Solo general practice in Mitchell. Administers probate and trust estates, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable living trusts, and durable and health care powers of attorney, alongside business, municipal, zoning, and real estate work. James D. Taylor started the firm in 1987.
Mitchell is in Davison County.
Probate in Davison County
Probate Court Record
Davison County Circuit Court
Davison County · 1st Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in Davison County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Davison County? →Settling an estate in Davison County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in South Dakota
Free South Dakota forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for South Dakota.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In South Dakota, a pour-over will is signed before 2SDCL 29A-2-502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in South Dakota
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in South Dakota: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in South Dakota happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteSDCL § 55-1-1 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysSDCL 55-2-13Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In South Dakota, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)SDCL § 55-3-14Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in South Dakota: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 180 daysSDCL 29A-3-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsSDCL §§ 29A-3-801, 29A-3-803, 29A-3-805Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
South Dakota has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentNo enabling statute (SDCL Title 10 contains no individual income tax chapter); S.D. Const. Art. XI, §§ 2, 13, 14; SD DOR, dor.sd.gov/individuals/taxes/Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in South Dakota take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces no state capital gains taxSDCL Title 10 (Taxation) — chapter list contains no individual income tax chapter (ch. 10-43 "Income Tax On Banks And Financial Corporations" is the only income tax; chs. 10-40/10-40A/10-41 inheritance and estate tax are repealed)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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