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Copy of Marriage License South Dakota



How to Get a Copy of a Marriage License in South Dakota

What is a marriage license?

A marriage license gives a couple the right to get married. It is thus differentiated from a marriage certificate, which serves as a record that a marriage was undertaken. 

Can I get a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota?

The truth is that most counties will not let you get a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota. That is because there is simply little use for it. There are no insurance companies that, ten years after your marriage, will want to know that you were licensed to get married—they’ll simply want to know that you were married.

In fact, the only real reason a person will have to look at a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota is to marry you, and for that, you should not use a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota but the real thing. 

How do I get a marriage license in South Dakota?

As stated above, you can’t get a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota. It is, of course, still possible to get an original marriage license in South Dakota. To do it, visit your county’s Register of Deeds Office and fill out the appropriate form. Make sure the both parties go and bring photographic identification and a payment for the license, the amount of which varies across the sixty-six counties in South Dakota. In Minnehaha County, the fee of a marriage license is $40.

What can I get instead of a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota?

The need to have a record that your marriage took place is a legitimate one, and you may be required at some time to indicate that you are lawfully married. For these purposes, instead of trying to find a copy of a marriage license in South Dakota, you should use your marriage certificate/record. 

Getting a copy of a marriage record in the state is very easy, though it depends entirely on what county you live in. It usually requires contacting your local Register of Deeds Office. A form will be required and will be notarized at the Register of Deeds Office. Remember to bring proof of identity with you, particularly a state I.D. with a photograph. You will also need to pay a fee. In Minnehaha County, the fee for a copy of a marriage certificate is $15.

Once a request for a marriage certificate is made, a long search will begin for the record in question. If it cannot be found at the county office, it will be sent to the Department of Health and a further search will be conducted. If no records are found there, then a letter stating the inconclusive findings will be sent out, but the fee will not be returned, as it will be considered payment for the long search.

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