Marriage licenses in South Dakota are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by state law. This page collects the statewide rules from South Dakota’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Register of Deeds (any county) (SDCL 25-1-10)
- License fee (statewide): 40
- Waiting period: None – no waiting period (SD Dept. of Health)
- License validity: Must be solemnized within 90 days of purchase of the license or it becomes null and void (SDCL 25-1-24)
- Witnesses: 2 witnesses (SDCL 25-1-29 certificate requirements)
- Minimum age: 18; applicants 16-17 require either a circuit court order finding the marriage voluntary and in the minor’s best interest, or written notarized consent from two parents or the legal guardian (SDCL 25-1-13)
- Residency / where to apply: No residency requirement; a license may be purchased in any county and the marriage solemnized in any county in South Dakota
- Who can officiate: Per SDCL 25-1-30: a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the circuit court, a magistrate, a mayor (within or outside the mayor’s municipality), or any person authorized by a church to solemnize marriages
- Courthouse ceremonies: The Register of Deeds issues licenses but does not officiate; judges, magistrates, and mayors are authorized officiants
South Dakota counties in this directory
We have published 3 verified county guides for South Dakota so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $40 to $40. 0 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all South Dakota county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/marriage-requirements/ (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.