WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: South Dakota

Restraining Orders

View all
Updated: 
November 28, 2023

Who is considered to be a "vulnerable adult" and who can file a petition for an order?

The following people can file for a vulnerable adult protection order:

  1. a “vulnerable adult,” which the law defines as:
    • someone who is sixty-five or older who is unable to protect himself/herself from abuse as a result of age or a mental or physical condition; or
    • an adult of any age with a disability; or
  2. a vulnerable adult’s spouse, relative, household member, caregiver, or fiduciary who is filing on behalf of the vulnerable adult. Note: A “fiduciary” is someone who has the legal power to act on another’s behalf.1

1 SDCL § 21-65-1(10), (14), (15)

Legal Information

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.