Practices from offices in Rapid City and Spearfish. Handles simple and complex probates, trust administration, and contested trust and estate litigation for trustees, personal representatives, and beneficiaries, along with guardianships and conservatorships. Drafts wills and trusts under South Dakota trust law, including living, asset protection, generation-skipping, and dynasty trusts.
Spearfish is in Lawrence County.
Probate in Lawrence County
Probate Court Record
Lawrence County Circuit Court
Lawrence County · 4th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
78 Sherman Street, Deadwood, SD 57732
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in Lawrence County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Lawrence County? →Settling an estate in Lawrence 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.
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.
See the Steps
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.
Calculate the Fee
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.
See the Steps