How to Find South Dakota Birth Records

United States US Vital Records  How to Find United States Births  South Dakota  Vital Records  South Dakota Births

South Dakota was created in 1889, from Dakota Territory.In July 1905 South Dakota started its vital records system. Individuals who were born before they started the system were given the opportunity to file their records with the system. There are many records from the 1800's to the early 1900s that have been filed with the system, but they are not complete. There is a South Dakota birth index site which indexes the birth records that have been filed with them but the births must be at least 100 years old. The earliest birth year they search is 1843. Each organized county is a registration district for vital records.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:


 * Births Before 1856
 * Births From 1856- 1903
 * Births from October 1905 to the Present
 * South Dakota American Indian Birth Records
 * Birth year unknown


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Births Before 1856
Before 1889, few births were recorded by the county or state. There is a South Dakota birth index site which indexes the birth records that have been filed with them but the births must be at least 100 years old,and the records are not complete. The earliest birth year they search is 1843. If they are found in this index, you may order a copy at the [http://doh.sd.gov/records/birth-records.aspx? South Dakota Department of Health]. If they aren't in the index,you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place. For records that may exist contact the clerk of Register of Deeds in the county where the event occurred.

Return to top:Choose another birth year

Births From 1856-1903
Statewide registration of births began in 1905. All copies of prior (1905) birth records were required to be sent to the State Department of Vital Records. Many counties retained a copy of the records. There is a South Dakota birth index site which indexes the birth records that have been filed with them but the births must be at least 100 years old. The earliest birth year they search is 1843.

Search for birth information in other records. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births From October 1905 to the Present
There is a South Dakota birth index site which indexes the birth records that have been filed with them but the births must be at least 100 years old.

Find Birth Information
If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the South Dakota Department of Health office.

Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date (from a death certificate, Social Securtiy Death Index, or cemetery record), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Bureau of Indian Affairs Birth Records
Film copies of the records below may be ordered to a FamilySearch Center near you.

FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center

Return to top: Choose another birth year
 * 1880-1942 Standing Rock Agency, Birth, marriages and deaths records. BIA
 * 1881-1918 Crow Creek Agency, Lower Yanktonia Sioux, Birth and Death Records. BIA
 * 1895-1950 Pine Ridge Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1900-1946 Rosebud Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1919 - 1939 Crow Creek Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1928-1945 Sisseton Agency, Birth and Death records. BIA
 * 1946-1948 Supplemental census, all births and deaths, Pine Ridge Agency. BIA

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