PublicInformation

SOUTH DAKOTA UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC CIVIL MONEY JUDGMENT SYSTEM

Pursuant to SDCL 16-2-29.6, effective March 31, 2006, the UJS will use an electronic statewide database to provide public access to judgment docket information in civil cases in which money judgments have issued from South Dakota state courts. This electronic database replaces the judgment docket cards that have been maintained in the clerks’ of court offices statewide in the same manner in which, years ago, these docket cards replaced judgment docket books.

The electronic civil money judgment system is a web-based system that can be accessed by anyone at anytime from their home or office computer or computer available in the public library or internet café. This site contains information about civil money judgments filed and docketed with the South Dakota court system. All of the information that is statutorily required by SDCL 15-16-6 to be docketed by the clerk is contained within this system. These records may not reflect interest that may be due on the judgment amounts. The judgment docket indicates the person or company’s address at the time the judgment was issued; the judgment information listed in the name/date range search shows the last current address available in the clerks’ office for that person or company. Judgment filing times listed within this database are local time; judgment docketing times are Central time.

The site contains all active judgments and contains inactive judgment information from April 19, 2004 to the present. All docketed judgments and updated information to those judgments are entered onto this website in “realtime” with no delays except for maintenance or repair to the system, which we will attempt to schedule in the evening hours to avoid any inconvenience to the user. As noted, this electronic system replaces the docket cards in the clerks’ offices statewide; the original judgment will continue to be available in the paper court record in the clerk’s office in the circuit in which it is filed. Contact the specific clerk’s office if you would like to view the original judgment; you will need to provide the clerk with the docket number and the case name.

To use the system, register online and obtain a user ID and password. After you have entered the system, you may purchase credits in increments to search any civil money judgment that has been docketed in the state (with the exception that inactive judgments are only available electronically from April 19, 2004 to present). The system may be searched by name, using wildcard features to assist you in obtaining the judgment you are searching, or it may be searched by date range. Following retrieval of the judgments by name or date range search, you may view the docket information for any selected judgments. You may elect to limit your search to judgments filed within a specific county or you may search statewide. Note that you will be charged for a search even if there are no results, which indicates there is no judgment entered under the name or date range selected. Charges for searches with a credit/debit card are $4.00 per name or date range search and an additional $1.00 charge to access the judgment docket.

If you do not have a credit/debit card to access the system, you may obtain this information from the clerk who will perform the search for you and provide you with the information and cost to access it. You will be required to pay the clerk in cash or personal check. The charge is the same as for those persons performing the searches on their computer systems.

You may also obtain unlimited access to this system, including bulk downloading of civil money judgment information, by subscribing on a monthly or yearly basis by contacting the State Court Administrator’s Office, Attn: Budget-Finance Office, 500 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501. Payment on a subscription basis must be received in advance of the subscription period; the SCAO will provide you with your log-in ID and password for that subscription period. Your 31-day or 365-day subscription period begins immediately upon the SCAO setting up your account and will expire automatically at the end of your subscription period. You have unlimited access to the system, and additional features within the system, during your subscription period. Pursuant to SDCL 16-2-29.6, the access cost for a monthly subscription is $250; the cost for a yearly subscription is $2500.

Historical data on civil money judgments filed in South Dakota dating back twenty years on active judgments and back to April 19, 2004 on inactive judgments may be obtained by contacting the State Court Administrator’s Office, Attn: Budget-Finance Office, 500 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501 with your prepaid request. Pursuant to SDCL 16-2-29.6, the cost for accessing this historical database is $3,000. This data will be sent to you on a DVD in XML format and you should receive it within 2 weeks of your request.

Additional information in use of the electronic civil money judgment system is available online. For assistance resolving technical problems associated with this system, please call the UJS Help Desk at 605-773-8000. Voicemail is available at this number for calls after regular business hours. If you have general questions about the UJS electronic civil money judgment system, please call the Budget-Finance Office during normal business hours at 605-773-4872.

Use of South Dakota court records, including South Dakota Unified Judicial System’s Electronic Civil Money Judgment System, is governed by SDCL 1-27-1, South Dakota’s open records law, and SDCL ch. 15-15A, South Dakota’s Court Records law. Pursuant to these statutes, the reselling or redistribution of any information from this database or from the paper court records is prohibited by law as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

The user ID’s and/or passwords associated with use of this system are not transferable or assignable to anyone beyond the person who is the registered user and who has made payment for access to the docket judgment information.

Use of automated or robotic retrieval systems for retrieval of data is prohibited with this system.

The UJS civil money judgment system is for authorized use only. Use of this system implies consent to monitoring of any and all activities associated with its use. Unauthorized or improper use of the system may be punishable by law.

If you feel information presented on this site with regard to a particular judgment docket is incorrect, we ask that you send a written request for correction and explanation of same to the clerk of the court in the county where the judgment is filed.

You may obtain a refund if you have credited your account with amounts that you do not believe you will use in the future. To do so, click on “Request a Refund” that appears on the “My Accounts Summary” page. The system will refund your amount of unused credits to you at the name and address you provide when you register with the system. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing your refund. Or you may choose to leave your unused credits in the system for a future record search. There is no time limit for using these purchased credits; they will remain with your account in the system. Use your same user ID and password to return to your account. Your account will remain active, even with a zero credit balance, until an administrator closes it.

Any change of address will need to be made by an administrator and you will need to file a change of address with your signature by mail or fax to the Budget-Finance Office at the address previously listed (fax number 605-773-5627).