Minnesota Court Records Search

Minnesota Court Records & Case Lookup

More than 2 million cases are handled in Minnesota courts annually, with most cases beginning in the district courts located in each of the state's counties. In most cases, the Minnesota judicial branch makes the records of these cases available to the public to ensure transparency in the operations of the state's judicial system. Hence, anyone can submit a request to the custodian of the court records to obtain copies of court records.

Note that there is a fee to obtain certified or exemplified court records from the court clerks who are the official custodians of Minnesota court records for their jurisdiction. The state also makes online access to case information for court records available via an online system.

While most court records are open and accessible to the public, some records are redacted for different reasons. The Minnesota Rules on Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch provides detailed information on records that may not be accessible to the public.

State of Minnesota Court System

There are three levels in the Minnesota court system. The base level is the district court handling civil and criminal matters. The other levels are the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. The former hears challenges to the decisions of the district court while the latter handles challenges to the decisions of the intermediate court of appeals - the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court also hears appeals from the decisions of specialized courts, such as the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and the Tax Court. The Tax Court and Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals are executive branch agencies of the Minnesota government created by statute to deal with the specific areas of law that are reflected in their names.

The chief justice in the state supreme court is the administrative head of the judicial system in Minnesota. The justice is responsible for its overall management. In 2005, a new governance structure was established as the single administrative policy-making body for the judicial system. This body is called the Minnesota Judicial Council. The State Court Administrator's Office operates as staff to the Council and provides central various services to the Judicial Council, including finance, communications, information technology, legal research, and program management.

Minnesota Trial Courts

The trial court system in Minnesota is one-tiered, comprising only district courts. Before 1971, the Minnesota trial court comprised a district court with statewide general jurisdiction and several other courts of limited jurisdiction. The court was organized into ten judicial districts with eight multi-county judicial juridical districts and two single-county district courts in the metropolitan area. In 1972, the fragmented system of municipal, probate, and justice of the peace courts was consolidated into a single limited jurisdiction county court system, operating alongside the district court. In 1987, the county courts were merged into the district court.

District Courts in Minnesota

The district court is the court of general jurisdiction as it handles various case types, including civil, criminal, juvenile, probate, and family law cases. The court interprets the law, applying it to the facts of specific cases. The district court may also handle appeals from the small claims or conciliation court for cases where the amount in controversy is not higher than $15,000.

The juvenile court within the district court hears matters relating to adoptions, child abuse and neglect, truancy, termination of parental rights, and juvenile delinquency.

What are the Specialty Courts in Minnesota?

Minnesota specialty courts were established to offer non-traditional means in the way certain offenders were handled. Specialty courts collaborate with public defenders, prosecutors, social service agencies, probation offices, and other justice system stakeholders to provide enhanced supervision and promote the completion of application educational or treatment programs. Participants in these courts benefit from tailor-made services based on evidence-based practices and qualified, trained staff operations.

Treatment courts which are part of Minnesota's specialty courts are successful in leading people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system into lives of recovery and stability.

Examples of Minnesota's specialty courts include:

• Adult drug courts
• DWI courts
• Treatment court
• Family dependency treatment
• Juvenile drug court
• Veterans court
• Mental health court
• Tribal healing to wellness courts
• Hybrid treatment court
• Prostitution court
• Truancy court
• Housing court
• Community court
• Safe babies court
• Opioid court
• Gambling court
• Domestic violence court

Minnesota State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Apart from the state-owned and administered courts in Minnesota, there is also a federal trial court in the state, called the District Court of Minnesota. The court has federal courthouses located in Minneapolis, Fergus Falls, St. Paul, and Duluth.

Federal court records are records, such as exhibits, dockets, and other documentation related to the cases heard in the federal district court of Minnesota. Examples of cases heard in the federal district court include:

• Federal statutory claims
• Federal constitutional claims
• Any suit between a Minnesota resident or entity and a resident or entity from another state, relating to a minimum amount of $75,000 in damages.

However, state records are records of the courts operated and administered by the Minnesota judicial branch. These are documentation of records filed and generated in the state district courts. These records are available at the offices of the clerk of the court where the cases were filed and online via a state-operated case search portal. Records of the federal district court in the state may be found online via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Minnesota?

The basis for making the records of the Minnesota government public are contained in the Minnesota Data Practices Act. However, the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch are the set of laws governing access to Minnesota state court records. These sets of laws apply to records filed with the state courts and other records administered by Minnesota courts, such as contracts, correspondence, and personnel records.

However, some records may be redacted and consequently not available to the public. Minnesota law allows portions of records or entire records to be redacted if their disclosure may jeopardize an ongoing investigation or erode the confidentiality rights of the persons named on the records.

The table below highlights public and non-public records in Minnesota.

How To Seal or Expunge Minnesota Court Records

Long after offenders have atoned for their offenses and fulfilled the obligations required by the Minnesota justice system, the collateral consequences following having criminal records may act as barriers to jobs, education, and housing. To offer relief to such persons, the Minnesota judiciary provides for the expungement and sealing of criminal records. Minnesota's expungement laws are codified under Chapter 609A of the Minnesota Statutes.

