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Campbell County, SD Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Campbell County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The circuit court in Campbell County, at the Campbell County Courthouse in Mound City |
| Courthouse address | 111 2nd Street NE, Mound City, SD 57646 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 146, Mound City, SD 57646 |
| Clerk of courts phone | 605-955-3536 |
| Fax | 605-955-3580, contact detail only |
| [email protected], contact detail only | |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to noon, Tuesday and Thursday. Call 605-955-3536 before driving to Mound City. |
| Judicial circuit | Fifth Judicial Circuit (SDCL 16-5-1.2) |
| Filing cost | $122.00 in total court costs, effective July 1, 2026: $75.00 filing fee (SDCL 16-2-29), $40.00 court automation surcharge (SDCL 16-2-39), and $7.00 county law library fee (SDCL 14-6-1) |
| Local forms | No Campbell County packet or local probate cover sheet is published. The Unified Judicial System does not publish a statewide probate form set. |
| E-filing | Represented parties file through the Odyssey electronic filing system with the clerk of the court. Self-represented parties may file electronically but are not required to (SDCL 15-6-5(e)). |
| Case lookup | eCourts at https://ecourts.sd.gov shows docket summaries after free registration. The public tier does not show filing images. Open filings are viewed at courthouse public access terminals (SDCL 16-21-8), and in Campbell County that means the Tuesday and Thursday morning hours, 8:30 a.m. to noon. |
| Remote appearance | The assigned circuit judge decides whether any part of a case can be handled by telephone or video. Ask the Campbell County clerk of courts how to make that request. |
| Court website | https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/fifth-judicial-circuit/campbell-county/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing route, make a complete list of assets, debts, co-owned property, beneficiary designations, vehicles, accounts, and real estate. In Campbell County, that preparation matters because a missing account can change whether you need court authority and because the clerk's counter is open only two mornings a week.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help identify accounts across more than 2,300 institutions before you prepare papers for Mound City. That asset picture helps you decide what must be filed with the clerk of courts, what may pass outside a court case, and what questions to ask before mailing anything time sensitive.
Which court handles jurisdiction
South Dakota has no separate court for decedents' estates: estate settlement is a case class of the circuit court, the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, which sits in all 66 counties, and the papers are filed with the clerk of courts at the Campbell County Courthouse (S.D. Const. art. V, § 1; SDCL 16-6-9(5); SDCL 29A-3-201). The separate county-level trial forum that once shared this work was abolished and its jurisdiction folded into the circuit court (SDCL 16-6-9(7); SDCL ch. 16-9, repealed).
Probate for Campbell County is filed with the clerk of courts at the county courthouse in Mound City. Campbell County is one of the 10 counties in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which is how judges and court administration are organized; the case itself is filed at this county's own courthouse (SDCL 16-5-1.2; SDCL 29A-3-201).
Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceeding is the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, if the decedent was not domiciled in South Dakota, any county where the decedent's property was located at death (SDCL 29A-3-201). Campbell County filings serve Mound City, Herreid, Pollock, and the surrounding rural townships.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, will, heirs, devisees, and the decedent's domicile before filing. If Campbell County is the right venue, prepare an application for an informal matter or a petition for a formal matter, using the correct term for the route you are taking (SDCL 29A-1-201(3); SDCL 29A-1-201(35); SDCL 29A-3-201).
- Ask the Campbell County clerk of courts how to lodge any original will. State law requires the application to say whether the original will is in the possession of the court or accompanies the application (SDCL 29A-3-301(2)(i)).
- File with the clerk of courts at 111 2nd Street NE, Mound City, SD 57646, or mail papers to PO Box 146, Mound City, SD 57646. The counter is open 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday only, so call 605-955-3536 before driving.
- Use the filing method that applies to you. Represented parties file through the Odyssey electronic filing system with the clerk of the court, while self-represented parties may file electronically but are not required to (SDCL 15-6-5(e)).
- Pay the $122.00 in total court costs, effective July 1, 2026, unless the court waives them: $75.00 filing fee (SDCL 16-2-29), $40.00 court automation surcharge (SDCL 16-2-39), and $7.00 county law library fee (SDCL 14-6-1). If you cannot afford the cost, ask about the fee waiver process under SDCL 16-2-29.2.
- For an informal filing, the clerk of courts reviews the application, makes the required findings, issues the written statement of informal probate, and appoints the personal representative after the statutory waiting period (SDCL 29A-3-302, 29A-3-303, 29A-3-307). A judge of the circuit court may also perform acts the code assigns to the clerk of court (SDCL 29A-1-307).
