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Laws & Courts:
South Dakota Law - state statutes. Title 25, Chapters 3 through 9B. SD Unified Judicial System - this page contains court history information, a court calendar, court procedures and rules, and related links Supreme Court Opinions - searchable database provided by the South Dakota State Bar.
South Dakota Child Support
Child Support Profile - profile the state's child support laws. Easy to use table layout includes information on UIFSA, reciprocity, age of majority (emancipation), statute of limitations, income withholding,
paternity, support order establishment, support enforcement, modification and review/adjustment. From the the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement's "Interstate Roster and Referral Guide." Division of Child Support - answers to frequently asked questions and statistical information on the SD child support system.
Additional Resources:
State Bar of South Dakota - court opinion database, legal news and public information pamphlets are available from the state bar. Children's Rights Council - national nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that works to assure children meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents and extended family regardless of the parents' marital status.
Legal overview Divorce in South Dakota requires that you are a resident in good faith, and continue to be a resident until the divorce is final. There is only one no-fault ground upon which to obtain a divorce in South Dakota, a divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Read our detailed legal summary of South Dakota including grounds, residency, child custody, child support, alimony, mediation, property, settlement agreements, and annulments.
Residency
To obtain a divorce in South Dakota, no length of residency or waiting period before beginning the action is required. However, you must be a resident in good faith and once the proceeding is commenced you must remain a residence of the state until the divorce is final. If your spouse does not reside in South Dakota, you can still begin a divorce action in South Dakota. The South Dakota court has the authority to grant a divorce, provide for custody of the children who are in South Dakota and divide property located in South Dakota. The court in South Dakota generally does not have the authority to award you custody of the children that are residing in another state.
If your spouse is in another state, you can obtain child support or have child support obligations enforced through the state's attorney's office, or through the Department of Social Services.
Grounds
The only approved no-fault ground available to those seeking a divorce is based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (irreconcilable differences). A divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage can mean a multitude of things, but ultimately it means that there is no reasonable hope that the marriage can continue. The grounds of irreconcilable differences may be used only if both parties agree to use it or if there is default. The court may approve or reject a marital settlement agreement of the spouses. Standard financial disclosure forms may be required to be filed. Under South Dakota law a fault based divorce may be granted for any of the following grounds: adultery, extreme cruelty (includes bodily injury or grievous mental suffering), willful desertion, willful neglect, habitual intemperance, conviction of felony, or chronic mental illness.
To receive a court-approved no-fault divorce it is not necessary to show that either one of the parties was at fault in the decline of the marriage. The only thing that is necessary to prove is that there has been a breakdown in the marital relationship to the extent that the objects and goals of marriage have been destroyed and that no reasonable possibility remains that the marriage can be saved.
The assignment of fault may make a difference in terms of a court's final determination of the division of property. If one party is determined to be at fault for the breakdown of the marriage, then the court may award the other party more property.
Mediation
After a motion for divorce is filed a judge may determine that there is a chance of reconciliation and may order mandatory mediation for the spouses. Also one of the spouses may tell the court they think things can be worked out and may ask the court to have a hearing to see if the marriage is truly irretrievable. If the court concludes that there is a chance for the marriage to be repaired and there are minor children, the court may delay the proceedings for 30 days for an attempt at reconciliation.
Annulments
Unlike a divorce that dissolves a valid marriage, an annulment is a legal decree that a marriage is void. In addition, an annulment proceeding can resolve some of the same issues that would be the subject of a divorce proceeding, such as child custody and support and alimony. Annulments are granted only in limited situations and cannot be granted merely because the marriage is of short duration. They are normally not granted for "religious" reasons.
Property
State statutes now provide for the "equitable" distribution of the marital property of the marriage at the time of the final divorce between the parties. "Marital Property" is defined as all jointly owned property and all other property, other than separate property, acquired by either or both of the parties during the marriage and up to the time of the final separation of the parties. "Separate Property" is property owned by one party at the time of the marriage or inherited property or gifts to one party from a third person and maintained as separate property. Where "Marital Property" and "Separate Property" are mixed together or where "Separate Property" is increased through the active efforts of either party during the marriage, then such property may be classified as "Part Marital" and "Part Separate" property.
In making its equitable distribution awards the courts are not only authorized to make monetary awards to one of the parties, but may also divide or order sold or transfer jointly owned marital property to one of the parties. The court in making its equitable distribution awards is not required to divide the marital property on an equal basis but rather, in deciding what an equitable division of marital property should be, will consider various factors listed in the Equitable Distribution Statute, including the relative monetary and non-monetary contributions of each of the parties to the well being of the family and to the acquisition and care of the marital property. Pensions and retirement plans are subject to the Equitable Distribution Statute to the extent that the same were accumulated during the course of the marriage of the parties.
Alimony
Due to increasing changes in the law and in society, including changes in sexual equality, this area of the law of divorce is in the process of great change. Under recent changes in the law, the fault of a spouse in causing a divorce may not be a complete bar to obtaining spousal support, but the cause of separation will be a factor that the court will consider in determining whether or not to award spousal support. Spousal support, when awarded, may be periodic and/or in a lump sum, the amount of which depends upon such factors as the respective ages, assets and earning potential of the parties and the duration and history during the marriage. Spouse support is not awarded to punish a guilty spouse but rather is to lessen the financial impact of divorce on the other spouse.
Child Custody
This is the most crucial issue in most divorces. In determining the custody of minor (under eighteen) children, the court is guided by one standard--the best interests of the child. Custody will not be given to a parent as a reward or as punishment to the guilty parent but rather to the one most adaptable to the task of caring for the child and able to control and direct the child.
Other factors considered may include the age of the parent and child, the physical and mental condition of the parent and child, the relationship existing between each parent and each child, the needs of the child, the role played by each parent in the upbringing and caring for the child, the home where the child will live and the child's wishes if the child is of sufficient age, intelligence and maturity to make such a decision. Custody may be changed if there is a marital change in circumstances.
The court will normally set visitation rights if the parents cannot voluntarily agree upon satisfactory arrangements. An important factor to the court in most custody cases is which parent will be the most likely to see to it that the non-custodial parent remains a strong part of the child or children's lives.
Child Support
Normally the party not having custody will be called upon to contribute to the support of the minor child. This could be an obligation of the mother as well as the father, or both, if a third person has custody of the child. The court is guided by the needs of the child and the ability of the supporting parent or parents to pay. The use of the state Child Support Guidelines provides an amount of child support that is presumed to be correct, but the court may deviate from these guidelines in appropriate circumstances. The award is subject to change so long as the obligation to support remains. It may be increased or decreased if a material change occurs in the circumstances of either or both of the parents of the child.
Settlement Agreement
A settlement agreement is a written contract between the parties that sets forth their rights, duties and obligations that arise out of their separation and divorce and may include such things as the division of their property, spousal support, attorney's fees, custody of their children and child support. Such agreements are encouraged since they may amicably settle the rights of the husband and wife in the estate and property of the other.