Expungement is a process that seals a court record but does not destroy it. Rather, it is a court order that removes the record from public view. You may qualify for an expungement if:

• You were arrested but not charged
• You were found not guilty
• The charges against you were dismissed
• The case did not otherwise result in a conviction
• You have successfully completed all terms of a diversion, adjudication stay, or continuance for dismissal
• You were convicted of an eligible offense and the required period has passed

Note that all petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanor convictions are eligible for expungement. Eligible felonies are listed on the attorney general page of the Minnesota government website.

Eligibility for records that may be sealed is limited to offenses in the Minnesota Expungement States. Some common eligible offenses include theft, mail theft, forgery crimes, receiving stolen property, financial transaction card fraud, damage to property, fifth-degree drug possession or sale, and issuing a dishonored check.

Note that most criminal records have a waiting period before an expungement may be granted by the court. To qualify, the petitioner must remain crime-free in the waiting period. Typically, the waiting period begins when the petitioner is discharged from probation. Generally, the waiting period may vary from zero to five years or more. If a petitioner's entire felony case was dismissed or they were acquitted by a jury or the court, they may be eligible for expungement without a waiting period.

How To Seal Court Records in Minnesota

There are no clear distinctions between expungement and sealing in Minnesota. However, an expungement according to Section 299C.11 of the Minnesota Statutes may be referred to as sealing. Under this law, if you were arrested but never charged with a crime or if the case was dismissed before a criminal complaint was filed, you may request that the identifying parts of the arrest records (excluding DNA samples collected) be destroyed, and the arrest record be sealed by the law enforcement agency.

To request a sealing under Minnesota Statute 299C.11, you must submit a written request directly to the law enforcement agencies that may hold records of your arrest. These agencies typically include the police department, city or county attorney, county sheriff, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

To qualify for this type of expungement, you must not have been convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor within the ten years leading up to the arrest. Also, all charges must have been dismissed before a probable cause determination or the prosecuting authority must have declined to file charges, and no indictment was returned by a grand jury. An additional requirement to seal your arrest record using this process is that you must not have participated in a diversion program related to the arrest.

This sealing process bypasses Minnesota courts. When using the 299C.11 sealing procedure, it is recommended that you keep copies of all correspondence you send. Also, use certified mail with Return Receipt Requested to ensure you have proof of when each agency receives your request.

How To Expunge Court Records in Minnesota

You may apply for an expungement in Minnesota in the following ways:

• Automatic Expungement: According to Chapter 609A.015 of the Minnesota Statutes, an individual who is the subject of a criminal or delinquency record is eligible for expungement without filing a petition if:
  • The arrestee and all charges were dismissed after a case was filed unless the dismissal was based on a finding that the defendant was incompetent to proceed
  • Upon the dismissal and discharge of proceedings against a person for possession of a controlled substance
  • All pending proceedings or actions were resolved in favor of the person
• Obtaining an expungement by filing a petition:
  • Complete the Notice of Hearing and Petition for Expungement (Form EXP 102): Fill out a separate form for each case you want expunged. Include information on all prior and pending charges.
  • File the form at the courthouse and pay a fee (or request a fee waiver if eligible
  • Complete the Proposed Order to Expunge Criminal Records: Use Form EXP 105, 106, or 107 as directed by the Petition form.
• Serve Copies to Government Agencies: Mail copies of your completed Petition and Proposed Order to all agencies holding records of your charges at least 63 days before the hearing. These agencies may support, oppose, or take no position on your petition.
• File Proof of Service (Form EXP 104): Submit proof that you mailed the Petition and Proposed Order to the relevant agencies.
• File All Documents with the Court: Take the Petition, Proposed Order, and Proof of Service to the court administrator.
• Wait 60 days: This is the period afforded the prosecutor and victims to file objections to your expungement petition.
• Go to the Hearing at the Court: If a hearing is requested, you must be present at the event. If the judge denies your petition at the hearing, you may appeal within 60 days. If the judge grants your petition, the court will order all agencies with your record to expunge your record.

How Do You Access State of Minnesota Court Records?

You may access Minnesota court records online via the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) site or in person at Minnesota Courthouses. Note that the information available on the MCRO is limited to case, hearing, and monetary judgment search results; case record information; register of actions; monetary judgment details; and documents of publicly accessible district court case records. Also, the information available on MCRO is provided as a service and is not the official court case record.

Online Access to Minnesota Court Records

To access Minnesota court records online, visit the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) website. Using the MCRO, you may conduct specific or broad searches to access case records and documents using the case search, document search, hearing search, or judgment search options.

Case information for records of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court is also available online via the Minnesota Appellate Courts Case Management System (P-MACS).

In-Person Access to State of Minnesota Court Records

In-person access to Minnesota court records is available at the office of the clerk of the court in the courthouse where the case was filed. You may also access court documents from public access computer terminals at Minnesota district (county) courthouses or at the Minnesota State Law Library.

Be aware that certified copies of court records typically cost $14 per document, except where the judge has waived the fees. Exemplified copies also cost $14 per document, but $28 if exemplification and certification documents are required.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Requests for judicial administrative records may be made to the clerk of the court where the record was generated or filed. Alternatively, you may contact the State Court Administrator's Office by calling (651) 296-2474 or send an email to the office online via its website. The Minnesota State Court Administrator's Office is located at:

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Minnesota

Old Minnesota court records may be archived in the records section of the courthouses where the cases with the records were filed. Hence, you may contact the office of the clerk of the court to find an old court record.

In addition, you may contact the Minnesota State Archives to search their records or use the public access terminals available at the Minnesota State Law Library to find archived state court records.