Which South Dakota court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Circuit Court: Small Claims (heard by magistrate) | Up to $12,000 | SDCL § 15-39-45 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $12,000. | No limit | S.D. Const. art. V |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (SDCL 15-6-12(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
18 South Dakota forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to South Dakota practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) SDCL 15-6-3, 15-6-8: Circuit Court (magistrate division for smaller claims): initiating pleading
- SummonsSDCL 15-6-12(a): 30-day answer, exclusive of day of service; action commenced by service
- Civil Case Filing StatementUJS form: South Dakota Circuit Court
- Return / Affidavit of ServiceSDCL 15-6-4: proof of service
- Motion and Affidavit to Waive FeesSDCL ch. 15-16A: in forma pauperis
- Notice of DismissalSDCL 15-6-41(a): voluntary dismissal
- Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentSDCL 15-6-55(a)-(b): two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentSDCL 15-6-55(b): 10% interest (SDCL 54-3-5.1)
- Garnishee Summons (Earnings)SDCL 21-18-51: 20% / 40x fed min wage; 30-day answer
- Garnishee Summons (Non-Earnings)SDCL ch. 21-18: bank accounts & property; 30-day answer
- Debtor Examination in Proceedings SupplementarySDCL ch. 15-20A / 21-19: post-judgment asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a South Dakota matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Summons · Civil Case Filing Statement · Return / Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Summons · Civil Case Filing Statement · Return / Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Application for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Garnishee Summons (Earnings) · Garnishee Summons (Non-Earnings) · Debtor Examination in Proceedings Supplementary
Fee Waiver
Motion and Affidavit to Waive Fees
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every South Dakota county are in the 1Court Directory: South Dakota.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.