This chapter shall be known as Rules of Civil Procedure and cited as RCP.
Rule 85.Title.
Part XI: General Provisions · Last amended 1966 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceRule 15-6-85 gives the chapter its official name, the Rules of Civil Procedure, and sets RCP as the standard abbreviation used to cite it in briefs, orders, and other South Dakota court filings.
Full Text of Rule 15-6-85
Plain-English Summary
Rule 15-6-85 handles a small but useful piece of housekeeping. It names the chapter the Rules of Civil Procedure and directs that it be cited as RCP.
A fixed name and abbreviation give lawyers, judges, and self-represented litigants a consistent short reference to use in briefs, orders, and opinions instead of writing out a longer statutory citation every time the chapter comes up. The history notes attached to the rules throughout this chapter already reflect that shorthand, citing back to the original South Dakota RCP as adopted by the Supreme Court’s order in 1966.
Rule 15-6-85 sits among a handful of short administrative provisions near the end of the chapter, alongside the jurisdiction and venue disclaimer and the effective-date rule, that round out how the chapter identifies and applies itself rather than stating a substantive procedural rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of South Dakota’s civil procedure chapter?
Rule 15-6-85 names it the Rules of Civil Procedure.
What abbreviation is used to cite South Dakota’s Rules of Civil Procedure?
Rule 15-6-85 sets the citation abbreviation as RCP.
Does this rule create any procedural requirement for litigants?
No. Rule 15-6-85 is a naming and citation provision, establishing the chapter’s title and abbreviation rather than a substantive or procedural requirement.
Why does South Dakota need a rule just to name the chapter?
It gives a consistent way to refer to the chapter across filings and opinions, similar to how the nearby jurisdiction, venue, and effective-date rules round out the chapter’s administrative framework.
Where does the RCP abbreviation appear elsewhere in this chapter?
The history notes attached to individual rules throughout this chapter cite back to the original SD RCP as adopted by Supreme Court order, reflecting the abbreviation Rule 15-6-85 establishes.
Amendment History
—SD RCP, Rule 85, 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 rules of civil procedure namesd rule 15-6-85what does rcp stand for south dakotacitation abbreviation south dakota civil procedure