- If a judge hearing is needed in a formal matter, ask the clerk how scheduling and any telephone or video request are handled. State law directs the presiding judge to arrange for a circuit judge to be available to hold court in the county seat of each county in the circuit as necessary (SDCL 16-2-21).
- After appointment, qualify before receiving letters testamentary or letters of administration, including filing an acceptance of office and any required bond. A bond is not required unless the court concludes one is in the estate's best interests (SDCL 29A-3-601; SDCL 29A-3-103; SDCL 29A-3-603).
- Administer the estate by collecting assets, handling required notices, managing creditor claims, and preparing the inventory and appraisement within the statutory timing rule, while remembering that the inventory may also be filed with the court but is not always required to be filed (SDCL 29A-3-706; SDCL 29A-3-801).
- Close the estate by the route that fits the case, either a personal representative's closing statement or a court order of complete settlement after notice and hearing (SDCL 29A-3-1003; SDCL 29A-3-1001).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Campbell County
Campbell County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or a local probate cover sheet on its county court-finder page. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System publishes form sets and guided interviews for self-represented filers in divorce, custody, name change, guardianship, eviction, small claims and protection-order matters. It does not publish a statewide probate form set, so the application, the will and the supporting papers are prepared by the filer or by a lawyer and brought to the clerk of courts.
South Dakota law does prescribe a creditor's Statement of Claim form in SDCL ch. 29A-3, Appendix A, tied to claims filed with the clerk of the court (SDCL 29A-3-804(a)(1)). That is a creditor claim form, not the packet used by a family member to open an estate.
A filer who cannot afford the $122.00 in total court costs, effective July 1, 2026, can ask about the UJS-022 fee waiver process under SDCL 16-2-29.2 and SDCL 16-2-29.
Local nuance
Campbell County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Campbell County filing |
|---|---|
| Two morning counter schedule | The clerk of courts counter is open 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 605-955-3536 before driving to Mound City, especially if you need to file, ask about an original will, or arrange copies. |
| Mail is practical here | The UJS prints the PO box above the street address for this office. Mailing papers or filing electronically (SDCL 15-6-5(e)) can avoid a missed trip when the counter is closed. |
| ZIP code caution | The court's own online listing for this office shows a different five-digit ZIP code. Mail to the clerk of courts in Campbell County should use 57646, and the clerk's office at 605-955-3536 can confirm the mailing details before you send anything time sensitive. |
| Court record terminal access | South Dakota provides courthouse public access terminals for open court filings at no charge (SDCL 16-21-8). In Campbell County, plan that access around the Tuesday and Thursday morning hours. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update | Why it matters in Campbell County |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | The Unified Judicial System's Schedule of Court Costs took effect, listing $122.00 in total court costs to open a probate estate, made up of a $75.00 filing fee (SDCL 16-2-29), a $40.00 court automation surcharge (SDCL 16-2-39), and a $7.00 county law library fee (SDCL 14-6-1). | This is the amount a Campbell County filer pays today, unless the court grants a fee waiver under SDCL 16-2-29.2. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Campbell County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating property that passes by co-ownership or beneficiary designation from assets that still need court authority. If an estate must be opened, file with the clerk of courts at 111 2nd Street NE, Mound City, or mail to PO Box 146. The counter is open 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday, so call 605-955-3536 first and ask how to get any original will to the office. | Sunset helps build the asset list, identify accounts, prepare the estate settlement packet, and connect the family with a South Dakota probate attorney when legal advice is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Check the South Dakota state guidance on the personal-property affidavit route before opening a case at all (SDCL 29A-3-1201). If a Campbell County filing is needed, a self-represented filer may file electronically but is not required to, and may mail papers to PO Box 146, Mound City, SD 57646 (SDCL 15-6-5(e)). | Sunset helps organize institutions, balances, debts, and beneficiary information so you can decide whether court filing is needed before making a trip to Mound City. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale normally requires an appointed personal representative holding letters. File with the clerk of courts in Campbell County; the clerk appoints the personal representative once at least 120 hours have passed since the death and issues letters testamentary or letters of administration once the personal representative has qualified (SDCL 29A-3-302, 29A-3-307, 29A-3-601, SDCL 29A-3-103). Budget the $122.00 in total court costs, effective July 1, 2026 (SDCL 16-2-29; SDCL 16-2-39; SDCL 14-6-1), and plan any counter visit around a Tuesday or Thursday morning. | Sunset helps turn account discovery, document gathering, and attorney matching into a practical estate settlement plan before the house sale depends on court authority. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Campbell County court-finder page | Address, mailing address, hours, phone, fax, and email for the clerk of courts in Campbell County. | Use https://ujs.sd.gov/court-finder/fifth-judicial-circuit/campbell-county/ and call 605-955-3536 before visiting during the Tuesday and Thursday morning hours. |
