PDF requirements for e-filing in the South Dakota state courts (eFile)

What the court requires

The limit is 5 MB per document and 25 MB for everything in one filing (envelope). South Dakota courts accept electronic filings through Tyler Technologies' eFile system. A document over 5 MB must be split into parts, and if all the documents together are over 25 MB, file them in more than one envelope. Individual courts can set different limits, so check your court's local rules.

Common reasons filings are rejected

• A document is over 5 MB.
• The envelope (all documents together) is over 25 MB.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions, so the court's system can't open it.

Questions about the South Dakota state courts's PDF rules

What is the maximum PDF file size for the South Dakota state courts?

5 MB per PDF. All files in one filing together may not exceed 25 MB.

What should I do if my PDF is too large for the South Dakota state courts?

Split it into consecutive parts that are each under 5 MB, never cutting a page in half, and file the first part as the main document and the rest as attachments named in order (for example "Exhibit A, Part 2 of 3"). For scanned documents, re-scanning in black and white at 300 dpi often shrinks the file enough to avoid splitting. Docket Prime can split the file for you in your browser.

Does the South Dakota state courts require text-searchable PDFs?

It is recommended. Documents saved directly from a word processor are searchable and much smaller than scans; for paper documents, OCR adds searchable text.

What page size does the South Dakota state courts accept?

Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is expected. Legal-size or A4 pages may print badly or be refused, so resize them to letter.