Death certificates in South Dakota
In South Dakota, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $15 from the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office. Each copy costs the same. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in South Dakota
| Office | South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $15 Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee and an expedite fee. The fee is not refunded if no record is found. |
| Who can order | The person named on the record, spouse, child, parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, an authorized agent such as an attorney, physician, or funeral director, a designated agent, or someone with a personal or property right. Anyone else can get an informational copy. |
| ID you need | A government-issued photo ID is required. Without one, you must send copies of two other documents, such as a utility bill or bank statement. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At the state office in Pierre or at any county Register of Deeds office. |
| How long it takes | The office does not publish a time. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
Funeral directors can order certified copies as authorized agents. Documentation may be required.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in South Dakota?
- $15 for the first certified copy from the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office, and $15 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee and an expedite fee. The fee is not refunded if no record is found.
- Who can order a death certificate in South Dakota?
- The person named on the record, spouse, child, parent, guardian, grandparent, sibling, an authorized agent such as an attorney, physician, or funeral director, a designated agent, or someone with a personal or property right. Anyone else can get an informational copy.
- How do I order a death certificate in South Dakota?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A government-issued photo ID is required. Without one, you must send copies of two other documents, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
Sources
- South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office: doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/order-vital-records/
- South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office: doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/order-vital-records/vital-records-fees/
- South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office: doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/order-vital-records/eligibility-identification/
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)