Parental Rights in South Dakota

Resolution Supporting the PRA

We did it! Thanks in part to your support, in 2010, the South Dakota legislature adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. Congress to propose the Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and to pass it to the States for ratification. (Learn more about state resolutions.)

South Dakota Parental Rights News

Parents’ Efforts Around the Country Starting to Pay Off!

March 17, 2022

Across the nation, some state legislatures are starting to adjourn for the year. Others have reached cross-over day, where bills have to pass from one chamber to another or they’re dead for the year. Still other legislatures remain in full swing. All this year, ordinary moms and dads like you, with your energy and passion,…

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South Dakota State Law and Parental Rights

At Risk

South Dakota does not have a state statute that explicitly defines and protects parental rights as fundamental rights.

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South Dakota Courts and Parental Rights

At High Risk

South Dakota's Supreme Court has held based on the Troxel case that parental rights cases do not require the strict scrutiny standard of review.

In Feist v. Lemieux-Feist, 793 N.W.2d 57, 60–61 (S.D. 2010), the Court wrote, "[W]e do not read Troxel as specifically requiring a finding of parental unfitness in third party visitation or custody cases. As we have noted before, Troxel only requires that 'special weight' be given to a fit parent's determinations regarding her children."