The bill amends South Dakota's law regarding the notice requirements for small claims actions. It clarifies that notice is considered valid even if it is refused by the defendant and not delivered. Additionally, if notice sent by registered or certified mail is returned, the clerk is required to deliver the notice to the county sheriff for further service attempts, at the plaintiff's expense. If the sheriff is unable to serve the notice, the clerk must issue any other notice as ordered by the court, again at the plaintiff's expense.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if notice by other methods is returned undelivered or if it appears that the defendant has not received notice, the clerk must issue any further notice as requested by the plaintiff. If the plaintiff chooses not to pursue further notification or if such attempts are unsuccessful after ninety days, the clerk has the authority to dismiss the action without prejudice. This amendment aims to streamline the notification process in small claims actions and provide clearer guidelines for plaintiffs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 15-39-55