The South Dakota Marriage License Parental Consent Form is the parental consent form published by the South Dakota Department of Health – Vital Records for minors who apply for a marriage license. It records the written, notarized consent of the parents or legal guardian of an applicant who is 16 or 17 years old, and it has a separate section for Spouse A/Groom and for Spouse B/Bride. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the Department of Health.
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What is Parental Consent Form – South Dakota?
The South Dakota Marriage License Parental Consent Form is the Department of Health – Vital Records document on which two parents or a legal guardian give written, notarized consent to the marriage of a 16- or 17-year-old.
The form's overview cites SDCL 25-1-13: a minor applying for a marriage license must be at least sixteen years old and must have either a circuit court order stating that the marriage is voluntary and in the best interest of the minor, or written, notarized consent by two parents or a guardian of the minor. This form is the second route. It does not replace the court order and it is not the marriage license itself.
The form is printed as a legal document to be completed in ink and not altered. It has two parts:
- Spouse A/Groom Information: name, name after solemnization, date of birth, the 16-or-17 question, and the Parental Consent block with two signature columns.
- Spouse B/Bride Information: the same entries and consent block for the other applicant.
Each consent block contains the statement that the signer is the parent or legal guardian of the named minor, is authorized to consent to a marriage under SDCL Chapter 25-1, and consents to the marriage. Each signer marks Parent or Guardian, signs and dates, and a notary completes the "subscribed and sworn" lines with signature, commission expiration and seal. The page states that the form was issued 05/2021 and revised 08/2026.
Who needs to file Parental Consent Form – South Dakota?
The parents or legal guardians of each applicant who is 16 or 17 years old sign this form when that applicant seeks a South Dakota marriage license by written consent rather than by circuit court order. The form says that for a 16- or 17-year-old, two parents or a guardian must sign, and the Department of Health's marriage requirements page describes the consent as written and notarized, from two parents of each minor or a legal guardian of each minor.
- Minor applicants aged 16 or 17: each minor has a section of their own (Spouse A/Groom or Spouse B/Bride) and answers "Yes" to the age question.
- Both applicants under 18: both sections are completed, with separate signers and notary blocks for each.
- Applicants who are not 16 or 17: mark "No" on the age question; the form's signature requirement applies to the "Yes" answer.
- Applicants under sixteen: SDCL 25-1-13, as quoted on the form, requires a minor applicant to be at least sixteen.
A minor who obtains a circuit court order following a determination that the marriage is voluntary and in the minor's best interest does not need this form. Each signing parent or guardian marks whether they sign as Parent or Guardian.
When to file Parental Consent Form – South Dakota
Complete the form when a 16- or 17-year-old is applying for a South Dakota marriage license and the minor is relying on written, notarized parental or guardian consent instead of a circuit court order. No separate due date is printed on the form.
The Department of Health's marriage requirements page ties the form to the license process, and it states that a marriage must be solemnized within 90 days of purchasing the license or the license becomes null and void. Because the notarization must be in place when the license is sought, arrange for the parents or guardians and a notary to complete the form before you go for the license. The form is marked revised 08/2026, so use the current version.
How to fill out Parental Consent Form – South Dakota
Enter Spouse A/Groom's name
In the Spouse A/Groom Information section, type the first name, middle name, last name and suffix. Use ink for any handwritten entries on the printed copy.
Enter the name after solemnization
Fill in the middle and last name Spouse A will use after the marriage. A middle name may change only if the surname becomes a middle name, and a last name may become Spouse B's last name or a hyphenated version of both (SDCL 25-1-10.1).
Answer the age question for Spouse A
Enter the date of birth, then check No or Yes – Two parents or guardian must sign below for whether Spouse A/Groom is 16 or 17 years old.
Complete the first consent block
In the Parental Consent section, enter the signer's name after "I,", check Parent or Guardian, then have that person sign and date (MM/DD/YYYY format as laid out on the form).
Complete the second consent block
Repeat the same entries for the second parent or guardian in the second column: name, Parent or Guardian box, signature and date.
Have the notary complete the lines
Each signer's notary lines read "Subscribed and sworn to before me on this ___ day of _, 20". The notary adds a signature, the commission expiration date and the notary seal.
