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South Dakota child custody laws don't prescribe a certain age when a child's preference may be considered. Judges have broad discretion when deciding how much weight to give the child's preference. In some South Dakota custody cases, judges have considered the well-reasoned preferences of children as young as 10.

(a) A court of this state has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this state and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because the child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.

Absent parent: If a parent has been absent for 6 months or more, the law allows the other, more responsible parent, to petition to terminate parental rights.

It's common for a divorced parent to relocate, but this can create problems for the other parent, including decreased parenting time and increased visitation costs. In South Dakota, when custodial parents want to move with their minor children, they must give specific notice to the noncustodial parent.

The ?best interests of the child" are the primary concern. South Dakota law encourages joint custody between parents. Courts determining custody arrangements are also able to modify or vacate their decisions at any time, allowing for continued supervision of a child and their parents.

The mother of an unmarried minor born out of wedlock is entitled to its custody, services, and earnings subject to the court's right to award custody of the child to either parent, considering the best interests of the child as to its temporal, mental, and moral welfare.