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Minnesota Court Records

Minnesota court records refer to case files or documents of trials involving family, civil, probate, mental health, or criminal cases. These records are available in different courts and are open for public inspection under the Minnesota Data Practices Act. While the public can look at court records free of charge, any requester may be charged a fee when requesting copies. Some court records may also be unavailable if they are marked confidential. 

 

Which Minnesota Courts Maintain Publicly Accessible Records?

The judicial branch has two different types of courts which handle Minnesota court records. 

The first type of court is the appellate court, composed of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. The other branch is the trial court, composed of the district courts. 

The trial court has general jurisdiction on civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, and juvenile matters. On the other hand, the appellate court hears appeals from the lower court. The Minnesota Supreme Court exclusively handles death penalty cases. 

 

What are the Common Public Court Records in Minnesota?

Below are the most common Minnesota court records available to the public.

Small claims record

Small claims or civil claims involve property or money of not more than $15,000. For credit card transactions, the limit should not exceed $4,000. 

Civil records

This type of record involves cases involving class actions, actions against deceased persons, evictions, title to real estate, medical malpractice, and claims of defamation by libe or slander. 

Appeals 

Appeals are requests to the higher court to review decisions made by the lower court. Appeals must be made within the approved time frame after a judgment has been served. Below are the approved time frame for each type of case:

  • Eviction appeals - 15 days
  • Unemployment benefits appeals - 30 days
  • Criminal appeals (petty misdemeanors and misdemeanors) - 30 days
  • Criminal appeals (gross misdemeanors and felonies) - 90 days
  • Civil appeals - 60 days
  • Post-conviction appeals - 60 days

Judgment records

As the name implies, judgment records detail a court’s final decision in a case. Once the decision is entered into a case record, it becomes binding unless one of the parties files an appeal. 

Bankruptcy records

Bankruptcy court records can be filed by an individual, business, or company and are public with other relevant financial information. 

 

Requesters can use the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) to perform a case search using a name, a case number, a citation number, or an attorney. Interested parties must provide any of the following information to look up a case:

  • Last and first name (required)
  • Middle name (optional)
  • Date of birth (can be the exact date or range)
  • Date filed (can be the exact date or range)
  • Case status (active or inactive)
  • Court locations  (statewide or county)
  • Business name
  • Citation number
  • Attorney name
  • Attorney bar number

Note that the available case categories for each case search involve civil, criminal, family, probate, and mental health cases only. 

The Minnesota Trial Court Public Access (MPA) Remote View allows individuals to search cases online. Third-party sites are also available to obtain Minnesota court records, although the available information may be limited.

Counties in Minnesota

Courts in Minnesota

Minnesota Court of Appeals25 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, St Paul, MN
Ramsey County District Court15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN
Minnesota Supreme Court25 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, St Paul, MN
Dakota County District Court - WSPOne Mendota Road W. #140, West St. Paul, MN
Dakota Co. Dist. Court - Apple Valley14955 Galaxie Avenue W., Apple Valley, MN
Dakota County District Court1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN
Anoka County District Court2100 3rd Ave., Anoka, MN
Washington County District Court14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN
Stearns County District Court725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN
Olmsted County District Court151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN

List of Content

  1. Which Minnesota Courts Maintain Publicly Accessible Records?
    1. What are the Common Public Court Records in Minnesota?
      1. Small claims record
      2. Civil records
      3. Appeals 
      4. Judgment records
      5. Bankruptcy records
    2. Does Minnesota Have a Case Search?