Complete Spouse B/Bride's information
In the Spouse B/Bride Information section, enter the first, middle and last name and suffix, the name after solemnization, the date of birth and the 16-or-17 check box, following the same rules as for Spouse A.
Complete Spouse B's consent and notary
If Spouse B is 16 or 17, fill in both Parental Consent blocks with name, Parent or Guardian box, signature and date, and have the notary complete each set of notary lines.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check every name, date and box, and confirm that each required signature and notary entry is present. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then have the parents or guardians and the notary sign the printed copy in ink.
How to submit Parental Consent Form – South Dakota
The form prints no address, portal or office of its own; it supports a marriage license application, and the Department of Health says licenses can be obtained from any South Dakota County Register of Deeds, with the Marriage License application submitted electronically through the South Dakota Vital Records Services Portal.
- Register of Deeds: the license is obtained from any South Dakota County Register of Deeds. Ask the office how the signed, notarized original should be presented, because the form does not say.
- Online application: the agency page directs applicants to electronically submit the Marriage License Application on the South Dakota Vital Records Services Portal.
- Fee: a fee applies to the marriage license itself. Some Registers of Deeds may accept only cash or traveler's checks, so call ahead to confirm payment methods and the current amount.
Before you go, make sure every signature, the Parent or Guardian box, the date and the notary's signature, commission expiration and seal are complete. Details are at the South Dakota marriage requirements page. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Altering the printed form or completing it in pencil; the form states it is a legal document to be completed in ink and not altered.
- Collecting consent from only one parent when the form says two parents or a guardian must sign for a 16- or 17-year-old.
- Leaving the notary block incomplete: signature, commission expiration date and notary seal are all printed on the form.
- Skipping the Relationship box, so it is not clear whether each signer is a Parent or a Guardian.
- Using one spouse's section for both applicants; Spouse A/Groom and Spouse B/Bride each have their own consent and notary blocks.
- Changing a middle name on the name-after-solemnization lines for any reason other than the surname becoming a middle name (SDCL 25-1-10.1).
- Entering a last name after solemnization that is neither the other spouse's last name nor a hyphenated version of both last names.
- Relying on this form for an applicant under sixteen; SDCL 25-1-13, as quoted on the form, requires a minor applicant to be at least sixteen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the South Dakota parental consent form for marriage?
It is the South Dakota Department of Health – Vital Records form on which parents or a legal guardian give written, notarized consent to the marriage of a 16- or 17-year-old. It is one of two routes under SDCL 25-1-13; the other is a circuit court order.
Who has to sign the parental consent form?
For each applicant who is 16 or 17, the form says two parents or a guardian must sign. Each signer marks Parent or Guardian, signs and dates the consent statement, and a notary completes the notary lines for that signature.
Does the parental consent form have to be notarized?
Yes. The form and the Department of Health describe the consent as written and notarized. Each consent block has "subscribed and sworn" lines for the notary's signature, the commission expiration date and the notary seal.
Can a 16-year-old marry in South Dakota without parental consent?
Applicants who are 16 or 17 need either written, notarized consent from two parents of each minor or a legal guardian of each minor, or a circuit court order finding the marriage voluntary and in the minor's best interest. The minimum age for a minor applicant is sixteen.
Is there a court order alternative to the parental consent form?
Yes. SDCL 25-1-13, quoted on the form, allows a circuit court order stating that the marriage is voluntary and in the best interest of the minor applicant instead of parental consent. A minor with a court order does not need this form.
Can I fill out the parental consent form online?
You can complete the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. The form must still be signed in ink by the parents or guardians and notarized, and FillingPDF does not file it or send it to the Department of Health.
Where do I get the marriage license after the consent form is signed?
The Department of Health says marriage licenses can be obtained from any South Dakota County Register of Deeds, and the Marriage License Application is submitted electronically through the South Dakota Vital Records Services Portal. Call the office to confirm payment methods.
How long is a South Dakota marriage license valid?
The marriage must be solemnized within 90 days of purchasing the license, or the license becomes null and void, according to the Department of Health. The consent form itself prints no separate validity period.
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