SOUTH DAKOTA STATE COURTS

GENERAL CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET

(For use in all South Dakota Circuit Courts unless a court-approved alternate form is required.)

[// GUIDANCE: This template is drafted to satisfy typical statewide requirements. Always verify whether the presiding court has adopted a mandatory local form or electronic filing protocol that supersedes or supplements this Cover Sheet.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Document Header
II. Definitions
III. Case Information & Operative Disclosures
IV. Representations & Certifications
V. General Provisions & Authority
VI. Execution Block
VII. Filing Requirements & Fee Schedule (Reference)

I. DOCUMENT HEADER

1. Caption

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA ) IN CIRCUIT COURT
_ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT ) _ COUNTY
)
_______ )
Plaintiff(s), ) Case No.: [COURT USE ONLY]
)
v. )
)
_________ )
Defendant(s). )

2. Document Title

GENERAL CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET

3. Effective Date & Jurisdiction
   • Effective upon filing and acceptance by the Clerk of Court of the county identified above.
   • Governed by the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable local rules.

II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Cover Sheet only:

“Filer” – The attorney of record or self-represented litigant submitting this Cover Sheet.
“Party” – Each plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, or third-party identified in the accompanying pleadings.
“Nature-of-Action Code” – The numerical/alpha code assigned to each case category by the South Dakota Unified Judicial System (“UJS”) for statistical and case-management purposes.
“Fee Schedule” – The schedule of civil filing fees published by the UJS Clerk of Court in effect on the date of filing.

[// GUIDANCE: Definitions are included to promote uniform completion of the form and to align with SD UJS data-entry terminology.]

III. CASE INFORMATION & OPERATIVE DISCLOSURES

A. Case Category
1. Nature-of-Action Code: [SELECT OR INSERT CODE]
2. Descriptive Title (e.g., “Personal Injury – Motor Vehicle Collision”): [________]
3. Demand Amount (if money damages are sought): $[__]
4. Jury Demand: ☐ Yes ☐ No
5. Expedited/Complex Track Request (if permitted by local rule): ☐ Expedited ☐ Complex ☐ Standard

B. Party & Counsel Information
| Role | Full Legal Name | Entity Type | Address | Phone | E-Mail | Attorney Bar No. |
|------|-----------------|-------------|---------|-------|--------|------------------|
| P-1 | [__] | Individual/Corp/etc. | [_] | [] | [_] | [] |
| D-1 | [______] | … | … | … | … | … |

[// GUIDANCE: Insert additional rows as necessary for multiple parties.]

C. Related Case Disclosure
1. Are there any related, pending, or previously dismissed South Dakota actions involving the same subject matter or parties?
☐ Yes ☐ No
2. If yes, list court, case number, and status: [________]

D. Alternative Dispute Resolution Statement (if required by local rule)
☐ Parties have engaged in ADR ☐ Parties intend to engage in ADR ☐ ADR not contemplated

E. Filing Fee Calculation
• Base Civil Filing Fee: $ [__]
• Additional Party Fee(s): $ [__]
• Motion/Provisional Remedy Surcharge(s): $ [__]
• TOTAL REMITTED: $ [__]

[// GUIDANCE: Confirm all amounts against the current Fee Schedule and tender one check or e-payment for the total.]

IV. REPRESENTATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS

The undersigned Filer hereby certifies and represents as follows:

1. Accuracy. To the best of the Filer’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, the information provided in this Cover Sheet is true and correct.

2. Completeness. All known parties have been listed, and all required Nature-of-Action Codes have been accurately designated to facilitate proper case assignment and docketing.

3. Service. A copy of this Cover Sheet will be served on all parties concurrently with the initiating pleading as required by rule or court order.

4. Fee Responsibility. Filer acknowledges responsibility for payment of the filing fees set forth in Section III-E and understands that any deficiency may result in rejection of the filing or future cost assessments.

5. Confidential Information. No Social Security numbers, financial-account numbers, or other protected identifiers appear in this Cover Sheet other than in compliance with SDCL confidentiality requirements and court rules.

V. GENERAL PROVISIONS & AUTHORITY

A. Governing Law. This Cover Sheet is governed exclusively by South Dakota procedural law and does not alter, enlarge, or diminish any substantive right of any Party.

B. Amendment. The Filer shall promptly file an Amended Cover Sheet if any information herein becomes inaccurate or incomplete.

C. Construction. Headings and section numbers are for convenience only and shall not affect interpretation.

D. Severability. If any provision of this Cover Sheet is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain valid to the fullest extent permitted.

[// GUIDANCE: Provisions are included to forestall disputes over clerical errors and to clarify procedural—not substantive—effect.]

VI. EXECUTION BLOCK

Executed on this ___ day of _, 20.

[NAME OF ATTORNEY OR SELF-REPRESENTED FILER]
Attorney for [Plaintiff/Defendant] | SD Bar No.: [_]
Firm: [____]
Address: [___]
Phone: [] E-Mail: [____]

Signature: _______

(If self-represented, type or print “Pro Se” on the “Firm” line above.)

[// GUIDANCE: Notarization is NOT ordinarily required for a civil case cover sheet; verify local rule if uncertain.]

VII. FILING REQUIREMENTS & FEE SCHEDULE (REFERENCE ONLY)

A. Filing Requirements (Typical)
1. Original Cover Sheet filed with initiating pleading.
2. One (1) copy for each additional Party to be served.
3. Electronic filing mandatory in counties participating in the UJS eCourts system; otherwise submit paper filing with original signatures.
4. All documents must be on 8½″ × 11″ white paper, single-sided, and comply with SD formatting rules (minimum 12-point font, double-spaced body text).

B. Current Base Filing Fee (Civil Complaint)
• $[INSERT CURRENT AMOUNT] per SD UJS Fee Schedule effective [DATE].

C. Common Additional Fees (subject to periodic legislative revision)
• Additional Party Fee (per party beyond the first defendant): $[_]
• Jury Demand Fee: $[_]
• Motion for Temporary Restraining Order: $[____]

[// GUIDANCE: The Clerk of Court will reject filings submitted with insufficient fees. Always consult the most recent statewide or county-specific schedule issued under SDCL ch. 16-2.]

[// GUIDANCE: This Cover Sheet template is designed for attorney customization. Remove guidance comments before final submission. Confirm that no local administrative order or circuit-specific form supplants this template. Failure to use the proper form may delay docketing or case assignment.]