State guide
South Dakota
South Dakota handles guardianship and conservatorship in the state circuit courts, with statewide forms and self-help materials published by the Unified Judicial System. The court-cost schedule separately lists probate guardianships, and the Guardianship and Conservatorship Act directs courts to consider less restrictive alternatives and the person’s maximum feasible self-reliance and independence.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed in South Dakota circuit court, typically through the clerk of courts office in the appropriate county.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (estate/property)
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- The South Dakota Unified Judicial System publishes Probate Guardianships (includes all subsequent papers) at $72.00 total court costs.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- South Dakota law requires the court to consider the availability of less restrictive alternatives and the person’s maximum feasible self-reliance and independence before deciding the type and scope of protection.
- Law
- SDCL ch. 29A-5, especially §§ 29A-5-301 to 29A-5-315 and 29A-5-312.
Official resources in South Dakota
Statewide self-help page with guardianship and conservatorship instructions, forms, FAQs, and contacts for form help.
Official South Dakota Legislature text of chapter 29A-5, the main guardianship and conservatorship statute.
Official circuit-court county page with clerk contact information for the state’s most populous county.
Official circuit-court county page with clerk contact information and self-help links for Pennington County.
Key facts for South Dakota
- South Dakota’s circuit courts serve all counties in seven judicial circuits.
- A guardian is appointed to meet personal health, care, safety, habilitation, or therapeutic needs.
- A conservator manages the estate and financial affairs of a protected person.
- An adult guardianship or conservatorship may be appointed upon petition, an evaluation report, a statement of financial resources, notice, and hearing.
- The UJS fee schedule lists Probate Guardianships at $72.00 total court costs.
- The UJS guardianship self-help page gives a legal form helpline number of 1-855-784-0004.
County court guardianship pages in South Dakota
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota UJS Legal Form Helpline | Not published* | 1-855-784-0004 | Helpline listed on the guardianship self-help page for specific questions on UJS forms. |
| Minnehaha County Clerk of Court Minnehaha | Sioux Falls | 605-367-5900 | County clerk of court office for filings and court information in the Second Judicial Circuit. |
| Pennington County Civil Department, Clerk of Court Pennington | Rapid City | 605-394-2575 | Civil department contact on the Pennington County circuit-court page for filings and civil court information. |
| Seventh Judicial Circuit Administration Pennington | Rapid City | 605-394-2571 | Circuit administration office located in the Pennington County Courthouse. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use the statewide UJS guardianship page first, then contact the clerk of courts in the county where the case will be filed.
- Review whether a limited arrangement or another less restrictive option could meet the person’s needs before filing.
- If you are self-represented, ask the clerk about e-filing or paper-filing procedures and use the UJS instructions and FAQs while preparing reports or accountings.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from South Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- County Court Contacts, Nebraska · about 213 miles
- Office of Public Guardian, Nebraska · about 213 miles
- North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, North Dakota · about 215 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.South Dakota UJS Guardians and Conservators Self-Help
Website →Phone: (855) 784-0004 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.