Civil courts hear civil matters—which are generally lawsuits regarding disputes between persons or entities in which money, property, or personal rights under the law are at issue. Civil matters are distinguishable from criminal matters, which generally involve a city, state, or federal government prosecuting a person or entity for the commission of a crime.
In South Dakota, civil courts are responsible for adjudicating non-criminal disputes between parties, which may include individuals, businesses, or other entities. These disputes often involve issues such as contracts, property, personal injury, and family law matters. Civil cases are typically about seeking monetary damages, equitable relief, or the enforcement of legal rights, rather than punishment for criminal activities. The South Dakota court system has different levels for handling civil matters, including Small Claims Courts for minor monetary disputes, Circuit Courts for general civil cases, and the Supreme Court for appeals. Unlike criminal cases where the state prosecutes an alleged offender, civil cases are initiated by a plaintiff seeking remedy from a defendant, and the standard of proof is a 'preponderance of the evidence' rather than 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.