South Dakota allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Custer County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in South Dakota are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Custer County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmRapid City, SD
Since 1984
Serves Rapid City, Box Elder, and Pennington County from West Omaha Street. Handles probate and estate administration end to end — opening the estate, valuing property and business interests, transferring assets to heirs, paying debts, and filing final tax returns — plus will contests and trust litigation. The first consultation is free.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrustsWills
- Office
- 1301 West Omaha Street, Suite 207Rapid City, SD 57701
Solo PracticeRapid City, SD
Serves Rapid City and western South Dakota from Sheridan Lake Road. Handles estate administration and probate for executors, trust administration for trustees, conservatorships and guardianships, and estate and fiduciary litigation such as will interpretation, undue influence, trustee-beneficiary disputes, and fiduciary removal. Consultations are offered in person, by phone, or by video.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 10 more
- Office
- 770 Sheridan Lake RoadRapid City, SD 57702
Offices in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. Handles formal and informal probate of estates and will contests. On the planning side the firm drafts wills, powers of attorney and South Dakota perpetuity trusts, including generation-skipping transfer tax planning, private trust company formation and trust change-of-situs work.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
- Office
- 333 West Boulevard, Suite 400Rapid City, SD 57701
FirmRapid City, SD
Since 1997
Serves Rapid City and Pennington County from Beach Drive. Works with personal representatives and beneficiaries through probate of an estate and litigates estate disputes, alongside wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and business, farm, and ranch succession plans. Consultations are complimentary and offered in person or by phone.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationBusiness Successionand 2 more
- Office
- 4200 Beach Drive, Suite 3Rapid City, SD 57702
FirmRapid City, SD
Since 1889
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
- Office
- 704 Saint Joseph Street, PO Box 290Rapid City, SD 57701
FirmRapid City, SD
Since 1955
Serves Rapid City and western South Dakota from its 5th Street office in Rapid City. Handles estate planning and probate, with partner Curtis S. Jensen practicing in wills and estate planning alongside the firm's business, banking, and real estate work. In the Rapid City legal community since 1955.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBankingWills
- Office
- 516 5th StreetRapid City, SD 57701
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
