15-7-1      Persons, organizations, and entities subject to general jurisdiction provisions.
15-7-2      Acts within the state subjecting persons to jurisdiction of the courts.
15-7-3      Service of process outside the state.
15-7-4      Retroactive application of general jurisdiction provisions.
15-7-5      Severability of general jurisdiction provisions.
15-7-6      Motor vehicle operation deemed appointment of secretary of state as agent to receive process--Binding on personal representative--Agreement as to legal force of process served.
15-7-7      Service on secretary of state for nonresident motorist--Fee--Notice mailed to defendant--Record of process served.
15-7-8      Continuance of action to permit defense by motorist served through secretary of state.
15-7-9      Aircraft operation in state as appointment of agent to receive process--Agreement as to force of process served on agent.
15-7-10      Service on secretary of transportation for nonresident or absent aircraft operator--Fee--Forwarding to defendant--Service without the state--Time for appearance by defendant--Record of process served.
15-7-11      Proof of service on nonresident or absent aircraft operator.
15-7-12      Continuance of action to permit defense by nonresident or absent aircraft operator.
15-7-13      Hunting in state by nonresident as appointment of agent to receive process--Agreement as to force of process served.
15-7-14      Service of process on secretary of state for nonresident hunter--Fee--Mailing to defendant--Personal service outside state--Time for appearance by defendant--Record of process served.
15-7-15      Proof of service on nonresident hunter.
15-7-16      Continuance of action to permit defense by nonresident hunter.
15-7-17      Consent to jurisdiction by persons selling property or services to residents--Service.

15-7-1. Persons, organizations, and entities subject to general jurisdiction provisions.

As used in §§ 15-7-1 to 15-7-5, inclusive, the term, person, whether or not a citizen or resident of this state, and whether or not organized under the laws of this state, includes an individual whether operating in his own name or under his trade name; an individual's agent or personal representative; a corporation; a limited liability company; a business trust; an estate; a trust; a partnership; an unincorporated association; and any two or more persons having a joint or common interest or any other legal or commercial entity.

Source: SL 1965, ch 163, § 1; SL 1994, ch 351, § 35.

15-7-2. Acts within the state subjecting persons to jurisdiction of the courts.

Any person is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to any cause of action arising from the doing personally, through any employee, through an agent or through a subsidiary, of any of the following acts:

(1)    The transaction of any business within the state;

(2)    The commission of any act which results in accrual within this state of a tort action;

(3)    The ownership, use, or possession of any property, or of any interest therein, situated within this state;

(4)    Contracting to insure any person, property, or risk located within this state at the time of contracting;

(5)    Entering into a contract for services to be rendered or for materials to be furnished in this state by such person;

(6)    Acting as director, manager, trustee, or other officer of any corporation organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business within this state, or as personal representative of any estate within this state;

(7)    Failure to support a minor child residing in South Dakota;

(8)    Having sexual intercourse in this state, which act creates a cause of action for the determination of paternity of a child who may have been conceived by that act of intercourse;

(9)    With respect to any action for divorce, separate maintenance, or spousal support the maintenance in this state of a matrimonial domicile at the time the claim arose or the commission in this state of an act giving rise to the claim, subject to the provisions of § 25-4-30;

(10)    Entering into negotiations with any person within the state with the apparent objective of contracting for services to be rendered or materials to be furnished in this state;

(11)    Commencing or participating in negotiations, mediation, arbitration, or litigation involving subject matter located in whole or in part within the state;

(12)    Doing any act for the purpose of influencing legislation, administrative rule-making or judicial or administrative decision-making by any local, state, or federal official whose official function is being performed within the state, providing that an appearance to contest personal jurisdiction shall not be within this subsection;

(13)    The commission of any act which results in the accrual of an action in this state for a violation of the antitrust laws of the United States or chapter 37-1;

(14)    The commission of any act, the basis of which is not inconsistent with the Constitution of this state or with the Constitution of the United States.

Source: SL 1965, ch 163, § 2; SL 1978, ch 146, §§ 1, 2; SL 1983, ch 156, § 1; SL 1984, ch 190, § 48; SL 1986, ch 162.

15-7-3. Service of process outside the state.

