South Dakota Court Exhibit Requirements
A comprehensive guide to preparing exhibits for South Dakota courts under SDCL § 15-6-16 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues), including e-filing specifications via Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) and formatting best practices.
Marking a 40-exhibit set by hand takes about 2 hours. ExhibitPrep stamps the whole set with SDCL § 15-6-16 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues)-compliant labels in minutes.
Opens the tool set up for South Dakota — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
- South Dakota's primary exhibit rule is SDCL § 15-6-16 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues).
- Plaintiffs label exhibits with Varies — commonly P-1, P-2.
- Defendants label exhibits with Varies — commonly D-1, D-2.
- The Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) portal caps each document at Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport.
- Exhibit exchange deadline is Per the scheduling order or pretrial checklist.
- 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.
Court rules and e-filing requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with your local court clerk or official court website before filing. This content is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-07Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport
Varies — commonly P-1, P-2
Varies — commonly D-1, D-2
Per the scheduling order or pretrial checklist
These conventions reflect common practice but have not been independently verified with the court — confirm with your clerk before filing.
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.
E-Filing System
Odyssey e-filing system. PDF format required. File size limits are not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport.
Key Deadlines
Scheduling Orders
Exchange deadlines set by scheduling order. Varies by circuit.
Overview
South Dakota courts operate under SDCL § 15-6-16 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues) for exhibit requirements. Electronic filing is handled through Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) with a maximum file size of Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport. Exhibits must be exchanged Per the scheduling order or pretrial checklist.
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
Varies — commonly P-1, P-2
Defendant Exhibits
Varies — commonly D-1, D-2
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 File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) E-Filing Requirements
File Format & Size
Document Specifications
- PDF format required for all filings
- Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport 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 Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport 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 Varies — commonly P-1, P-2 and defendant exhibits use Varies — commonly D-1, D-2. ExhibitPrep auto-numbers exhibits sequentially.
Late Exhibit Exchange
Solution: South Dakota requires exchange Per the scheduling order or pretrial checklist. Plan ahead and prepare exhibits early to avoid last-minute issues.
The first three rejections are formatting problems ExhibitPrep prevents automatically. Stamp Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve)-ready exhibits now →
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.
Opens the tool set up for South Dakota — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
Take the South Dakota Requirements With You
Get the complete South Dakota exhibit guide as a PDF — SDCL § 15-6-16 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues) marking conventions, Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) file limits, and exchange deadlines, ready to share with your paralegal.
Free South Dakota Exhibit Guide
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Every year, South Dakota courts reject exhibits for:
- Wrong marking convention
- Missing electronic bookmarks
- Non-compliant file formats
This guide prevents those mistakes.
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 Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport. 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 (Pretrial procedure — Formulating issues). Exhibit lists required at pre-trial conference. Exchange deadline per scheduling order.
What does SDCL 15-6-16 say?
SDCL 15-6-16: Exhibit lists required at pre-trial conference. Exchange deadline per scheduling order. The full text is available on the court's official rules page.
What e-filing system does South Dakota use?
South Dakota uses Odyssey File & Serve (South Dakota UJS File & Serve) for electronic filings. Odyssey e-filing system. PDF format required. File size limits are not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport.
How should plaintiff and defendant exhibits be marked in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, plaintiffs typically use Varies — commonly P-1, P-2 while defendants use Varies — commonly D-1, D-2. Check local court rules for specific requirements.
What are the exhibit exchange deadlines in South Dakota?
South Dakota requires exhibit exchange Per the scheduling order or pretrial checklist. 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 does not publish a single statewide per-document limit: Not published by SD UJS — confirm with UJS eSupport. For larger exhibits, split into multiple parts with clear labeling.
Prepare South Dakota Court Exhibits in Minutes
ExhibitPrep makes it easy to create professional, court-compliant exhibits for South Dakota filings. Preview your stamped exhibits before paying.
Opens the tool set up for South Dakota — plaintiff: Numbers starting at 1; defendant: Letters starting at A.
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Related Court Guides
Exhibit Conventions Explained
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