Title 21 — JUDICIAL REMEDIES

Persons who are married pursuant to § 25-1-1 and any natural or adopted child of either person may file one petition for change of name. Source: SL 1998, ch 128 , § 1.

The petitioner shall give notice of the hearing on change of name of a person, stating the time and place and object thereof with the old and proposed names of the petitioner, by publishing the notice once each week for four successive weeks in any legal newspaper of the county o…

At the time and place specified in the notice and upon proof in open court to the satisfaction of the judge thereof that notice of the hearing has been given as required in § 21-37-4 and that the allegations of the petition are true, and that there exists proper and reasonable ca…

The court may grant an order changing the name of a minor child without publication of notice or a hearing in open court if all of the following conditions are met: (1) It appears from the pleadings that the minor child has been a resident of the county in which the petition is f…

The court may grant an order changing the name of a person without publication of notice or a hearing in open court if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The petitioner is over the age of eighteen years or is a guardian of a minor child; (2) The petitioner or minor chil…

Whenever it may be desirable to change the name of any municipality or platted or mapped portion thereof, any person interested in proposing such change may proceed as provided by §§ 21-37-7 to 21-37-9 , inclusive. Source: CCivP 1877, § 736; CL 1887, § 5558; RCCivP 1903, § 805; R…

A petition for change of name under § 21-37-6 shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the municipality is situated setting forth the cause why such change of name is desirable, and the name asked to be substituted. Source: CCivP 1877…

Notice of the hearing on change of name under § 21-37-6 , stating the time and place of hearing, object of hearing, and proposed name shall be given by publishing the same once each week for at least two successive weeks in some legal newspaper published in the municipality invol…

At the time and place specified in the notice and upon proof in open court to the satisfaction of the judge thereof that notice of the hearing has been given as provided in § 21-37-8 and that two - thirds of the legal voters of such municipality desire such change of name, and th…

Whenever the loss or destruction of any record or any part thereof, of any circuit or magistrate court, or of any record in the office of the register of deeds of an instrument affecting the title to real property in this state shall have happened, or shall hereafter happen, and …

At the time and place fixed in the notice, the court shall first require proof of the giving of the notice in accordance with its order and a showing of any appearances or protestations or objections, if any, which have been made. The court shall then proceed to hear the proof of…

If the application is contested the court shall make findings, conclusions, and judgment as in any civil action tried to the court. If there is no contest the court shall by its judgment establish the instrument or record or the parts thereof in accordance with the application an…

The venue of proceedings to establish or restore a lost public record shall be: (1) Court records: in the court whose record is sought to be established or restored; (2) Register of deeds records: in the circuit court for the county in which the office whose record is sought to b…

The application for restoration of a public record under the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled in the court having jurisdiction and in the name of the person making the application and shall designate in its title in general terms the name of the instrument or record s…

The application for restoration of a public record shall show the substance of the instrument or record as the applicant desires to have restored, together with a proposed copy of such instrument or record as the applicant claims it should be. Source: SL 1893, ch 142 , § 1; RCCiv…

The application for restoration of a public record shall show the interest of the applicant in having said instrument or record restored, and the reason or necessity therefor, and the injury, if any, that may result to him if said instrument or record is not restored. Source: SL …

The application for restoration of a public record shall show the loss or destruction of the instrument or record and the cause and approximate date thereof, and such other relevant facts as the applicant may be able to show. Source: SL 1893, ch 142 , § 1; RCCivP 1903, § 879; SL …

The application for restoration of a public record shall show that such loss or destruction happened without willful act, neglect, or connivance of the applicant. Source: SL 1893, ch 142 , § 1; RCCivP 1903, § 879; SL 1903, ch 193 ; RC 1919, §§ 3047, 3048; Supreme Court Rule 570, …

The application for restoration of a public record shall be signed by a licensed attorney of this state or by the applicant. If signed by an attorney, his signature shall be of the same effect as the signature to a complaint in a civil action. If signed by the applicant it must b…

Upon the filing of an application for restoration of a public record with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction, the court shall by order fix a time and place for hearing the same and direct such notice thereof as to the court may seem warranted in each particular case. In c…

Whenever a patent shall have been issued direct to the heirs of a deceased person under the homestead or any other laws of the United States, the circuit court for the county in which such lands, or any part thereof, so patented are situated shall have original jurisdiction in a …

In all cases prior to July 1, 1959, where patent has issued to the heirs of a decedent under the laws of the United States and the county court of the county wherein such patented land is situated has determined who were the heirs of such decedent and their respective shares in a…

An action may be brought in the circuit court by any person owning land or any interest therein against the owner or persons interested in adjoining land to have the boundary lines thereof established. Source: SL 1923, ch 140 , § 1; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 37.1301.

