Introduction

Mary H. Burd earned her law degree from the University of South Dakota in 2001, and Nichole A. Carper completed the same program five years before that, in 1996. Together, those two trajectories add up to more than 35 years of combined legal experience that the partners at Burd and Carper bring to family law and related matters in South Dakota. The firm operates from 4900 E 57th Street, Suite A, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108, and can be reached at 605-332-4351.

That depth extends into the staff. Paralegal Dixie A. Bader has held Certified Legal Assistant credentials since 2004, bringing two decades of specialized support to the firm. Natasha Venenga serves as a paralegal, and Jenna Brouwer handles legal office administration. For clients navigating divorce, custody, or criminal proceedings in South Dakota, the full team shapes the quality of service at each stage.

Practice Areas

Burd and Carper covers an unusually wide range of family law matters, extending also into criminal defense, appeals, and juvenile law.

Divorce and Related Proceedings – The firm handles divorce cases including contested property division, business valuations conducted within divorce proceedings, and related financial matters.

Child Custody and Parenting Time – Custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and enforcement of parenting time orders.

Child Support and Spousal Support – Establishing and modifying support obligations, along with enforcement when payments lapse.

Paternity – Establishing legal paternity and the rights and obligations that follow.

Protection Orders – The firm handles protection orders in domestic abuse and stalking cases.

Premarital and Cohabitation Agreements – Legal agreements that define property rights and obligations before marriage or during cohabitation.

Adoptions and Termination of Parental Rights – Representing clients through adoption proceedings and termination matters.

Guardianships – Legal guardianship for minors and adults who require a guardian.

Post-Decree Enforcement – Enforcement of court orders following final disposition of family law cases.

Criminal Defense – Partner Nichole Carper serves as a panel criminal defense attorney for the federal court system, which means the firm handles felony cases including drug offenses as well as state criminal matters.

Appeals – Both attorneys handle appellate work.

Juvenile Law – Cases involving minors within the legal system.

Attorney Profiles

Mary H. Burd is a founding partner who obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2001. She has practiced in South Dakota since graduation, building experience across the family law spectrum. Attorney Burd is a member of the South Dakota State Bar Association, the State Bar Family Law Committee, the State Bar Women in Law Committee, the Second Circuit Bar Association, the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, and the South Dakota Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Nichole A. Carper is the second founding partner, whose J.D. from the University of South Dakota dates to 1996. She has represented clients across South Dakota in matters that span from felony drug charges to custody proceedings. Carper holds a panel appointment as a criminal defense attorney for the federal court system, a credential that reflects both experience and a recognized standard of competence for federal work. She holds the same bar memberships as her partner.

The support staff includes Dixie A. Bader, a Certified Legal Assistant since 2004, Natasha Venenga, paralegal, and Jenna Brouwer, legal office assistant.

Location and Service Area

Burd and Carper is located at 4900 E 57th Street, Suite A, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108. The firm can be reached by phone at 605-332-4351.

The firm represents clients throughout South Dakota in family law, criminal defense, and related matters. Both partners have practiced statewide, and Carper’s federal court panel appointment extends her criminal defense work into federal proceedings.

Additional information: burdandcarper.com/

Client Focus

Family law cases carry a weight that extends beyond the legal issues in the file. Divorce proceedings, custody disputes, and protection order matters directly affect children and families in ways that outlast any court order. Burd and Carper handles these cases with the understanding that the client experience during proceedings matters as much as the outcome.

The firm’s breadth is also its asset: clients who face a family law matter that also involves criminal charges, appeals, or juvenile proceedings can address multiple dimensions of their legal situation with the same attorneys who know their circumstances. Nichole Carper’s federal panel appointment extends that capacity into federal criminal defense, which is relevant for clients facing federal charges in addition to state family court matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the firm handle both family law and criminal defense?
Yes. The firm covers family law comprehensively and also handles criminal defense, appeals, and juvenile law. Nichole Carper is a panel criminal defense attorney for the federal court system.

What areas of South Dakota does the firm serve?
The firm represents clients throughout South Dakota in both state and federal matters.

Does the firm handle adoptions?
Yes. The firm handles adoptions, termination of parental rights, and guardianship proceedings.

Can the firm represent me in a federal criminal case?
Nichole Carper holds a panel appointment as a federal criminal defense attorney, which covers federal criminal proceedings.

How do I reach the firm?
Call 605-332-4351, or find the office at 4900 E 57th Street, Suite A, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108. Additional information at burdandcarper.com/

Closing

Two South Dakota law school graduates with more than 35 years of combined experience have built a Sioux Falls firm that covers family law from premarital agreements through post-decree enforcement, with criminal defense and federal court capacity that few family law firms can match. The staff depth, including a paralegal who has held certification for more than two decades, reflects the same standard of preparation that the attorneys bring to the courtroom.

Burd and Carper, 4900 E 57th Street, Suite A, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108. Phone: 605-332-4351. Full information at burdandcarper.com/