have the registration.
You can also search for more information on older records through the Department of Health website (http://apps.sd.gov/applications/PH14Over100BirthRec/index.asp). They have a page that allows you to search the indexes for births over 100 years old. It searches the main state database, but not the individual county collections.
Below are the steps you should take in order to request South Dakota birth certificates by mail:
Step 1.
You will need to complete a South Dakota Birth Certificate application to process your request by mail. The completed application must be signed by a notary.
Step 2.
To identify yourself, you will also need to include a copy of a government-issued, photo ID. These can be issued by the state, federal, or tribal government.
Step 3.
Include a check or money order covering the $15 fee.
For further questions regarding how to access South Dakota birth records, you can contact the Department of Health using the information below:
South Dakota Department of Health
Vital Records
207 E Missouri Ave, Ste 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-4961
How To Order South Dakota Birth Records
South Dakota birth records are important documents that are often used for identification purposes. If you need a copy of South Dakota birth records, then you can make a request for them through the South Dakota Department of Health.
Several Ordering Options Available
To make ordering South Dakota birth records easier, the Department of Health offers several ordering methods. You can order the records in person or by mail. You can also order the records by phone with a credit card for an additional fee. There is also the option to order online though an independent company, though an additional fee applies for that service as well.
Restricted Access
To be eligible to access South Dakota birth records, you must be the person listed on the record, a spouse, a parent or guardian, a child or sibling, or a grandparent. Legal representatives and those with a legal right to the record will also be able to access the records.
Public Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Genealogy Records