When the boundary lines of two or more tracts depend upon any common point, line, or landmark, an action may be brought by the owner or any person interested in any of such tracts, against the owners or persons interested in the other tracts, to have all of such boundary lines es…

When in any action under this chapter it appears to the court that any owner, lien holder, or person interested in any of the tracts involved ought, for a full settlement and adjudication of all the questions involved, to be made a party, the court shall stay the proceedings in s…

Actions to determine boundary lines shall be governed by the general rules relating to pleadings, practice, and procedure in civil actions as near as may be, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Source: SL 1923, ch 140 , § 2; Supreme Court Rule 577, 1939; SDC 1939 & Supp…

The court shall determine any adverse claims in respect to any portion of the land involved which it may be necessary to determine for a complete settlement of the boundary lines and the marking thereof and may order a survey to be made by a competent surveyor of such boundary li…

Upon the trial of an action under this chapter, the court shall make its judgment locating and defining the boundary lines involved by reference to well-known, permanent landmarks, if any there be, or if none, then to such landmarks as may be placed or established for that purpos…

The surveyor shall make a full and complete report of his action to the court and therein accurately describe the landmarks so placed and define their location as nearly as practicable. Such report shall be filed with the clerk as one of the records of the action and a certified …

The court shall make such order respecting the costs and disbursements including the costs and expenses of a survey thereof and of the establishing of any markings of such boundaries between the parties to such action as it shall deem just. Source: SL 1923, ch 140 , § 1; SDC 1939…

An action may be maintained by any person or persons having or claiming to have an estate or interest in or lien or encumbrance upon any real property, whether in or out of possession thereof and whether such property is vacant or occupied, against any person or persons claiming …

In any action to determine adverse claims to real property in the circuit court in which personal service was made of the summons or summons and complaint, on any nonresident defendant, in lieu of service by publication, by an officer of such foreign state and where proof of such…

In an action brought pursuant to 21-41-1 it shall be necessary for the plaintiff to state in his complaint in general terms only that he has or claims title in fee to the property, or a lien upon or interest therein as the case may be, which property must be described with suffic…

Immediately after the filing of the complaint in the circuit court, the plaintiff must record in the office of the register of deeds of the county or of several counties in which the property is situated, a notice of the pendency of the action, containing the title and object of …

If the defendant in an action to determine adverse claims disclaim in his answer any interest or estate in the property or suffer judgment to be taken against him without answer, the plaintiff cannot recover costs except as provided in §

The defendant in his answer must set forth fully and particularly the origin, nature, and extent of his claim to the property; and may set forth his rights in the property as a counterclaim and demand affirmative relief. Source: SL 1903, ch 194 , § 3; SL 1905, ch 81 ; RC 1919, § …

Any counterclaim filed pursuant to § 21-14-5 must set forth, among other things, the value of the land aside from the improvements thereon, and also as accurately as practicable the improvements upon the land and the value thereof. Issues may be joined and tried as in other actio…

The judgment of the court upon such findings, if in favor of the plaintiff for the recovery of the real property, and in favor of the defendant for the counterclaim, shall require such plaintiff to pay to the defendant the value of the improvements as determined by such findings,…

Any creditor of any deceased person, made a party defendant to an action brought pursuant to § 21-41-1 , may set forth in his answer, his claim against such decedent, and if the amount and validity of such claim be established upon the trial and it be also established that the es…

The court shall have jurisdiction in such action to determine who are the heirs at law, devisees, and legatees of any deceased person who had in his lifetime any interest in or lien or encumbrance on the premises involved between themselves, as well as with respect to the rights …

From the time of the publication of the summons, as directed in §§ 21-41-8 and 21-41-9 , the circuit court shall have jurisdiction of the estate of any deceased person described in § 21-41-18 , to make final settlement thereof, so far as may be necessary to a complete determinati…

The plaintiff or plaintiffs may join in one cause of action as many tracts, parcels, or lots of real estate wherever situated within the state as they may elect, provided they all have a common interest in obtaining the relief demanded in all real estate included in the action an…

Source: SDC 1939, § 37.1524 as enacted by SL 1947, ch 171 ; SL 1955, ch 136 ; SL 2003, ch 272 (Ex. Ord. 03-1), § 82; SL 2011, ch 1 (Ex. Ord. 11-1 ), § 161, eff. Apr. 12, 2011; SL 2021, ch 34 , § 2. 21-41-21. Obsolete.

21-41-22 Allowance of plaintiff's claim for improvements--Value alleged in complaint. 21-41-23 Judgment for defendant requiring payment for plaintiff's improvements--Payment for land on default by defendant. 21-41-24 Repealed. 21-41-25 Relief from default judgment--Rights of good…

In an action brought to determine adverse claims to real estate, under the provisions of this chapter, affecting real estate upon which permanent improvements have been made by a plaintiff, or those under whom he claims, holding under color of title adversely to the claim of a de…

The judgment of the court upon findings pursuant to § 21-41-22 , if in favor of the defendant or intervenor, for the recovery of the real property, and in favor of the plaintiff or intervenor for the value of such improvements, shall require the person found entitled to recover s…

Source: SL 1903, ch 194 , § 9; SL 1905, ch 81 ; RC 1919, § 2855; SDC 1939, § 37.1514; SL 1943, ch 138 ; SL 2025, ch 90 , § 5.

The court may, in its discretion and upon such terms as may be just, at any time within two years after the entry of judgment, relieve a defendant in such action from the judgment, if taken against him through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, and allow s…

A person or entity is liable for costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney's fees if the party seeking to quiet title is successful, and at least twenty days before bringing suit, the party seeking to quiet title: (1) Delivers to the person or entity, and requests the person …

Any number of persons may be joined as plaintiffs in an action brought pursuant to § 21-41-1 , where one or more defendants are proper defendants as to all such plaintiffs, without regard to whether all plaintiffs have an interest in all real estate involved, and the finding of t…