25-5-16. Judicial cognizance of parental abuses–Freeing child from parental dominion.
The abuse of parental authority is the subject of judicial cognizance in a civil action in the circuit court, brought by the child or by its relatives within the third degree, or by the officers of the poor where the child resides; and when the abuse is established, the child may be freed from the dominion of the parent and the duty of support and education enforced.
Source: SDC 1939, §14.0307.