Dakota County
Dakota County is located in the east central region of Minnesota having an estimated population of 447,440 people. It was created on October 27, 1849 and named after the Dakota Sioux tribal bands who lived there. Its county seat is located in Hastings. Dakota County has a total land area of 587 square miles.
District Courts are the only trial courts in Dakota County. The following are the District Courts in the county:
- Dakota County Judicial Centre, Hastings
- Dakota County Western Service Center, Apple Valley
- Dakota County Northern Service Center, West St Paul
The Dakota County District Courts house several divisions that focus on resolving legal issues in the county. These divisions are Criminal and Traffic, Civil and Conciliation, Family, Juvenile, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Probate and Mental Health, and “Problem Solving Courts†which are the Treatment Courts. They have jurisdiction over civil, juvenile, family, criminal, probate, and traffic cases filed within Dakota County. In addition, these Divisions co-share jurisdiction over certain types of cases.
The Criminal and Traffic Court has original jurisdiction over criminal cases (misdemeanor and felony) and traffic violations cases (speeding, reckless driving, and DUI) while the Juvenile Court handles matters relating to juvenile delinquencies, including felonies and misdemeanors, committed by persons under the age of 18.
The Conciliation Court is also known as Small Claims Court and it handles general claims in which the amount of money involved in dispute is $15,000 or less.
The Guardianship and Conservatorship Court plays an important role in overseeing the welfare of persons who are incapable of making financial decisions. The court appoints guardians for incapacitated persons and ensures that guardians act in the best interest of incapacitated persons. A conservator is a court-appointed person who is in charge of making financial decisions for someone who has shown incapacity to manage their finances.
Per the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records, the Clerk of Courts is mandated to provide access to the following public court documents in Dakota County:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Family court records
- Probate records
- Guardianship and Conservatorship records
You can view District Court records on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website which allows a name-based search and on the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). You can search on the Minnesota Court Records Online portal by personal name, business name, attorney name, case number, citation number, judgment search, and hearing search. You can also request certified copies of court records on the MCRO and download court case records.
However, not all publicly accessible court records are available on the MCRO. You can use the public access terminal in the courthouse to view these court documents electronically or by visiting in person during regular business hours, except on court holidays.
