This chapter shall not be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the circuit courts of South Dakota or the venue of actions therein.
Rule 82.Jurisdiction and venue.
Part XI: General Provisions · Last amended 1966 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRule 15-6-82 makes clear the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure do not expand or narrow the jurisdiction of the circuit courts or the venue rules governing where an action may be brought.
Full Text of Rule 15-6-82
Plain-English Summary
Rule 15-6-82 is a short disclaimer with a clear purpose: this chapter is procedural, and it stays that way. The chapter is not to be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the circuit courts of South Dakota, or the venue of actions in those courts.
The practical effect is that a party cannot point to a civil procedure rule as the source of a court’s jurisdiction it would not otherwise have, or as a reason a case belongs, or does not belong, in a particular venue. Jurisdiction and venue come from other statutes and constitutional provisions; this chapter governs how a case proceeds once jurisdiction and venue are already established, not whether they exist.
The rule sits alongside Rule 15-6-81’s broader statement that the chapter is procedural rather than substantive, and it connects to Rule 15-6-86’s provisions on when and how the chapter applies to pending and future actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure give a circuit court jurisdiction it would not otherwise have?
No. Rule 15-6-82 says the chapter is not to be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the circuit courts of South Dakota.
Do these procedural rules change where I can file a lawsuit in South Dakota?
No. Rule 15-6-82 also states the chapter is not to be construed to extend or limit the venue of actions in the circuit courts.
Where do South Dakota’s jurisdiction and venue rules come from, if not this chapter?
Rule 15-6-82 does not supply those rules itself; it only disclaims any effect on them, so jurisdiction and venue are governed by other statutes and provisions outside the civil procedure chapter.
Why would South Dakota include a rule stating that the rules do not affect jurisdiction or venue?
Because procedural rules govern how a case is litigated, Rule 15-6-82 confirms they do not also expand or shrink which court can hear a case or where it can be filed.
Does Rule 15-6-82 address both jurisdiction and venue, or just one of them?
Both. The rule states the chapter does not extend or limit either the jurisdiction of the circuit courts or the venue of actions in them.
Amendment History
—SD RCP, Rule 82, as adopted by Sup. Ct. Order March 29, 1966, effective July 1, 1966.
Source & verification. Rule text and History are
reproduced verbatim from the South Dakota Codified Laws, published by the
South Dakota Legislative Research Council. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: south dakota civil procedure jurisdiction venuesd rule 15-6-82does rules of civil procedure affect venue south dakotacircuit court jurisdiction not extended by rules sd