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South Dakota deed packet

South Dakota Warranty Deed

A South Dakota warranty deed transfers real estate with the grantor's title warranties. Download the editable Word deed and step-by-step completion and recording checklist.

  • Updated August 2026
  • Attorney-reviewed
  • Recording guidance included
  • Editable Word format
  • PublicLegal since 1995
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee

Is this the right deed type? A warranty deed includes the grantor's full title warranties — the broadest title protection of the standard deed types.

Included documents

This download includes 2 documents in editable Word format. Complete them on your own computer, then print, sign, and record.

  • South Dakota Warranty Deed (blank form) Core deed document — the recordable instrument Word (.DOCX)
  • Deed completion and recording checklist Guidance — do not record Word (.DOCX)

Packet is delivered in Word format; no blank PDF of the deed is included.

How your South Dakota deed gets completed and recorded

A simple three-step workflow; the packet guides you through each one.

1

Prepare

Gather the current deed or title record and the exact legal description of the property before you start.

2

Execute

Complete the blank deed and follow the included state guidance for signing, acknowledgment, and related requirements.

3

Record

Confirm your county recorder's cover sheets, transfer forms, fees, and local practices, then submit the executed deed.

This packet contains a PublicLegal-authored South Dakota deed, not a county-issued form. Record the completed deed with the Register of Deeds. County, city, or town cover sheets, transfer or tax forms, fees, and filing procedures may apply. Only the documents listed under Included documents are included.
South Dakota recording note. Record with the Register of Deeds of the county where the land lies. South Dakota has 66 counties. File Certificate of Real Estate Value form PT-56 with the deed or contract for deed unless an exception applies (SDCL 7-9-7(4)). This packet does not include an official PT-56 blank. Transfer fee is generally $0.50 per $500 of value, paid by the grantor, unless an exemption is stated. Ordinary acknowledged deeds need no witnesses. If the property is a homestead and the owner is married and both spouses are South Dakota residents, both must sign (SDCL 43-31-17). South Dakota does not use tenancy by the entirety as an ordinary deed vesting.

Preview the South Dakota Warranty Deed

See page 1 of the actual blank form and review a plain-language outline of what appears on page 1. The complete formatted packet is delivered after checkout.

Get Complete Editable Packet — $9.99
Page 1 of the blank South Dakota Warranty Deed included in the download
Page 1 of the actual blank South Dakota Warranty Deed included in your download.
This outline is not the form itself. Your download includes the complete editable blank form and separate instructions.

About this South Dakota form

What Is a South Dakota Warranty Deed?

A South Dakota warranty deed uses the words "grants, conveys and warrants" (SDCL 43-25-5). Those words import four statutory covenants under SDCL 43-25-6. South Dakota does not import a six-covenant inventory or a separate further-assurances covenant. A title search and title insurance remain the buyer's practical protection.

When to Use a Warranty Deed in South Dakota

Warranty deeds are the standard instrument for traditional real estate sales. Common uses in South Dakota include:

  • Standard residential and commercial purchases between unrelated parties.
  • Transactions involving a title insurance company and a mortgage lender, which generally expect a warranty deed.
  • Transfers where the buyer wants the four statutory warranty covenants rather than a no-warranty quitclaim.

South Dakota Requirements for Warranty Deeds

  • Signing: The grantor must sign. If the property is a homestead and the owner is married and both spouses are South Dakota residents, both must sign (SDCL 43-31-17). South Dakota does not use tenancy by the entirety as an ordinary deed vesting.
  • Notarization: Each executing signature must be acknowledged before a notary public. South Dakota does not require deed witnesses.
  • Recording: Record with the Register of Deeds of the county where the land lies. South Dakota has 66 counties. File Certificate of Real Estate Value form PT-56 with the deed or contract for deed unless an exception applies (SDCL 7-9-7(4)). This packet does not include an official PT-56 blank.
  • Transfer Tax / Recording Fees: South Dakota charges a transfer fee, generally $0.50 per $500 of value, paid by the grantor (SDCL 43-4-21), unless an exemption is stated on the deed (SDCL 43-4-22 / 43-4-23). Do not assume a family gift or quitclaim is fee-free. Recording fees also apply.
  • Legal Description: A complete legal description is required. A street address or parcel number is not a substitute.

Warranty Deed vs Quitclaim Deed in South Dakota

A South Dakota warranty deed uses "grants, conveys and warrants" and imports the four covenants of SDCL 43-25-6. A South Dakota quitclaim uses "conveys and quitclaims" and, in this packet, excludes the implied covenants of SDCL 43-25-11. Warranty deeds are for standard sales. Quitclaim deeds are usually for transfers between trusted parties who accept the no-warranty risk.

PublicLegal-authored self-help deed form. Provided for customers to complete with their own transaction information and submit to the proper local recording office. Recorder offices and state agencies may require separate supplemental forms, taxes, fees, or cover sheets, and requirements vary by jurisdiction and transaction. Review the product notes and confirm local recording requirements before relying on any completed deed.

100% satisfaction guarantee

ILRG provides self-help deed forms and download support. Attorney-reviewed PublicLegal-authored deed forms are provided for you to complete with your own transaction information. Deed recording requirements, supplemental forms, transfer taxes, title-company practices, and legal suitability vary by jurisdiction and transaction. If you are not 100 percent satisfied after purchasing from us, contact us for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions About South Dakota Warranty Deed Forms

A recorded warranty deed is evidence that the grantor conveyed the property to you with the four statutory covenants. It is not a title-insurance policy and does not by itself prove the grantor had good title.

Yes, it is highly recommended. The deed gives you a contract claim against the grantor on the four statutory covenants. Title insurance is separate financial backing and defense; it is not the same as those covenants.

Record with the Register of Deeds of the county where the land lies. File Form PT-56 with the deed or contract for deed unless an exception applies. This packet does not include the official PT-56 blank.

South Dakota charges a transfer fee, generally $0.50 per $500 of value, paid by the grantor (SDCL 43-4-21), unless an exemption is stated on the deed. Parties may allocate the cost by contract, but the statute puts the fee on the grantor. Recording fees are separate.

SDCL 43-25-6 imports four covenants from "grants, conveys and warrants." It does not import six covenants or a separate further-assurances covenant.

If the property is a homestead and the owner is married and both spouses are South Dakota residents, both must sign (SDCL 43-31-17). South Dakota does not use tenancy by the entirety as an ordinary deed vesting.

A warranty deed includes the grantor's warranty covenants — generally a promise that the grantor owns the property and will defend the title against claims, subject to any exceptions stated in the deed. It offers the grantee broader title protection than a quitclaim deed.

Warranty deeds are commonly used in arm's-length sales and other transfers where the grantee wants full title warranties from the grantor. Lenders and title insurers generally expect them for ordinary purchases.

The packet includes the blank state-specific deed in editable Word format plus a separate completion instructions and checklist document. A completed sample PDF may be offered as an optional add-on.

Recording offices review formatting, execution requirements such as notarization, and any required supplemental forms or fees, which vary by county. The included instructions cover the general process; confirm your county's current requirements before you record.