Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in South Dakota

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in South Dakota, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Statewide: No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. SDCL Chapter 21-16

• Sioux Falls: No local right to counsel found.

Free legal aid organizations

• East River Legal Services — 335 North Main Avenue #300, Sioux Falls; (605) 336-9230 or 800-952-3015. Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents; apply through SD Law Help (listed by the court).
  Serves: Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls)
• Access to Justice (State Bar of South Dakota) — (855) 287-3510; one of the programs that receives SD Law Help applications.
  Serves: Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls)

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in South Dakota

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

• State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service — (800) 952-2333

Official court and state resources

• SDCL Chapter 43-32 (Lease of Real Property)
• SDCL Chapter 21-16 (Forcible Entry and Detainer)
• SD UJS Self-Help: Eviction forms and instructions
• SD UJS Self-Help: Small claims
• SD UJS eviction form UJS-139 (Rev. 07/2026)
• 2024 SB 90 (SL 2024, ch 75) - repeal of notice to quit, 5-day answer
• 2026 SB 4 (SL 2026, ch 179) - 21-day deposit return

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

← South Dakota landlord-tenant law · Legal help in other states

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.