How to Find Owners of Properties
in South Dakota

Property ownership in South Dakota is regulated by Chapter 43-2 of state laws. Parts 10-17 of Chapter 43-2 define the types of property ownership that are allowed in the state. Along with sole ownership of a property, South Dakota also allows multiple people to own a home in the form of a joint tenancy or partnership. You can also form a limited liability company (LLC) to gain ownership of a property.

Real estate records in South Dakota are required to be made available to the public under 1-27 of South Dakota law. If you're interested in accessing ownership records for real estate in South Dakota, there are many avenues available to you. However, while it may be easy to identify the individual owner of a property, it's more difficult to do so when the property is controlled by a corporation or trust.

If you want to find owners in South Dakota, there are several methods you can use, which include everything from accessing public records at the county recorder's office to using online resources. Depending on which entity owns the property, the process may require a considerable amount of research. The steps for finding owners of a specific property are detailed below.

Registry of Deeds

A registry of deeds is a place where documents are recorded in physical books. Each county has a register of deeds office that you can visit if you need to access the property records that are stored there.

The types of information that are recorded in a registry of deeds include real estate contracts, liens and encumbrances, and mortgages. The deeds for all properties in the county will also be recorded there. To search these records, you may need an address or the parcel ID. Since these documents are available to the public, you can access the South Dakota Registry of Deeds through the following county websites:

• Minnehaha County
• Pennington County
• Lincoln County
• Brown County
• Brookings County

Land Records Website

Land records have existed in the U.S. for hundreds of years. When colonists first settled in the country, they created these documents to provide proof of ownership. In South Dakota, these documents are available at the Register of Deeds office.

You may need to visit a local office to obtain the documents in question. Use the Department of Revenue's Register of Deeds website to discover which documents are recorded and how you can gain access to them. Some counties provide online databases that make it easier to find the documents you're looking for.

City or Town Assessor's Office

The local assessor's office holds many different types of records, which include everything from property records to tax bills. If you're interested in these records, you can visit the county assessor's office to request the documents and uncover the property's owner. The assessor's offices for the 10 most populous counties in South Dakota are linked below:

• Minnehaha County
• Pennington County
• Lincoln County
• Brown County
• Brookings County
• Meade County
• Codington County
• Lawrence County
• Yankton County
• Davison County

Tax Records

Property tax records are also maintained by the local assessor's office. The types of information that you might find on these records include the following:

• Property owner names
• Legal description
• Property address
• Renovation details
• Assessed and market valuations
• Recent tax payments
• Sales history

To request a property tax record, visit your county's equalization website. Most counties provide a property records database that gives you access to this info.

Title Company/Agency

Title companies are firms that can verify that the seller of a home is legally able to complete this transaction. If someone else has a claim to the property, a title company can find out. These firms have access to comprehensive databases of property records and offer title searches as a service that allows you to access ownership history and information. The average cost of a title search in South Dakota ranges from $75-$200.

You can also use other means of determining who the property owner is. For example, a neighbor could inform you of the owner's name. You could also ask local real estate lawyers or agents if they know who the owner is. Consider navigating to real estate websites that offer property ownership information.

If you're buying a property in South Dakota on your own, ownership of the home can be simple. However, property ownership can also be a collective term that describes joint owners, business entities, couples, or families. When you own a property in South Dakota, you have access to certain legal and financial benefits depending on the arrangement.

Understanding the various types of property ownership can help you make an informed decision on holding the title. Choosing the right ownership structure for your property or portfolio can influence factors like your risk, taxes, liability, and access to finance. There are several types of property ownership in South Dakota, each of which has its own implications and benefits. The most common ownership types in South Dakota include the following:

• Sole ownership
• Joint tenancy
• Tenancy in common

Here's a closer look at each ownership type:

Besides an individual owning real estate, properties in South Dakota can be owned by the following entities:

• Trust
• C or S corporation
• Partnership
• Limited liability

An interested person can request the assistance of a title company or real estate attorney to find the owner of a corporation or trust. Keep in mind that determining the owner of any of these entities on your own involves different steps.

For example, you may need to cross-reference public records like deeds and mortgages. You may also be tasked with searching business databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis. Your local chamber of commerce may also provide you with access to the information you seek.

Finding the Owner of a Trust in South Dakota

Finding the owner of a trust in South Dakota requires you to obtain the Certificate of Real Estate Value that was created alongside the trustee's deed. These documents are available at your county's Register of Deeds office.

Finding the Owner of an LLC in South Dakota

To find the owner of an LLC in South Dakota, you can use the South Dakota Secretary of State website, which allows you to search by the name of the company or by its business ID.

Finding the Owner of a Corporation in South Dakota

When you need to find the owner of a corporation in South Dakota, use the same website that allows you to search for LLC info. The Secretary of State's website includes a comprehensive database of company names and public records.

Property deeds are legal documents that state who owns a piece of land, where the land is located, and what its existing boundaries are. Depending on the type of land that's being described in the document, it might include restrictions that limit how the property can be used.

There are many types of deeds, which include everything from deeds of trust to warranty deeds. South Dakota law mentions that there are numerous types of deeds that a property owner can use to transfer a title.

If you choose to transfer real estate in South Dakota, you must understand the complex legal and administrative processes involved in the conveyance of a property title. To transfer property ownership officially, you'll first be tasked with determining the type of property transfer.

If you're selling the property to a new owner, it shouldn't be hard to transfer real estate in South Dakota. However, you could decide to place the property in a trust or provide it as a gift to a friend or family member without monetary exchange.

Once you identify the type of transfer you'd like to take part in, you can perform a title search with the assistance of a title company. This search allows you to identify any encumbrances, disputes, or liens related to the title. Make sure you also consider obtaining title insurance, which is required by most lenders.

Before the property can be transferred, a deed must be prepared and signed. This document transfers ownership from the grantor or the grantee. As mentioned previously, you can use different types of warranty deeds or quitclaim deeds to transfer property. To perform a transfer, you must pay a fee of $0.50 for every $500 of the property's sale value.

Once both parties sign the deed in front of a notary public, it will be recorded directly with the recorder of deeds in your county. This process establishes the title for the new owner. You'll receive a receipt of the recorded deed, after which you must update the property records with the local tax assessor's office. Once you take this step, all future bills will be sent to the new owner.