Otter Tail County
A notable fact about Otter Tail County, Minnesota, is that it is home to the most lakes in the United States. This makes it a major fishing hotspot for Native Americans. The county was established on March 18, 1858, and has its administrative seat in Fergus Falls, the largest city in the county. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, over 57,303 people resided in the county, which sprawls over 1,972 square miles.
The District Court is the only county-level court in Otter Tail County. Being the county's only court, it has jurisdiction overseeing all criminal and civil cases and is organized into multiple case-type divisions. These divisions include Family, Criminal, Civil, Juvenile, Housing, Probate, Misdemeanor, Traffic, and Conciliation ( or Small Claims) divisions. The Civil Division handles disputes about real estate boundaries or titles, defamation by slander or libel, cases of class action, requests to receive injunctive relief, and eviction cases. The Conciliation Division handles most general civil cases valued below $7,500 in dispute. The Criminal Division handles all felonies and misdemeanors. Apart from these divisions, the District Court also has some specialty programs, such as a Drug Court, a Mental Health Court, and a Truancy Court.
Otter Tail County, public court records are legal documents related to court cases heard within the county. These records typically include summaries of the case, names of the parties involved, filing and hearing dates, legal motions, evidence presented, and the final judgments and orders issued by the court. Following the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records, members of the public have the right to obtain and review these records. The Clerk of Courts of Otter Tail County is the office responsible for keeping and managing the records. This office provides access to the following public court records:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Property records
- Probate records
- Family records
Individuals interested in obtaining the records may visit the clerk's office at the Otter Tail County Courthouse in Fergus Falls or call (218) 560-7045. Requests can also be made via email. Alternatively, the records can be obtained online through the state-maintained court records database. To use this database, follow these steps:
- Visit the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) case search page
- Use any desired search criteria, such as party name, case type, or case number, to search for the record
- Review available records and select the appropriate case
- Note that some records may be restricted from public access or require a fee to download copies
Obtaining certified copies of public court records at the Otter Tail County Clerk's Office costs $14 per document, while uncertified copies are available for a lower fee.