Service of process upon the persons subject to § 15-7-2 may be made by service outside this state in the same manner provided for service within this state with the same force and effect as though service had been made within this state.

Source: SL 1965, ch 163, § 3.

15-7-4. Retroactive application of general jurisdiction provisions.

The provisions of §§ 15-7-1 to 15-7-3, inclusive, shall apply to causes of action arising before enactment hereof.

Source: SL 1965, ch 163, § 4.

15-7-5. Severability of general jurisdiction provisions.

If any provisions of §§ 15-7-1 to 15-7-4, inclusive, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances are held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of said sections which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of said sections are declared to be severable.

Source: SL 1965, ch 163, § 5.

15-7-6. Motor vehicle operation deemed appointment of secretary of state as agent to receive process--Binding on personal representative--Agreement as to legal force of process served.

The use and operation by a resident of this state or the resident's agent, or by a nonresident or the nonresident's agent of a motor vehicle within the State of South Dakota, shall be deemed an irrevocable appointment by the resident or the resident's agent when the resident has been absent from this state continuously for ninety days or more following a motor vehicle accident, or by the nonresident or the nonresident's agent at any time, of the secretary of State of South Dakota to be his or her true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against the resident or nonresident or his or her personal representative growing out of such use and operation of a motor vehicle within this state, resulting in damages or loss to person or property, whether the damage or loss occurs on a highway or on abutting public or private property. The appointment is binding upon the nonresident's personal representative. The use or operation of a motor vehicle by the resident or nonresident is a signification of the resident's or nonresident's agreement that any such process in any action against the resident or nonresident or his or her personal representative which is so served, shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the resident or nonresident personally or on the resident's or nonresident's personal representative.

Source: SDC 1939, § 33.0809; SL 1957, ch 178; SL 1963, ch 226; SL 1969, ch 153; SL 2006, ch 110, § 1.

15-7-7. Service on secretary of state for nonresident motorist--Fee--Notice mailed to defendant--Record of process served.

Service of process as authorized by § 15-7-6 shall be made by serving a copy thereof upon the secretary of state, or by filing the copy in the office of the secretary of state, together with payment of a fee of fifteen dollars. The service shall be sufficient service upon the absent resident or the nonresident or the resident's or nonresident's personal representative if the notice of the service and a copy of the process are within ten days thereafter sent by mail by the plaintiff to the defendant at the defendant's last-known address and that the plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with the provisions of this section is attached to the summons. The secretary of state shall keep a record of any process so served. The record shall show the day and hour of the service. The fee of fifteen dollars paid by the plaintiff to the secretary of state at the time of service of the process shall be recovered as taxable costs if the plaintiff prevails in the suit.

Source: SDC 1939, § 33.0809; SL 1957, ch 178; SL 1963, ch 226; SL 2003, ch 8, § 4; SL 2009, ch 4, § 5.

15-7-8. Continuance of action to permit defense by motorist served through secretary of state.

When process is served pursuant to § 15-7-7, the court in which the action is pending may order such continuance as may be necessary to afford the defendant or his personal representative reasonable opportunity to defend any such action not exceeding ninety days from the date of filing of the action in such court.

Source: SDC 1939, § 33.0809; SL 1957, ch 178; SL 1963, ch 226.

15-7-9. Aircraft operation in state as appointment of agent to receive process--Agreement as to force of process served on agent.

The use and operation of an aircraft in the State of South Dakota by a nonresident or his agent or by a resident owner or his agent who has remained without the state continuously for thirty days prior to the commencement of an action against him, shall be deemed an appointment by such nonresident of the secretary of transportation to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against him growing out of such use or operation of an aircraft in the State of South Dakota resulting in damages or loss to person or property, and said use or operation shall be signification of his agreement that any such process in any action against him which is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon him personally.

Source: SDC 1939, § 2.9905 as enacted by SL 1949, ch 8, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 2.0116.

15-7-10. Service on secretary of transportation for nonresident or absent aircraft operator--Fee--Forwarding to defendant--Service without the state--Time for appearance by defendant--Record of process served.

