Homestead Law

"The homestead, including a homestead listed for sale, of every family, resident in this state, so long as it continues to possess the character of a homestead is exempt from judicial sale, from judgment lien, and from all mesne or final process from any court, to the extent and as provided by statute. However, a creditor or lien holder of a mobile home classified as a homestead under § 43-31-2 prior to January 1, 1973, may not be cut off and is not subject to a homestead exemption. In addition, a homestead with a value of less than one hundred seventy thousand dollars of a person seventy years of age or older, and the unremarried surviving spouse of such person, is exempt from sale for taxes for so long as it continues to possess the character of a homestead. (SDCL § 43-31-1)

The homestead embraces the house used as a home by the owner of it, being either, real property or a mobile home, and if the owner has two or more houses or mobile homes thus used at different times and places, the owner shall select which he or she will retain as a homestead.

The homestead may not embrace more than one dwelling house or any other buildings except such as are properly appurtenant to the homestead. A shop, store, or other building situated on real property and really used or occupied by the owner in the prosecution of the owner's own ordinary business may be deemed appurtenant to the owner's homestead.

A mobile home may include any vehicle without motive power which can provide adequate, comfortable, all season quarters for the purpose of making it a residence and which vehicle is larger than two hundred forty square feet, measuring at the base of the vehicle. The mobile home must be registered in South Dakota at least six months prior to the claim of exemption. (SDCL § 43-31-2)"