How to make it legal
(It’s easy!)

Everything you need to know

To get a marriage license in South Dakota, both people must be present and you must bring your driver’s licenses or other government-issued photo ids or passports if you are not U.S. citizens. 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. Most (but not all) are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call ahead to make sure. And because of the paperwork involved, plan to be at the courthouse at least thirty minutes before closing.

A marriage license costs $40 cash. No blood test or waiting period is required, but the service must be performed within 90 days. Two adult witnesses of the ceremony are also necessary, in addition to me. If you are traveling alone, we can ask other visitors to help us out.

Bring your marriage license with you

Bring the marriage license to the ceremony. I will complete it and we will get the needed signatures. I will mail it back to the courthouse. Or you may return it yourselves in person, but this must be done within 10 days of the ceremony or the marriage is not valid.

Get a copy of your marriage certificate

Your marriage certificate is different from your marriage license. The license is what you need so that you can get married. Your certificate is what proves that the marriage really happened.

You will need your marriage certificate to change your name, notify the social security administration, for life insurance purposes and more. Any South Dakota courthouse will provide this for an additional per-copy fee of $15. You can request it in person, via mail or online.

County courthouse locations

Please call ahead to verify business hours

Central Black Hills | Rapid City
Pennington County Register of Deeds
130 Kansas City Street, Suite 210
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

Still have questions about your South Dakota marriage license?

Call me. (605) 484-8464

Email me.

“Thank you again for the wonderfully amazing experience you helped us create for our wedding. You made our special day “ours.” Every part of the ceremony was “us.” ”

— Kyja & Ryan