LEGALS

Getting married in South Dakota is easy!

To get a marriage license, both people must be present and you
must bring your driver’s licenses. You can purchase the license
at any South Dakota county courthouse. (See below for street
addresses and phone numbers of county courthouses in the
Black Hills.) Generally, their hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but
because of the paperwork involved, you should be at the court-
house before 4:15 p.m.

The license costs $40 cash. No blood test or waiting period is required, but the service must be performed within 20 days. Two adult witnesses of the ceremony are also necessary. (I can bring witnesses, if needed. Please let me know in advance.)

Bring the marriage license to the ceremony. After the ceremony, I will complete it and get the needed signatures. Then I will send it back to the courthouse that issued it OR you may return it yourselves (via mail or in person), but this must be done within 10 days of the ceremony.

If you intend to change your name, you will need a certified copy of your completed marriage license. Contact the courthouse where you purchased it, in person or via mail. There is a fee (about $10). The driver’s license bureau, the social security administration, and others will need this for their records.

Central Black Hills | Rapid City
Pennington County Courthouse
315 Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-394-2177

Central Black Hills | Sturgis
Meade County Courthouse
1425 Sherman Street
Sturgis, SD 57785
605-347-2356

Northern Black Hills | Deadwood
Lawrence County Courthouse
90 Sherman Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
605-578-3930

Southern Black Hills | Custer
Custer County Courthouse
420 Mt. Rushmore Road
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-8171