<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 18-7-4 - Validity of unsworn declaration. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2045195Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2045195SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2045195CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2045195Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2045195DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2045195Normal-000001 { text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } p.s2045195Normal-000002 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2045195000003 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2045195SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2045195SCL-000004 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=18-7-4"><span class="s2045195SENU">18-7-4</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2045195SENU">. </span><span class="s2045195CL">Validity of unsworn declaration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000000"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a law of this state requires or permits use of a sworn declaration, an unsworn declaration meeting the requirements of this chapter has the same effect as a sworn declaration.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000001"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">This chapter does not apply to:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    A deposition under § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=15-6-26"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">15-6-26</span></a><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    An oath of office;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    An oath required to be given before a specified official other than a notary public;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    A declaration to be recorded pursuant to title 43;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(5)    Any declaration, oath, or verification required under title 2 or 12; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal-000002"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">(6)    An oath required by § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=29A-2-504"><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">29A-2-504</span></a><span class="s2045195DefaultParagraphFont">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2045195000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2045195Normal"><span class="s2045195SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2045195SCL-000004"> SL 2018, ch 128, § 4.</span></p></div></body></html><br /><hr><br /><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en-US"><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 18-7-4 - Validity of unsworn declaration. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML"><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7Normal { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont-000000 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"><meta property="og:title" content="SD 18-7-4.1 - Unsworn declaration--Court filing not notarized."><meta property="og:description" content="SDLRC Codified Law 18-7-4.1 - Unsworn declaration--Court filing not notarized."><meta property="og:type" content="website"><meta property="og:url" content="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/18-7-4.1"><meta property="og:image" content="https://lawmakerdocuments.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/photos/logoshape.webp"><meta property="og:site_name" content="South Dakota Legislature"></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=18-7-4.1" rel="noopener"><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7SENU">18-7-4.1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7SENU">. </span><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont">Unsworn declaration--</span><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7CL">Court filing not notarized.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont-000000">Unless specifically required by statute or court rule, a pleading, motion, affidavit, or other document filed with a court of this state, or presented to a judge or judicial officer in support of a request for a court order, warrant, or other relief, is not required to be notarized. Signing a document filed with the court or presented to a judge or judicial officer constitutes an  unsworn declaration", as defined in subdivision </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=18-7-2" rel="noopener"><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont-000000">18-7-2</span></a><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont-000000">(6), without administration of an oath or notarized signature, provided that the signature, as defined by court rules, is affixed immediately below a declaration using substantially the following language: "I declare under penalty of perjury under the law of South Dakota that the foregoing is true and correct". In addition to the signature, the date of signing, the city or other location, and state where the document was signed shall be noted on the document.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont">Source: </span><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont-000000">SL 2025, ch 224</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7DefaultParagraphFont"> (</span><span class="sf816103e81c0402db380f9374cf024f7SCL">Supreme Court Rule 24-11), eff. Sept. 5, 2024.</span></p></div></body></html>