© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
South Dakota follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesSDCL § 55-3-14Verified May 27, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The South Dakota trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in South Dakota is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 4 months in South Dakota — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the South Dakota trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in South Dakota average $311 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $933–$1,866 for a simple individual will and $3,580–$5,370 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
South Dakota has a generous small-estate threshold of $100,000. Estates under that line can use the Small Estate Affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case — most families can handle it without an attorney. For estates above the threshold, formal probate generally benefits from counsel because of the procedural overhead, even when nothing is contested. The South Dakota probate calculator estimates total costs based on estate value.
In South Dakota, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
24 firms
Anker Law Group handles all aspects of probate and estate administration for families in western South Dakota. The firm guides clients through estate valuation, asset transfers, debt payments, tax filings, and estate closing in accordance with the law.
Location
1301 West Omaha Street, Suite 207Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone
(605) 519-5967
Established
1984
Bangs McCullen Law Firm handles probate of estates (formal and informal), will contests, dynasty trust formation, and comprehensive estate planning services with offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.
Location
333 West Boulevard, Suite 400Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone
(605) 343-1040
Bantz, Gosch & Cremer is a multi-attorney firm in Aberdeen with attorneys actively handling estate planning, probate, guardianships, and conservatorships. The firm also provides banking law, corporate formation, personal injury, and criminal defense services.
Location
305 6th Avenue SEAberdeen, SD 57401
Phone
(605) 225-2232
Beardsley, Jensen & Lee is a full-service law firm established in 1997 with over 100 years of collective legal experience. Their Rapid City estate planning attorneys assist with comprehensive estate plans, estate administration, and succession planning for businesses, farms, and ranches. Licensed in SD, ND, NE, and WY.
Location
4200 Beach Drive, Suite 3Rapid City, SD 57702
Phone
(605) 777-7466
Established
1997
Boyce Law Firm is South Dakota's oldest law firm with over 145 years of continuous service. Their estate planning attorneys provide comprehensive will writing, trust creation and administration, probate, guardianship, elder law, special needs planning, and contested estate matters.
Location
300 S. Main AvenueSioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone
(605) 336-2424
Established
1878
Davenport Evans estate planning, probate and trust administration attorneys are considered among the most prestigious and trusted teams in the region. The firm offers the most comprehensive trust company and trust administration practice of any law firm in the region, including wills, powers of attorney, South Dakota trusts, trust modification, decanting, and reformation. SDTA members.
Location
206 West 14th StreetSioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone
(605) 336-2880
Established
1939
Denevan Falon Law Firm focuses on trust and estate litigation, trust administration and planning, trust decanting and modification, guardianships, conservatorships, and vulnerable adult protection. The firm has 45 combined years of experience and specializes in high net worth and ultra-high net worth estate matters with South Dakota dynasty trust structures.
Location
122 South Phillips Avenue, Suite 250Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone
(605) 800-8897
Established
2022
Estate Planning Solutions Law Firm in Sioux Falls focuses on estate planning, farming and business succession planning, probate and trust administration, asset protection, charitable planning, and special needs planning.
Location
5027 S Bur Oak PlaceSioux Falls, SD 57108
Phone
(605) 906-8118
Fosheim, Haberstick & Hutchinson is a multi-attorney firm in Huron handling trust and estate planning, probates, guardianships, conservatorships, and protection of elderly and vulnerable persons. The firm also practices real estate, land management, and business law.
Location
303 Illinois Avenue SWHuron, SD 57350
Phone
(605) 352-0702
Green Oviatt Law Firm LLP (formerly Green, Roby, Oviatt, Cummings & Linngren) has served Watertown and the surrounding area since 1916 with general practice, estate planning, and probate services including wills, trusts, and estate administration.
Location
816 South BroadwayWatertown, SD 57201
Phone
(605) 886-5812
Established
1916