If you do not have a will in South Dakota, you die intestate. The courts handle your estate and distribute assets according to state intestacy laws. In other words, you do not have control over who gets what property after your death. Distributing your estate...
Most people do not want the responsibility that comes with estate administration. Still, families may come to resent the perceived authority that a personal representative has or may question whether their actions were truly in the best interests of the estate’s...
Tenants and landlords both have to take risks when executing new leases. Tenants have to commit themselves to regular payments despite the possibility of losing a job or other financial challenges. They have to accept limitations on their use of the property and the...
A person who’s purchasing a home in South Dakota expects sellers to disclose known issues with the homes that they’re selling. This enables the buyer to make an informed decision. Yet, the purpose of these disclosures isn’t limited to empowering a buyer to make an...
You’ve scrimped and saved for a downpayment. You spent weeks or months scouting neighborhoods, getting your financial paperwork in order, checking out lenders and looking at houses. You’ve finally found the home you want, made and offer – and it was accepted. Your...
Real estate law in South Dakota requires a formal lawsuit to be made when contesting a title. Property titles declare the owners of assets such as cars, diamonds, or antiques. The title represents an object that's either tangible, intangible, or usable like real...
One of the most difficult aspects of a divorce is trying to determine what will happen to the children. Even though you and your spouse are going through the difficult process of ending your marriage, you may decide that it is best for you to co-parent. This is a type...
Taking advantage of estate planning tools is wise. It is also wise to remember that many of these tools work best together. As a result, you may want to remember that even though you have used one tool, you may still need other tools to help your plan work as best as...
In South Dakota and across the country, millennials are getting married later in life and are subsequently getting divorced at lower rates than those in older age groups. If you're age 50 or beyond, you may be one of many spouses who are considering or have taken...
As an equitable distribution state, South Dakota may seem like the place where you would obtain a fair division of assets during your divorce. Equitable distribution means that the courts split your joint assets and debts, accounting for many factors so that each...