Brown County
Founded in 1881, Brown County was named after Alfred Brown, a Dakota Territory legislator. It is home to 38,278 residents, making it South Dakota's fourth most populous county. The county covers about 1,713 square miles of land in northern South Dakota. Its county seat and largest city is Aberdeen.
Brown County's judicial system comprises the Circuit and Magistrate Courts. The Circuit Court, which is part of South Dakota's 5th Judicial Circuit, presides over all felony criminal cases, including aggravated murders and habitual offenses. It also resolves non-criminal cases such as civil claims exceeding $12,000, equity cases, probate matters, and juvenile matters.
Family law matters such as divorce and guardianship cases are also within the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. The apex court also hears appeals from the Magistrate Court. Magistrate Courts handle misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, small claims under $12,000, eviction disputes, forfeiture of bonds, and traffic violations.
Brown County public court records are official documents created during legal proceedings in the Circuit and Magistrate Courts. These documents contain case information such as litigants' names, judgments, case filings, dockets, and trial transcripts. They are useful for academic research and historical documentation. The Clerk of Court in Brown County is tasked with maintaining and disseminating the following court documents to the public:
- Civil court records
- Small claims records
- Land records
- Family law records
- Probate records
- Criminal court records
Meanwhile, court documents such as juvenile, substance abuse, mental health, adoption, and sealed records, are confidential under South Dakota's Sunshine Law. These records are available only to record owners and authorized persons. To obtain public records, interested parties can contact the Brown County Clerk of Court via phone or by visiting the address at:
Brown County Clerk of Court
101 SE 1st Avenue
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626 2451
Email: 5thcircuit@ujs.state.sd.us
Court records can also be accessed online through the South Dakota eCourts, where users can search by name or case number. Online access is generally free; however, certified or physical copies of records from the Clerk's Office incur fees for processing and duplication.
