How to Find South Dakota Birth Records

How to Find United States Births South Dakota

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South Dakota was created in 1889, from Dakota Territory. South Dakota, generally complied by 1905. The clerk of the district court in the counties have copies of these records.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:


 * Births Before 1889
 *  Birth From 1889-1905
 *  Births from 1905 to the Present
 * I don't know when the birth is


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Births before 1889
Before 1889, few births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place. For those that may exist contact the clerk of District Court in the county of interest.

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Births from 1889 thru
In 1889, South Dakota was created a state from Dakota Territory. From July 1, 1893 thru 1899 records may be available at the County Clerk District Court offices. Search for birth information in other records.

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 * 1899 - North Dakota law required counties to record births, this law was repealed and in 1923 registration of Births became consistent

Births from 1889-1905
Statewide registration of births began in 1905. All copies of prior (1905) birth records were required to be sent to the State Department of Vital Records. Many counties retained a copy of the records.

Search for birth information in other records. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Find Birth Information
If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the North Dakota Department of Health office.

Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date (from a death certificate, Social Securtiy Death Index, or cemetery record), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search. Return to top: Choose another birth year

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

 * South Dakota Vital Record
 * South Dakota Vital Records and Civil Registration
 * Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
 * How to find U.S. death records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Death Records
 * United States Marriage Records