{"data":{"id":"us-sd/sdcl-18-4-19","jurisdiction":"us-sd","citation":"SDCL § 18-4-19","heading":"Circumstances permitting proof of instrument by handwriting.","body":"The execution of an instrument may be established by proof of the handwriting of the party and of a subscribing witness, if there is one, in the following cases:\n(1) When the parties and all the subscribing witnesses are dead;\n(2) When the parties and all the subscribing witnesses are nonresidents of the state;\n(3) When the place of their residence is unknown to the party desiring the proof and cannot be ascertained by the exercise of due diligence;\n(4) When the subscribing witness conceals himself or cannot be found by the officer by the exercise of due diligence in attempting to serve the subpoena or attachment; or\n(5) In case of the continued failure or refusal of the witness to testify for the space of one hour after his appearance.","path":["TITLE 18. OATHS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS","CHAPTER 18-4. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND PROOF OF INSTRUMENTS"],"source_url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/18-4-19","current_through":"2026-08-31","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T15:18:56Z","sha256":"f1aaf5c03008ce445286bd86c218b34d3b16b9d8692278133e9eebfbc4c74816","source_id":"us-sd","stale":true,"prev":"us-sd/sdcl-18-4-18","next":"us-sd/sdcl-18-4-20"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}