Title 43, PROPERTY

Grants are to be interpreted in like manner with contracts in general, except so far as is otherwise provided by this chapter. Source: CivC 1877, § 612; CL 1887, § 3235; RCivC 1903, § 928; RC 1919, § 530; SDC 1939, § 51.1309.

A clear and distinct limitation in a grant is not controlled by other words less clear and distinct. If the operative words of a grant are doubtful, recourse may be had to its recitals to assist construction. Source: CivC 1877, §§ 613, 614; CL 1887, §§ 3236, 3237; RCivC 1903, §§ …

If several parts of a grant are absolutely irreconcilable, the former part prevails. Source: CivC 1877, § 616; CL 1887, § 3239; RCivC 1903, § 932; RC 1919, § 534; SDC 1939, § 51.1309.

A grant is to be interpreted in favor of the grantee, except that a reservation in any grant, and every grant by a public officer or body, as such, to a private party, is to be interpreted in favor of the grantor. Source: CivC 1877, § 615; CL 1887, § 3238; RCivC 1903, § 931; RC 1…

A transfer vests in the transferee all the actual title to the thing transferred which the transferor then has, unless a different intention is expressed or is necessarily implied. Source: CivC 1877, § 619; CL 1887, § 3242; RCivC 1903, § 935; RC 1919, § 537; SDC 1939, § 51.1313.

The transfer of a thing transfers also all its incidents unless expressly excepted; but the transfer of an incident to a thing does not transfer the thing itself. Source: CivC 1877, § 620; CL 1887, § 3243; RCivC 1903, § 936; RC 1919, § 538; SDC 1939, § 51.1313.

A present interest, and the benefit of a condition or covenant respecting property, may be taken by any natural person under a grant, although not named a party thereto. Source: CivC 1877, § 621; CL 1887, § 3244; RCivC 1903, § 937; RC 1919, § 539; SDC 1939, § 51.1313.

Property of any kind may be transferred to a person, estate, trust, conservatorship, personal representative of an estate, conservator of an estate, or trustee, except as otherwise provided by this chapter. In those cases where a trustee, conservator, or personal representative o…

Terms used in §§ 43-4-20 to 43-4-26 , inclusive, mean: (1) "Consideration," any type of property or thing of legal value, whether delivered in the past, present, or to be delivered in the future. The term includes like-kind exchanges of property; (2) "Deed," any instrument for th…

A fee is hereby imposed at the rate of fifty cents for each five hundred dollars of value or fraction thereof upon the privilege of transferring title to real property in the State of South Dakota, which fee shall be paid by the grantor. Source: SL 1968, ch 27 , § 2.

The fee imposed by § 43-4-21 does not apply to any transfer of title: (1) Recorded before July 1, 1968; (2) By or to the United States of America, this state, or any instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of either; (3) Solely in order to provide for or to release secu…

Each transfer of title not subject to the fee as provided in § 43-4-21 , shall have the words "exempt from transfer fee" stated thereon and indicate the applicable subdivision of § 43-4-22 under which the exemption is claimed. Source: SL 1968, ch 27 , § 3; SL 1987, ch 315 .

At the time any deed evidencing a transfer of title subject to the fee imposed by § 43-4-21 is offered for recordation, the register shall collect the fee based upon the value declared and shall indicate the amount of the fee on the face of the deed after recordation. Source: SL …

The proceeds of all fees collected under § 43-4-21 shall be remitted on a monthly basis to the credit of the county general fund by the register, who shall obtain a receipt therefor from the county treasurer and keep such records as may be prescribed by the state auditor general.…

No person may intentionally falsify the value of transferred real estate to the register or intentionally claim a transfer to be "exempt from transfer fee" with knowledge that the transfer does not fall within the exemptions provided in this chapter and to pay an insufficient fee…

Whenever under any last will, or trust indenture, the personal representative, trustee, or other fiduciary is required to, or has an option to, satisfy a bequest, devise, or transfer in trust to or for the benefit of the surviving spouse, or other beneficiary, in kind at the valu…

The provisions of § 43-4-27 shall apply to wills of the kind mentioned of all decedents dying before or after July 1, 1968, and to all trust indentures of the kind mentioned, whether made before or after July 1, 1968, and to the distributions of assets under all such wills or tru…

A mere possibility, not coupled with an interest, cannot be transferred. A mere right of reentry, or of repossession for breach of a condition subsequent, cannot be transferred to anyone except the owner of the property affected thereby. Source: CivC 1877, §§ 602, 603; CL 1887, §…

Terms used in §§ 43-4-38 to 43-4-44 , inclusive, mean: (1) "Buyer," a person negotiating or attempting to become an owner of residential real property by means of a transfer which is subject to §§ 43-4-38 to 43-4-44 , inclusive; (2) "Disclosure statement," the property condition …

The seller of residential real property shall furnish to a buyer a completed copy of the disclosure statement before the buyer makes a written offer. If after delivering the disclosure statement to the buyer or the buyer's agent and prior to the date of closing for the property o…

If the disclosure statement or a material amendment to the disclosure statement is delivered to the buyer after the buyer has made a written offer, the buyer may terminate the offer by delivering a written notice of termination to the seller or the seller's agent within three day…

A voluntary transfer is an executed contract, subject to all rules of law concerning contracts in general, except that a consideration is not necessary to its validity. Source: CivC 1877, § 600; CL 1887, § 3223; RCivC 1903, § 916; RC 1919, § 518; SDC 1939, § 51.1302.

