How to Find South Dakota Death Records

Statewide recording of deaths in South Dakota began in 1905.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Death Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Before 1905
 * After 1905 to the present
 * South Dakota American Indian Death Records
 * Death year unknown


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{| width="99%" border="0" align="center" Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1905
Before 1905, no deaths were recorded by the state. In some instances however, county officers have records filed prior to 1905. These exceptions are listed on each county page.

If the death was not found in the county or microfilm records, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

A few earlier death records for Native American tribes exist as part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs records. Some of these records have been microfilmed and are available through FamilySearch Centers and Libraries. See South Dakota American Indian Death Records. Find your local FamilySearch Center.

If you know the approximate date and county where the death took place, use theFamilySearch Catalog to see what is available.


 * Search the FamilySearch Catalog by county.
 * Select the topic Vital Records.
 * Some records may have been compiled and published.
 * Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.

If the death was not found in the county or microfilm records, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1905 to the present
==== Statewide registration of deaths began in South Dakota in 1905. The State and County offices have death records that were filed after 1905. It is standard for each county to have a copy of death records for deaths that occurred in their county while the Department of Health has the original records of all events that occurred in the State after 1905. See Restrictions for Obtaining South Dakota Death Records STEP ONE: Find Death Information ==== There are several resources that can be used to find when someone died in South Dakota. This includes the state's death index, social security death indexes, cemetery, newspapers, and family bible records.

Accessing the Department of Health's state death index can be done through Ancestry.com. To view county death indexes you need to be a member of the South Dakota Genealogical Society. Only members of the society are allowed to get county death indexes because of state law. County indexes can be especially helpful if you are looking for someone with a common name. You can join with a minimal fee starting at $5.00 USD. To become a member visit their website or contact Anna Duncan at duncana@iw.net.


 * South Dakota, Death Index, 1879-1955 ($ Ancestry.com), Free at family history centers. (Institutional access link)
 * U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
 * U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($).
 * South Dakota Cemetery Records
 * South Dakota Cemetery Records

'''Can't find your ancestor in the online index? Tips for searching online indexes'''

'''No death record for your ancestor? Other records with death information'''

STEP TWO: Obtain the Death Certificate
You can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the South Dakota Department of Health. Death certificates can include invaluable information such as the names of parents for an individual, where someone was buried, and cause of death.

For genealogy purposes it is asked that the order be placed through the mail. You will need to send in a completed and signed application, a copy of photo ID, and a check or money order of $15.00 USD.

What to include on the application:

 * Name of the individual exactly as it appears on the index
 * Death certificate number (on the index)
 * Request a PHOTOSTATIC copy, which is a photocopy of the original record.
 * Copies can be requested either CERTIFIED or INFORMATIONAL. If you are not using the certificate for legal or DAR purposes, you will want to request an INFORMATIONAL PHOTOSTATIC.

Those who can order a CERTIFIED copy is very limited
 * Registrant - Individual listed on the record
 * Spouse, Child
 * Parent, Guardian
 * Next of Kin - grandparents and siblings
 * Authorized Agent - attorney, physician, funeral director (documentation may be required)
 * Designated Agent - someone given authority by an individual who has authority to obtain the vital record to act on their behalf. Must complete the designated agent section of the application.
 * Personal or Property Right - a right to the record not included in the    categories above. Individual will be asked to provide information about the right.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Bureau of Indian Affairs Death Records
Film copies of the records below may be available at a FamilySearch Center near you.

FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center

Return to top: Choose another death year
 * 1880-1942 Standing Rock Agency, Birth, marriages and deaths records. BIA
 * 1881-1918 Crow Creek Agency, Lower Yanktonia Sioux, Birth and Death Records. BIA
 * 1895-1950 Pine Ridge Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1900-1946 Rosebud Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1919 - 1939 Crow Creek Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1928-1945 Sisseton Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1946-1948 Supplemental census, all births and deaths, Pine Ridge Agency. BIA

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records
As a genealogist you are allowed to request an Informational Photostatic copy of a death certificate through South Dakota Department of Health. It is asked that the order be placed through the mail. You will need to send in a completed and signed application, a copy of photo ID, and a check or money order of $15.00 USD. You will also need the death certificate number. For further information visit the South Dakota Department of Health's [http://doh.sd.gov/records/genealogy.aspx? website].

Restrictions for obtaining a certificate for persons who died within the last 50 years: To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:


 * The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
 * The spouse of the person on the certificate
 * The child or grandchild of the person on the certificate
 * The sibling of the person on the certificate
 * Authorized Agent - attorney, physician, funeral director
 * Designated Agent - someone given authority by an individual who has authority to obtain the vital record to act on their behalf. Must complete the designated agent section of the application.
 * Personal or Property Right - a right to the record not included in the categories above. Individual will be asked to provide information about the right.


 * NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles

 * Learn more about U.S. death records
 * How to find U.S. birth records
 * How to find U.S. marriage records
 * How to Find U.S. death Records
 * United States Record Finder
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Birth Records
 * United States Marriage Records


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