South Dakota Court Exhibit Requirements
A comprehensive guide to preparing exhibits for South Dakota courts under SDCL 15-6-16, including e-filing specifications via Odyssey and formatting best practices.
- South Dakota's primary exhibit rule is SDCL 15-6-16.
- Plaintiffs label exhibits with P-1, P-2, P-3....
- Defendants label exhibits with D-1, D-2, D-3....
- The Odyssey portal caps each document at 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended).
- Exhibit exchange deadline is Per scheduling order.
- Standard label position is the bottom-right corner of the first page; multi-page exhibits keep one number with per-page pagination ("Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5").
- Bates numbering (page-level production identifiers) is independent of exhibit numbering and runs across the entire production.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-01-315 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended)
P-1, P-2, P-3...
D-1, D-2, D-3...
Per scheduling order
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Exhibit lists required at pre-trial conference. Exchange deadline per scheduling order.
Formatting Requirements
SDCL 15-6-16
Sequential marking with party prefix. Pre-trial conference requirements.
Key Deadlines
Scheduling Orders
Exchange deadlines set by scheduling order. Varies by circuit.
Overview
South Dakota courts operate under SDCL 15-6-16 for exhibit requirements. Electronic filing is handled through Odyssey with a maximum file size of 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended). Exhibits must be exchanged Per scheduling order.
Key principle: Always verify your specific court's local rules, as individual counties may have additional requirements beyond the statewide rules.
South Dakota Exhibit Conventions
- 7 judicial circuits statewide
- Minnehaha County commercial center (Sioux Falls)
- Pennington County tourism cases (Rapid City)
- Odyssey e-filing
- Scheduling order deadlines vary
South Dakota Exhibit Marking
Standard Marking Conventions
Plaintiff Exhibits
P-1, P-2, P-3...
Defendant Exhibits
D-1, D-2, D-3...
Check Local Court Rules
Individual courts within South Dakota may have specific local rules regarding exhibit marking, numbering sequences, and formatting. Always verify with your specific court before filing.
Court-Specific Requirements
Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls)
Largest county. Commercial center.
Minnehaha County Local RulesPennington County (Rapid City)
Western SD hub. Tourism-related cases.
Pennington County Local RulesOdyssey E-Filing Requirements
File Format & Size
Document Specifications
- PDF format required for all filings
- 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended) maximum per file
- Text-searchable PDFs recommended
Best Practices
- Include bookmarks for multi-exhibit PDFs
- No password protection
- Clear, legible exhibit stamps
Common Rejection Reasons
File Size Exceeds 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended) Limit
Solution: Split large exhibits into parts. Label clearly (e.g., "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3"). ExhibitPrep exports individual files to manage size limits.
Missing or Illegible Exhibit Stamps
Solution: Use consistent, clearly visible exhibit stamps on every page. ExhibitPrep places stamps in the same position on every page automatically.
Incorrect Exhibit Numbering
Solution: Verify plaintiff exhibits use P-1, P-2, P-3... and defendant exhibits use D-1, D-2, D-3.... ExhibitPrep auto-numbers exhibits sequentially.
Late Exhibit Exchange
Solution: South Dakota requires exchange Per scheduling order. Plan ahead and prepare exhibits early to avoid last-minute issues.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with South Dakota Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours applying stickers manually.
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time. Stamp unlimited exhibits for one low price.
Court Compliant
South Dakota court-ready formatting. Export with bookmarks for organized filings.
ExhibitPrep Configuration for South Dakota Courts
Recommended Settings
Stamp Format
Use "Exhibit [number]" for plaintiffs or "Exhibit [letter]" for defendants. Include party designation if required by local rules.
Position
Bottom-right corner is standard. Ensure stamps don't obscure document content. Use drag-and-drop positioning to adjust if needed.
Export Format
Combined PDF with bookmarks for court filings. Keep files under 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended). Individual files for discovery productions or large exhibit sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exhibit requirements for South Dakota courts?
South Dakota courts require exhibits to follow SDCL 15-6-16. Exhibit lists required at pre-trial conference. Exchange deadline per scheduling order.
What e-filing system does South Dakota use?
South Dakota uses Odyssey for electronic filings. Odyssey e-filing system. PDF format required. 25 MB per document.
How should plaintiff and defendant exhibits be marked in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, plaintiffs typically use P-1, P-2, P-3... while defendants use D-1, D-2, D-3.... Check local court rules for specific requirements.
What are the exhibit exchange deadlines in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires exhibit exchange Per scheduling order. Exchange deadlines set by scheduling order. Varies by circuit.
Are electronically stamped exhibits accepted in South Dakota?
Yes, South Dakota courts accept electronic exhibit stamps that are clearly legible and consistently formatted. ExhibitPrep creates court-ready stamps accepted throughout South Dakota.
What is the maximum file size for South Dakota e-filing?
South Dakota's e-filing system (Odyssey) accepts files up to 5 MB per doc / 25 MB per envelope (recommended). For larger exhibits, split into multiple parts with clear labeling.
Prepare South Dakota Court Exhibits in Minutes
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