Meade County - Register of Deeds

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Register of Deeds

Services and Fees

Recordings
The Register of Deed Office records all Satisfactions, Mortgages, Deeds, Miscellaneous and all other instruments authorized by law to be recorded. Fees for recording are $10 for first page; $2 for each additional page.

Filings
UCC's, fictitious names, bills of sale, death certificates, burials, county indigent liens, sheriff's levy, personal property liens, federal tax liens, state tax liens and other miscellaneous documents. Fees for filings vary according to what it is. Call (605-347-2356) or e-mail (ddeaver@meadecounty.org) for proper fee.

Certified Copies
Recorded Copies: $2.00 plus 20 cents for each page after five pages. Certified Birth and Death Records: $15.00 each. Records go back to 1905 and prior. Certified Marriages: $15.00. Records go back to 1905 and prior. (Click on "Vital Record Forms" and download appropriate form)

Marriage License and Fees

Where to Apply  Register of Deeds Office  Meade County  1425 Sherman Street, Sturgis, SD 57785  (605) 347-2356  Or the Register of Deeds of any county in South Dakota

How to Apply  Both parties must appear together at the Register's office with proper ID.

When to Apply  State statute requires that after application of Marriage License you have 20 days maximum to marry.  Register of Deeds office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; except for legal holidays. Allow yourself 15 minutes for the application process (arrive by 4:45 p.m. at the latest).

Cost of License & Certified Copies  The license must be paid for in CASH at the time it is issued. The current fee is $40.00. The cost for a certified copy is $15.00. (Click on "Vital Record Forms" and download appropriate form.)

What to Do With the License  You are responsible for delivering the license to the person who solemnizes your marriage. The officiator must complete the bottom portion of the license, have two witnesses sign it, then return it to the Register's office, in the stamped envelope provided, within 10 days after the wedding. The license then remains on file permanently in this office.

Proof of Age and Identification  Identification and proof of age is required of ALL persons. The following documents will be accepted:  Age 16 through 17 - Birth Certificate (Legal, Certified) or Valid Driver's License AND Parent or Legal Guardian to give consent.  Age 18 and Over - Birth Certificate (Legal, Certified) or Valid Driver's License.

Qualifications  There is no distinction made between resident and non-resident individuals. Applicants must be 18 years of age (a man and a woman) to marry without parental consent. Persons between the age of 16 and 18 may obtain a license with the consent of their parent or legal guardian. Parents must give consent in person at the time of application and must have proper identification.

Proof of Marriage Request  Proof of your marriage is available upon request in person or by mail (after return of your license).  Please include the following with your request:  1. Names of Bride and Groom at time of application  2. Date of Marriage  3. $15.00 for each certified copy (cash, check or money order)  Apply to:  Register of Deeds  1425 Sherman St.  Sturgis, SD 57785

Vital Card Information

Effective July 1, South Dakotans requesting copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records will need to fill out an application and provide proof of identification.

The 2005 Legislature made the change in response to growing national concerns about security and the use of vital records for fraudulent purposes.

Applications and instructions are available at the state vital records office in Pierre and a county register of

deeds offices and records can be requested at either location. Individuals completing the application should be prepared to provide a state, tribal or federal issued photo ID.

Certified copies of records can be requested for legal purposes such as passport applications, social security applications, enrolling in school or obtaining a drivers license. To obtain a certified copy of a record an individual must be:

listed on the record;
the spouse, child, parent or guardian of the individual on the record;
the next of kin (grandparent or sibling of the individual on the record);
an authorized agent such as attorney, physician or funeral director acting on
behalf of the family;
designated by someone with the authority to get the record to act on their
behalf;
or have a personal or property right to the record not included in the above
categories.

Informational copies of records are also available for those not needing legal documentation, for example, genealogists. Informational records contain the statement, “For informational purposes only. Not for legal proof of identification.”

The fee for either a certified or informational copy of a birth, death or marriage record is $10.00.

More information about obtaining vital records in South Dakota can be found on the web at www.state.sd.us/doh/VitalRec.