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Fees and Costs

About Court Costs, Fees and Restitution

Understanding the costs associated with legal proceedings is an important step in preparing for and resolving your case. This page provides information on fees related to court-appointed attorneys, payment options and additional resources that may be available. If you need to make a payment, we offer convenient online payment platforms for certain fees, fines and restitution. You’ll also find a breakdown of court fees and costs for various legal matters, including small claims, civil cases, probate, appeals and criminal charges.

Explore the resources below to learn more about court costs, find necessary forms and access payment options.

Pay Online Now

Search for your case by name, citation number or case number and pay using a credit or debit card. UJS ePay is the South Dakota Unified Judicial System’s secure online payment platform for court-related fees, fines and restitution. Payments usually process within 24 to 48 hours, but new cases may take up to 14 days to appear in the system.

Make A Payment

Civil Money Judgment System

The UJS Judgment Query is an online tool from the South Dakota Unified Judicial System that lets you search for court-recorded judgments. You can look up judgments by name, case number or other details, making it a helpful resource for checking public records on financial judgments, liens and other legal actions.

 

Civil Money Judgment System

This section outlines mandatory fees and penalities for specific offenses, provides the set bond amounts required for pre-trial release, and describes where funds collected by the courts are distributed.

Schedule of Court Costs

Details court costs for legal proceedings, including filing fees, service charges, and other associated costs for cases in South Dakota courts.

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Fine and Bond Schedule

The "Fine and Bond Schedule" lists South Dakota's fines, bonds, and mail-in amounts for various offenses, including misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic violations.

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Where Your $$$ Goes

The "Speeding Ticket Breakdown" document explains how the $117.50 total for a speeding ticket on South Dakota interstate highways is allocated among various funds.

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Related Topics

Small Claims

Small claims court is an informal court that allows people to sue for small losses of money or property. An individual can file and handle their own claim in court.

Fee Waivers

A Motion to Waive Filing Fee and Service of Process Fee is a request to not be charged for filing a case or having legal papers delivered. Learn about the process and forms to submit.

Debt Collection

Court-ordered debt encompasses various financial obligations imposed by the court system such as costs, fines, fees, and restitution.