Post-judgment interest by state · South Dakota
South Dakota · after judgment
Post-judgment interest in South Dakota
An unpaid South Dakota money judgment earns 10% a year unless the judgment or a contract says otherwise. On a $5,000.00 judgment that is $500.00 in the first year, about $1.37 a day.
How the rate is set
Judgments bear the "Category B" rate of §54-3-16, which is 10% a year. It changes only when the legislature acts.
- Statute or rule
- SDCL §54-3-5.1 with §54-3-16 (Category B rate)
- Statute re-checked
- 2026-10-23
- Changes
- only when the legislature amends the statute
When a different rate applies
- Real-estate mortgages, UCC security agreements and support debts are excluded.
- Inverse-condemnation judgments bear the Category A rate of 4.5%.
Work out your own judgment
South Dakota is prefilled at 10%. Enter the amount and the date the judgment was entered. The calculator uses simple interest; that is how this rate accrues.
How South Dakota's rate is set, and where it comes from
Uses simple interest at the rate you enter — pre-filled with each state's standard statutory rate, editable since some states publish a new rate quarterly or annually. Some states apply a different rate to specific debt types (noted above where it applies) or when a contract specifies its own rate. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current rate and any exceptions with your court clerk before relying on this figure.
The formula, worked
Last reviewed: October 2026
Interest = principal × rate × days ÷ 365. For $5,000.00 at 10%: $5,000.00 × 0.10000 × 365 ÷ 365 = $500.00 after one year, and $1.37 for each further day.
What this page does not know
- The rate written on your judgment. If the court stated a rate, that one applies, whatever the default is today.
- Partial payments. Interest accrues only on what is still unpaid.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every figure is cited to the statute or the office that publishes it; confirm the current rate with the court clerk before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the post-judgment interest rate in South Dakota right now?
10% a year for an ordinary money judgment, fixed in the statute, under SDCL §54-3-5.1 with §54-3-16 (Category B rate).
How is the South Dakota rate set?
Judgments bear the "Category B" rate of §54-3-16, which is 10% a year. It changes only when the legislature acts.
Is it simple or compound interest?
The statute does not say. Courts generally treat an unstated judgment rate as simple interest, calculated on the principal only.
Can my South Dakota judgment carry a different rate?
Yes. Real-estate mortgages, UCC security agreements and support debts are excluded. Inverse-condemnation judgments bear the Category A rate of 4.5%. The judgment itself may also state a rate, and that controls.
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