South Dakota, Wills and Deeds - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection is an index of wills and deeds in South Dakota from 1700-2017.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of land seller
 * Name of land purchaser
 * Description of property

Collection Content
This collection

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this index it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the individual
 * Approximate date and or location of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
If these are indexes, the original records may contain additional information than was not indexed, or the information might have been indexed incorrectly. You may want to search for the original record.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Search for burial information in newspapers
 * Use the information found in the record to find land and property
 * Use the information found in the record to find probate records
 * Use the information found in the record to find naturalization and citizenship records, if applicable
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records

I Can’t Find The Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching in a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Record Finder
Consult the South Dakota Research Tips and Strategies and its Record Finder to search other records.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.