| eCourts | Docket summaries for public cases, including parties, attorneys of record, filings made, hearings held, judgments, and outcomes. | Use https://ecourts.sd.gov. Free registration is required. Filing images are not shown in the public tier. |
| Courthouse public access terminals | Viewing open court filings electronically from a courthouse terminal at no charge (SDCL 16-21-8). | In Campbell County, plan terminal use around 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday. |
| Fee waiver forms | UJS-022, Motion, Affidavit, and Order to Waive Filing Fee and Service of Process Fee, for a filer who cannot afford the $122.00 in total court costs, effective July 1, 2026 (SDCL 16-2-29.2; SDCL 16-2-29). | Use https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/civil-law-help/fee-waivers/ and ask the clerk how the signed order will be returned. |
| What court staff can and cannot do | General information about court procedures, case file information, and completeness checks for signatures, notarization, county name, and case number. Court staff cannot provide legal advice or tell you what words to use. | Use https://ujs.sd.gov/self-help/understanding-the-courts/how-the-court-assists/ before asking the clerk a legal question. |
| SD Law Help | Single intake route for free or low-cost civil legal help in South Dakota and local Tribal Nations. | Use https://sdlawhelp.org. Its intake sends the application to the appropriate program. |
| State Bar of South Dakota lawyer referral | Referral to a South Dakota lawyer. | Use https://findalawyerinsd.com or call 800-952-2333. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, insurance, benefits, debts, and property before papers are prepared, so Campbell County estate settlement starts with a usable asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for review, filing, and follow-up with the clerk of courts in Mound City.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, dispute, creditor issue, or formal court request needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted South Dakota probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, documents, and next steps without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Campbell County?
File with the clerk of courts at the Campbell County Courthouse, 111 2nd Street NE, Mound City, SD 57646, or mail papers to PO Box 146, Mound City, SD 57646. Venue depends on the decedent's domicile or South Dakota property location (SDCL 29A-3-201).
What are the clerk's hours in Mound City?
The clerk of courts office is open 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 605-955-3536 before driving to Mound City.
Can I mail my probate papers to the Campbell County clerk of courts?
Yes. Use PO Box 146, Mound City, SD 57646, and call 605-955-3536 before sending anything time sensitive. Ask the clerk what payment methods are accepted and how to handle any original will.
Do I have to e-file in Campbell County if I am handling this myself?
Represented parties file through the Odyssey electronic filing system with the clerk of the court. Self-represented parties may file electronically but are not required to, so you may choose electronic filing, mail, or a Tuesday or Thursday morning counter visit (SDCL 15-6-5(e)).
How much does it cost to file probate in Campbell County?
The total court costs are $122.00, effective July 1, 2026: $75.00 filing fee (SDCL 16-2-29), $40.00 court automation surcharge (SDCL 16-2-39), and $7.00 county law library fee (SDCL 14-6-1). A filer who cannot afford the cost can ask about a fee waiver under SDCL 16-2-29.2.
Are there Campbell County probate forms?
Campbell County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or cover sheet. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System does not publish a statewide probate form set, so the application, will, and supporting papers are prepared by the filer or by a lawyer and brought or mailed to the clerk of courts.
Can I look up a Campbell County probate case online?
Use eCourts at https://ecourts.sd.gov. Free registration is required, and eCourts shows docket summaries rather than filing images. Open filings can be viewed at courthouse public access terminals (SDCL 16-21-8), which in Campbell County means the Tuesday and Thursday morning hours.
Will I have to travel to another county for a hearing in a Campbell County estate?
Many informal matters are handled by the clerk of court without advance notice to interested persons (SDCL 29A-1-201(22)). If a judge hearing is needed, state law directs the presiding judge to arrange for a circuit judge to be available to hold court in the county seat of each county in the circuit as necessary (SDCL 16-2-21). Ask the clerk how your specific case will be scheduled.
Can I appear by phone or video in a Campbell County probate case?
The assigned circuit judge decides whether any part of a case can be handled by telephone or video. The Unified Judicial System publishes judge preferences for attorney contact and scheduling, and the Campbell County clerk of courts can explain how to ask.
Who reviews an informal application in Campbell County?
The clerk of courts reviews the informal application, makes the findings required by state law, issues the written statement of informal probate, and appoints the personal representative after the statutory waiting period (SDCL 29A-3-302, 29A-3-303, 29A-3-307). A judge of the circuit court may perform those acts as well (SDCL 29A-1-307).
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.