Minnesota Court Records

Minnesota's court system is organized into three levels: the district court, the court of appeals, and the Minnesota Supreme Court. Together, these courts serve distinct roles in the administration of justice and handle about one million cases annually.

The district court is the trial court in Minnesota. Minnesota is divided into ten judicial districts, and every district contains one or more district courts. The district court is where most legal cases begin, and it handles a wide range of matters, including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, family law issues such as divorce and child custody, juvenile cases, and probate matters. It also hears appeals from the conciliation court, which deals with small claims involving amounts under $15,000.

Above the district court is the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which functions as the state's intermediate appellate court. It reviews decisions made by the lower courts to ensure that legal procedures and interpretations were correctly followed. The court of appeals is also responsible for reviewing the validity of administrative rules and hearing contested cases brought under the Minnesota Administrative Procedure Act.

At the top of the state's court hierarchy is the Minnesota Supreme Court, the highest court in the state. While it hears a limited number of appeals, usually in cases involving constitutional questions or significant legal issues, its role extends beyond appellate review. The Supreme Court oversees the entire state judiciary, sets rules of court procedure, and regulates the legal profession. This includes disciplining attorneys, overseeing the Board of Law Examiners, and managing public defense and legal aid services to ensure access to justice.

Note that there is a tax court and workers' compensation court of appeals in Minnesota. These are executive branch agencies created by state statutes to deal with the specific areas of law reflected in their names.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Minnesota?

A court record in Minnesota includes information, documents, and exhibits maintained by the court about a judicial proceeding. These records are maintained by the clerk of each court. The following are the specific types of records maintained in each court type in the Minnesota court system:

• Supreme Court
• Opinions and Rulings: Final published decisions in cases involving constitutional issues, legal precedents, or disciplinary matters.
• Case Dockets: Summaries of filings, motions, and decisions for cases reviewed by the court.
• Disciplinary Records: Files related to the regulation and discipline of attorneys and judges in Minnesota.
• Administrative Orders: Rules, policy changes, and judicial procedures governing Minnesota's court system.
• Petitions for Review: Formal requests asking the Supreme Court to consider decisions from the Court of Appeals.
• Court of Appeals
• Appellate Case Dockets: Case tracking logs that include all documents filed in the appellate process.
• Court Opinions: Written decisions resolving legal issues raised on appeal.
• Motions and Briefs: Legal arguments and procedural filings submitted by parties during the appeal.
• Oral Argument Records: Audio recordings and summaries of arguments made before the appellate panel.
• District Courts
• Felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor case records
• Charging documents, court proceedings, sentencing, and disposition records
• Contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property cases
• Judgments, pleadings, motions, and settlement records
• Divorce, legal separation, custody, parenting time, and child support records
• Orders for protection and domestic violence case records
• Wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorship records
• Mental health commitment proceedings and confidentiality-limited documents
• Records related to juvenile delinquency and child protection (CHIPS) cases
• Includes foster care, dependency, and termination of parental rights
• Eviction filings and landlord-tenant disputes
• Small claims (conciliation) cases involving amounts up to $15,000
• Legal name change filings and finalized adoptions (some sealed for privacy).
• Tax Court
• Tax Petition Files: Filings by taxpayers disputing income, sales, or property tax assessments made by the Minnesota Department of Revenue or local assessors.
• Court Orders and Decisions: Written rulings, opinions, and judgments resolving tax disputes.
• Case Dockets: Timelines of activity in each case, including hearings, motions, and filings.
• Hearing Transcripts: Transcripts or audio recordings from evidentiary hearings or oral arguments.
• Settlement Agreements: Records of any resolved disputes before a formal decision is issued.
• Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA)
• Appeal Petitions: Formal appeals filed by employees, employers, or insurers challenging workers' compensation decisions.
• Court Opinions and Orders: Written decisions interpreting workers' compensation law and affirming, modifying, or reversing lower rulings.
• Case Dockets: Summaries of case progress, including document filings and procedural history.
• Briefs and Legal Arguments: Written arguments submitted by parties outlining their positions.
• Hearing Transcripts: Transcriptions or recordings of appellate arguments before the WCCA panel.

Are Minnesota Court Records Public?

Court records are generally considered public in Minnesota. The MGDPA (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act) establishes general public access to records of government agencies in the state. Also, the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch govern how the public may obtain or view state court records.

However, not all court records are public. Certain categories of information are either confidential by law or may be restricted by court order. Some of these non-public records include:

• Juvenile delinquency records
• Adoption and paternity records
• Mental health commitment files
• Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) cases
• Expunged or sealed criminal records

Public records may be sealed or made confidential in Minnesota if the court determines that disclosure may cause harm, infringe on privacy rights, or undermine the interests of justice.

How Do I Search Minnesota Court Records?

