What actually makes up the cost in South Dakota?
Even when the state-law disability can expire by operation of law, many people still pay for certified judgments, criminal-history records, legal review, or a separate federal process. Do not assume that the passage of time removed a federal prohibition.
State court or agency costs
A separate state petition may cost $0 when rights return automatically, but verification and records can still cost money.
Certified records
Judgments, sentencing records, docket documents, criminal-history reports, and certified copies can carry separate clerk or agency charges.
Federal costs, if needed
DOJ currently lists a $30 § 925(c) application fee. Fingerprints, criminal-history records, and other required records can add separate costs.
Attorney or preparation fees
Professional fees are separate from government charges. Felon Justice’s four service levels are shown below so the legal-help cost is transparent.
South Dakota-specific restoration rule
Time-based restoration after the statutory period or pardon.. South Dakota imposes firearm restrictions after crimes of violence and certain drug felonies. Rights can return after a long conviction-free period or through pardon.
A commonly cited state-law reference point is S.D. Codified Laws § 22-14-15. The exact route can change depending on the offense, sentence history, later conduct, and the wording of any prior relief order.
Three common cost scenarios
1. Rights return automatically or after time passes
If the exact conviction qualifies for automatic or time-based restoration, the state filing cost can be low or even zero. The real expense may be obtaining certified records and a legal review confirming that the waiting period and offense rules actually fit.
2. A court petition, pardon, or executive application is required
The budget may include a clerk or filing fee, certified records, background reports, supporting evidence, and attorney preparation. There is no responsible way to quote one statewide total without knowing the route and court.
3. Both South Dakota and federal relief are needed
State-process costs and federal-process costs stack. The federal application currently carries a separate $30 fee, plus fingerprints and records, and the state process may have its own filing or documentation costs.
Choose the legal help your path actually needs for a South Dakota matter.
Felon Justice service fees are separate from court, agency, fingerprint, record-copy, and other third-party expenses.
Pathway Consultation
$500Up to 2 hours of attorney consultation to map the state and federal path, answer threshold questions, and identify the next step. The $500 can be credited toward an accepted Premium or Ultimate federal engagement.
View Pathway Consultation →Premium Federal Restoration
$2,000Up to 5 hours of legal consultation/review, document-acquisition help, character-reference guidance, brief narrative suggestions, application review, and routine file follow-up for comparatively straightforward federal matters.
View Premium →Ultimate Federal Restoration
$5,000Up to 15 hours of legal work for complex federal matters, crafted narratives, deeper evidentiary development, and presumptive-disqualifier strategy.
View Ultimate →State Review Only
Case-by-caseFor state-law remedies such as expungement, pardon, set-aside, civil-rights restoration, or firearm-specific relief, including coordination with lawyers in the relevant jurisdiction when appropriate.
Request State Review →Start with the right question
Before spending money, determine whether the current prohibition is coming from South Dakota law, federal law, or both. Review the full South Dakota gun-rights restoration guide, compare the four service levels, and use the Federal Required Documents checklist if § 925(c) may be part of the path.