Except as provided in § 43-4-42 , a seller is not liable for a defect or other condition in the residential real property being transferred if the seller truthfully completes the disclosure statement. Source: SL 1993, ch 325 , § 4; SL 1994, ch 337 , § 3.

The seller shall perform each act and make each disclosure in good faith. Source: SL 1993, ch 325 , § 5.

A transfer that is subject to §§ 43-4-37 to 43-4-44.1 , inclusive, is not invalidated solely because a person fails to comply with §§ 43-4-37 to 43-4-44.1 , inclusive. However, a person who intentionally or who negligently violates §§ 43-4-37 to 43-4-44.1 , inclusive, is liable t…

Sections 43-4-37 to 43-4-44 , inclusive, do not apply to the following transfers: (1) Transfers pursuant to court order, including transfers ordered by probate court in the administration of an estate, transfers between spouses resulting from a judgment of dissolution of marriage…

The following form must be used for the property condition disclosure statement, with a designated space at the top of each page after the first page to write in the property address, and a designated space at the bottom of each page for each seller and buyer to initial: SELLER'S…

In attempting to sell a residential real property governed by a homeowners' association, the seller must furnish to a buyer before the buyer makes a written offer: (1) A disclosure that the property is governed by a homeowners' association; (2) A copy of the governing documents o…

For the purposes of §§ 43-4-47 to 43-4-57 , inclusive, the term, transfer, means the sale, gift, conveyance, assignment, inheritance, or other transfer of an ownership interest in real property located in this state. Source: SL 2011, ch 196 , § 1.

For the purposes of §§ 43-4-48 to 43-4-57 , inclusive, the term, private transfer fee, means a fee or charge required by a private transfer fee obligation and payable upon the transfer of an interest in real property, or payable for the right to make or accept such transfer, rega…

For the purposes of §§ 43-4-47 to 43-4-57 , inclusive, the term, private transfer fee obligation, means an obligation arising under a declaration or covenant recorded against the title to real property, or under any other contractual agreement or promise, whether or not recorded,…

Any private transfer fee obligation recorded or entered into in this state after June 30, 2011, does not run with the title to real property and is not binding on or enforceable at law or in equity against any subsequent owner, purchaser, or mortgagee of any interest in real prop…

A transfer may be made without writing in every case in which a writing is not expressly required by statute. Source: CivC 1877, § 604; CL 1887, § 3227; RCivC 1903, § 920; RC 1919, § 522; SDC 1939, § 51.1303.

Any person who records or enters into an agreement imposing a private transfer fee obligation in the person's favor after June 30, 2011, is liable for any damages resulting from the imposition of the transfer fee obligation on the transfer of an interest in the real property, inc…

Private transfer fee obligations shall be disclosed as follows: (1) For transfers of real property subject to the disclosure requirements contained in §§ 43-4-38 to 43-4-44 , inclusive, disclosure of any private transfer fee obligations shall be made using the property condition …

For any private transfer fee obligation imposed prior to July 1, 2011, the receiver of the fee shall, prior to December 31, 2011, record in the office of the register of deeds in the county in which the real property subject to the private transfer fee is located, a separate docu…

The person to whom the transfer fee is to be paid may file an amendment to the notice of transfer fee containing new contact information, but such amendment shall contain the recording information of the notice of transfer fee which it amends and the legal description of the prop…

If the payee fails to comply fully with § 43-4-52 , the grantor of any real property burdened by the private transfer fee obligation may proceed with the conveyance of any interest in the real property to any grantee and in so doing is deemed to have acted in good faith and is no…

If the payee fails to provide a written statement of the transfer fee payable within thirty days of the date of a written request for such statement sent to the address shown in the notice of transfer fee, the grantor, on recording of the affidavit required under § 43-4-56 , may …

An affidavit stating the facts enumerated under § 43-4-57 shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds in the county in which the real property is situated prior to or simultaneously with a conveyance pursuant to § 43-4-55 of real property unburdened by a private tran…

If recorded, an affidavit as described in § 43-4-56 constitutes prima facie evidence that: (1) A request for the written statement of the transfer fee payable in order to obtain a release of the fee imposed by the private transfer fee obligation was sent to the address shown in t…

A transfer in writing is called a grant, or conveyance, or bill of sale. The term "grant" in this title includes all these instruments, unless it is specially applied to real property. Source: CivC 1877, § 605; CL 1887, § 3228; RCivC 1903, § 921; RC 1919, § 523; SDC 1939, § 51.13…

A grant takes effect so as to vest the interest intended to be transferred only upon its delivery by the grantor. A grant duly executed is presumed to have been delivered at its date. Source: CivC 1877, §§ 606, 607; CL 1887, §§ 3229, 3230; RCivC 1903, §§ 922, 923; RC 1919, §§ 524…

A grant cannot be delivered to the grantee conditionally. Delivery to him or to his agent as such is necessarily absolute; and the instrument takes effect thereupon discharged of any condition on which the delivery was made. Source: CivC 1877, § 608; CL 1887, § 3231; RCivC 1903, …

Though a grant be not actually delivered into the possession of the grantee, it is yet to be deemed constructively delivered where the instrument is, by the agreement of the parties at the time of execution, understood to be delivered, and under such circumstances that the grante…