The South Dakota probate process involves extensive documentation. It's the executor’s responsibility to maintain all records carefully and ensure nothing essential—like bank statements, appraisals, or invoices—is misplaced.

While the occasional lost paper might be a genuine oversight, repeated issues or an executor’s refusal to share important documents with beneficiaries could raise serious concerns. In such cases, families may begin to question the executor’s integrity and ask themselves, “What happens if an executor lies during South Dakota probate?”