You may search Minnesota court records online via the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system. Case records are displayed on the MCRO for all trial courts. To use the online system:

• Visit the MCRO system
• Select your search option:
• Case Search: Enables users to look up court cases using various identifiers such as a person's name, business name, attorney's name or bar number, case number, or citation number. This feature provides detailed case information, including the Register of Actions and any public documents available for that case online.
• Document Search: This option allows users who already have a case number and want to retrieve specific public documents filed in that case. It provides direct access to view and download available records.
• Hearing Search: This allows users to check upcoming court hearings for a particular case. This includes information about the date, time, courtroom location, and type of hearing scheduled.
• Judgment Search: This option helps users find money judgments by searching the name of the debtor. It provides judgment details, including any payments or satisfactions that have been recorded against the judgment.

You may also search records of the court of appeals or the supreme court case records online using the Minnesota Appellate Courts Case Management System, also called P-MACS.

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

Not all court records are available online via the MCRO system. To access records that are unavailable online or obtain certified copies of Minnesota court records, you must visit the court where the case was filed to submit a request at the office of the clerk. Note that each Minnesota trial courthouse also offers electronic access via public access terminals for the public to view court records.        

At the clerk's office, you will need to provide certain information to help the court locate the record. Such information includes the following:

• The full name of a party involved in the case
• The type of case
• The case number
• The filing date

You will be required to pay a fee to obtain copies or certified copies of court records in Minnesota. Although uncertified copies of any instrument from a civil or criminal proceeding do not cost a fee, other record types may be charged at up to $0.5 per page, while certified court records generally cost $14 per document.

Most requests may be fulfilled on the same day if the records are available on-site. However, if the requested records are stored off-site, it may take several business days for a response to arrive.

Can I Seal or Expunge a Minnesota Court Record?

Expungement in Minnesota refers to the prevention of the public from seeing that a criminal conviction or arrest record exists. It neither vacates nor eliminates a conviction or arrest, but rather seals it from public view. Minnesota offers full or partial expungement.

If a record meets the criteria for full expungement, the court authorizes that the associated court records and other related records held by other government agencies be sealed from public view. Hence, the records maintained by the court, prosecutor's office, police, BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), and other government agencies are ordered to be sealed. The requirements for full expungement are outlined under Section 609A.02 of the Minnesota Statutes.

If a case does not meet the requirements of this section, the district court judge is allowed to use their discretion to order the court records alone to be sealed in a partial expungement. Hence, records maintained by other government agencies remain public information in a partial expungement.

Minnesota expungement laws allow state courts to seal or issue a full expungement order for:

• Offenses committed by juveniles prosecuted in an adult criminal court
• Some offenses with convictions, such as those where the defendant pleaded guilty or was found guilty
• Certain first-time drug possession offenses resolved under certain laws
• Cases where the defendant was found not guilty, the case dismissed, or otherwise resolved in their favor

In addition, convictions for misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors may qualify for full expungement depending on:

• The crime a defendant was convicted of
• Other cases on the criminal history of the defendant
• How much time has passed since the defendant's sentence was discharged

To apply for expungement in Minnesota, follow these steps:

• Obtain Your Criminal Record: Request a copy of your complete criminal history from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) or the court where your case was handled.
• Complete Expungement Forms: Fill out the required forms, including the "Notice of Hearing and Petition for Expungement" and the "Order Concerning Sealing of Records." These forms are available online via the Minnesota courts website or at the courthouse.
• Serve Notice: Notify all relevant parties, such as law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, about your expungement request. After, prepare a notice to the court that you mailed copies of your expungement petition and proposed order to all agencies with your records.
• File the Petition: Submit your completed forms to the district court where your case was heard. You will pay a filing fee, though fee waivers may be available if you qualify. Note that a filing fee is not required for cases resolved in your favor. The standard filing fee is $300.
• Attend the Hearing: Appear in court on the scheduled date to present your case.
• Await the Judge's Decision: The judge will review your petition and decide whether to grant a full or partial expungement based on the evidence and arguments presented.

Note that although your case may fulfill the legal requirements for expungement in Minnesota, the judge makes the final determination whether to seal your case and grant a complete or partial expungement. Therefore, you should obtain legal advice from an experienced expungement attorney before submitting an expungement petition.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Minnesota

Records from Minnesota's only federal court, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, are available to the public both online and in person. Federal courts handle different cases than state courts. The kind of cases heard in the federal court in Minnesota include bankruptcy and matters relating to violations of federal laws.

You may access the court records of the federal court in the state online using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. To use this service, you must create an account and pay a small fee of $0.10 per page viewed.

If you want physical access to court records, you must visit the courthouse where the case was filed. A record request may be submitted at the office of the clerk of the court. To help staff locate the documents, you should provide specific details such as the case type, names of the parties involved, or the date the case was filed.

How To Get Minnesota Court Records Online for Free?

The public may access Minnesota court records online for free using the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system and the P-MACS portal. The former allows users to access the records of the trial court online, while the latter provides access to records of the appellate courts in the state. Also, third-party databases like PeopleRecords.us provide free online access to public records such as Minnesota court records.