Custody and Visitation Rules – 2026
The sections of SDCL chapter 25-4A that the Supreme Court made by rule rather than the legislature by statute: how a parent asks the court to apply the standard parenting-time guidelines, the Commission on Parenting Time Guidelines, court-approved parenting education, and the custody evaluator rules of Rule 26-07, whose effective date the court delayed to December 31, 2026. The custody statutes of the chapter are not included.
Browse all 11 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.
Custody and Visitation Rights
25-4A-16.1
Request for implementation of standard visitation guidelines--Objection--Hearing--Order
25-4A-29
Commission on Parenting Time Guidelines--Creation--Duties
25-4A-30
Commission on Parenting Time Guidelines--Composition
25-4A-31
Commission on Parenting Time Guidelines--Hearings--Scope of review
25-4A-32
Court-approved parenting education for child custody and visitation actions
25-4A-33
Custody and parenting time disputes--Appointment of custody evaluator
25-4A-34
Custody evaluator appointment at party request or on court's own motion
25-4A-35
Definitions
25-4A-36
Qualifications of custody evaluator
25-4A-37
Appointment upon consent of parties
25-4A-38
Form of custody evaluations