Instructions - br The South Dakota name change for an adult as described in the State Code 21-37 is done by filing a petition to the county's civil court where you are a resident. It is easier, if you were just married, to have your certified marriage license with the raised seal or if you were recently divorced to have your divorce decree. Typically, you will not have a court hearing in South Dakota but it depends on the circumstances of the name change. Download the South Dakota Name Change Packet to get started.br br REQUIREMENTSbr Must be a resident for at least 6 monthsbr If just married, must have your original marriage certificate.br If just divorced, must have your divorce decree.br Step 1 - Choose your name and complete the South Dakota Civil Case Statement and South Dakota Name Change Petition. Make you you have the form NOTARIZED.br br Step 2 - File the Petition and go to the County Court Clerk's office where your live. Pay the filing fee and you will be given a court hearing date.br br Step 3 - You must make a publication to a newspaper announcing your new name. This is done by submitting the South Dakota Name Change Notice of Hearing to a newspaper that serves your area. The publication must run at least once per week for 4 consecutive weeks.br List of South Dakota Newspapersbr Upon completion of publication, the newspaper will give you an 'Affidavit of Publication'. This will be the official form for proving you in fact made your new name available to the public.br Step 4 - Go to your court hearing with the South Dakota Name Change Decree. Upon successful completion you will be given your name change decree. This will be the official form for changing your name at any public or private institution.br br Step 5 - The last step is that South Dakota state law requires that you use your name change decree to change your name at the DMV, Social Security Office, Passport Agency, and any other governmental or private institution where you may want to change your name.