Service of process as authorized by § 15-7-9 shall be made by serving a copy thereof upon the secretary of transportation or by filing a copy in his office, together with the payment of a fee of two dollars and shall be completed by the plaintiff, his agent, or attorney within ten days after such filing, forwarding to the defendant by registered or certified mail at the defendant's last known post office address, notice of such service and a copy of the process. In lieu of such mailing, such process may be served upon the defendant personally without the state at any time within thirty days after such filing of such process. The time within which the defendant may appear shall not commence to run until such mailing or such personal service without the state. The secretary of transportation shall keep a record of all such process so served, such record to show the day and hour of such service. The fee of two dollars paid by the plaintiff to such director shall be taxed in his costs if he prevails.

Source: SDC 1939, § 2.9905 as enacted by SL 1949, ch 8, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 2.0116.

15-7-11. Proof of service on nonresident or absent aircraft operator.

Proof of the service as provided by § 15-7-10 must be attached to the original process. If the service is completed by mailing, such proof must include showing by affidavit that the address to which the copies were mailed was in fact the last known post office address of the defendant which the plaintiff could, with reasonable diligence, ascertain and must include also the registry or certified receipt issued by the postal authorities.

Source: SDC 1939, § 2.9905 as enacted by SL 1949, ch 8, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 2.0116.

15-7-12. Continuance of action to permit defense by nonresident or absent aircraft operator.

When process is served pursuant to § 15-7-10, the court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend any such action, not exceeding ninety days from the date of the filing of such action in such court.

Source: SDC 1939, § 2.9905 as enacted by SL 1949, ch 8, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 2.0116.

15-7-13. Hunting in state by nonresident as appointment of agent to receive process--Agreement as to force of process served.

The hunting of game birds or animals in this state by a nonresident shall be deemed an appointment by such nonresident of the secretary of state of South Dakota to be his true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served legal process in any action or proceeding against such nonresident or his personal representative growing out of such hunting which results in damages or loss to person or property, and said hunting shall be a signification of such nonresident's agreement that any such process in any action against him or his personal representative which is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon him, or his personal representative, personally.

Source: SL 1961, ch 125.

15-7-14. Service of process on secretary of state for nonresident hunter--Fee--Mailing to defendant--Personal service outside state--Time for appearance by defendant--Record of process served.

The service of process as authorized by § 15-7-13 shall be made by filing in the Office of the Secretary of State a copy of the process and payment to the secretary of state a fee of ten dollars and shall be completed by the plaintiff, or the plaintiff's agent or attorney within ten days after the filing, forwarding to the defendant, or the defendant's personal representative, by registered or certified mail at the defendant's last known post office address, or the last known post office address of defendant's personal representative, notice of such service and a copy of the process. In lieu of such mailing the process may be served upon the defendant or the defendant's personal representative personally without the state at any time within thirty days after the filing of the process. The time within which the defendant or the defendant's personal representative may appear does not commence to run until the mailing or the personal service without the state. The secretary of state shall keep a record of any process so served, the record to show the day and hour of the service. The fee of ten dollars paid by the plaintiff to the secretary of state shall be recovered as taxable costs if the plaintiff prevails.

Source: SL 1961, ch 125; SL 2003, ch 8, § 5.

15-7-15. Proof of service on nonresident hunter.

Proof of the service as provided by § 15-7-14 must be attached to the original process. If the service is completed by mailing, such proof must include a showing by affidavit that the address to which the copies were mailed was in fact the last known post office address of the defendant, or his personal representative, which the plaintiff could, with reasonable diligence, ascertain and must also include the receipt issued by the postal authorities.

Source: SL 1961, ch 125.

15-7-16. Continuance of action to permit defense by nonresident hunter.

When process is served pursuant to § 15-7-14, the court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant or his personal representative reasonable opportunity to defend any such action, not exceeding ninety days from the date of the filing of such action in such court.

Source: SL 1961, ch 125.

15-7-17. Consent to jurisdiction by persons selling property or services to residents--Service.

Any person selling property or services to residents of this state, where the property is delivered to this state or the beneficial use of the service occurs in this state, is considered to have consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for the exclusive purpose of enforcing § 10-46-18.3. Service of process upon persons subject to this section may be made by service outside this state in the same manner provided for service within this state with the same force and effect as though service had been made within this state.

Source: SL 1987, ch 109, § 2.