Anoka County Court Records
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Anoka County is the fourth most populous county in Minnesota, situated in the northern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area with its county seat in the city of Anoka. The county's courts belong to the Tenth Judicial District and operate out of the Anoka County Courthouse, where a single District Court handles the full range of case types — civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, traffic, housing, and conciliation (small claims). The Office of Court Administrator is the official keeper of court records for all legal filings in Anoka County, maintaining documents that span from routine traffic citations to complex felony prosecutions, contested divorces, and estate proceedings.
If you need to find Minnesota court records, you have several options: local clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online databases. Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the state judiciary's primary search tool for district court case records and documents. Additional information about courts statewide — including forms, fee schedules, and self-help resources — is available through MinnesotaCourts.us. For Anoka County specifically, the Court Administration Records Room on the first floor of the courthouse provides direct access to locally stored files.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Anoka County?
Anoka County court cases can be searched online, at the courthouse, or through written requests by mail. The right approach depends on whether you need basic docket information or certified copies of filed documents.
Online Search Through MCRO
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system provides free access to statewide district court records. Four search functions are available:
- Case Search — look up cases by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, citation number, or attorney bar number. Results include the Register of Actions and any public documents available electronically.
- Document Search — search by case number to locate public documents filed in a case.
- Hearing Search — find scheduled hearings by party name, case number, judicial officer, or attorney.
- Judgment Search — search by debtor name for docketed money judgments and satisfaction records.
Documents filed before July 1, 2015, may have limited availability through MCRO. There is currently no charge for downloading documents accessed through the system.
In-Person Search
The Court Administration Records Room is on the first floor, east wing of the Anoka County Courthouse:
Anoka County Courthouse
Address: 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303-2489
Phone: (763) 760-6700
Fax: (763) 712-3247
Court Administrator: H. Ann Basta
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Public access terminals at the courthouse give you electronic access to statewide court records through the MPA (Minnesota Public Access) system, which offers the most complete view of case data available. Staff can also help locate paper files stored on-site.
Some records may be stored off-site or held in a judge's chambers and cannot be produced the same day. Court Administration staff will advise on availability and retrieval timelines.
Mail Requests
Send written requests to:
Anoka County Courthouse
ATTN: Court Administration Records Room
2100 3rd Avenue
Anoka, MN 55303-2489
Include the case name, file number (if known), the specific document requested, a daytime phone number, and a check for applicable fees. Standard processing time for mail requests is approximately five business days. For detailed instructions, visit the Tenth Judicial District Court Records and Transcript Requests page.
Copy Fees
The Anoka County District Court fee schedule sets the following rates for document copies, authorized under Minn. Stat. 357.021:
| Copy Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy (print, scan, or screen print) | $0.00 |
| Certified copy | $14.00 |
| Exemplified and certified copy | $28.00 |
| Exemplified and uncertified copy | $14.00 |
| Scanning fee (per 50 pages or part thereof) | $25.00 |
| Case management system reports (1–50 pages) | $5.00 |
| Case management system reports (50+ pages, per 50) | $25.00 |
Are Court Records Public in Anoka County?
Most Anoka County court records are open to the public. Minnesota's framework for public access to court documents is set out in the Minnesota Rules of Public Access (RPA), particularly Rule 4 (accessibility of case records) and Rule 8 (remote electronic access). The Minnesota Data Practices Act also provides broader context for government records, though the judiciary operates under its own access rules.
Records Available to the Public
Criminal, civil, family, probate, conciliation, and traffic case dockets are generally accessible. Public information includes party names, case numbers, charges, hearing dates, judgments, orders, and many filed documents. Through MCRO, public documents in major criminal and civil case types are available online as authorized by Rule 8.
Records Not Accessible to the Public
Rule 4 of the RPA identifies specific categories of case records restricted from public access:
- Domestic abuse and harassment records (until an order is served on the respondent)
- Court services records, including pre-sentence investigation reports, custody evaluations, and psychological assessments
- Judicial work product, notes, and draft memoranda
- Juvenile appeal case records from non-public juvenile proceedings
- Race census data collected from court participants
- Medical records submitted in civil commitment and other cases under a non-public cover sheet
- Requests for assistance other than counsel and resulting orders
- Responses to petitions for criminal expungement containing private data
- Wills deposited for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime
- Administrative warrant records until the search or inspection is completed
- Minor victim identifying information in sexual offense cases
- Death certificates filed with the court
- Adoption case records
- Pre-adjudication paternity proceedings filed before January 1, 2021
Restricted identifiers — including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain personal data elements — must be filed on separate confidential documents under General Rule of Practice 11. Filers bear the responsibility for proper classification.
Anoka County Criminal Court Records
The Criminal Division of the Anoka County District Court handles all criminal matters, from misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors to felonies. Preliminary hearings in felony cases, county ordinance violations, and certain traffic offenses also fall within the court's jurisdiction.
Searching Criminal Case Records
- Online: Use MCRO Case Search and filter by selecting Criminal under the case category. Search by defendant name, case number, or citation number.
- In Person: Visit the Court Administration Records Room at the Anoka County Courthouse during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM). Public access terminals offer the most complete view of case records.
- By Mail: Send a request to the Court Administration office with the defendant's name, approximate case date, and applicable fees.
Statewide Criminal History
For formal background checks, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search system — a free online tool providing public criminal history information maintained by the BCA. MCRO is not designed for background screening and should not be used as a substitute for the BCA system.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office
The Anoka County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county and shares jurisdiction with nine municipal police departments. Arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement documents can be requested from:
Anoka County Sheriff's Office
Address: 13301 Hanson Boulevard NW, Andover, MN 55304
Phone: (763) 324-5000
Records Line: (763) 324-5050
Email: RS-SheriffRecords@co.anoka.mn.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Submit requests for police reports and incident records through the county's online public information request portal or by contacting the records line directly. The Sheriff's Office also offers an inmate locator tool for searching current and recently released inmates by name, birth date, or DOC number.
Expungement
Criminal expungement petitions are filed with the District Court. The filing fee for a criminal expungement in Anoka County is $325 (base fee $310 plus $15 law library fee). Responses to expungement petitions containing private data are classified as non-public under Rule 4(h) of the RPA.
Anoka County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Anoka County are heard by the District Court's Civil Division, which covers personal injury claims, contract disputes, landlord-tenant disagreements, property litigation, consumer complaints, and civil appeals. The Conciliation Court Division handles small claims where the amount in dispute is $15,000 or less.
How to Search Civil Records
- Online: Access MCRO and select Civil under the case category filter. Searches can be conducted by party name, business name, attorney name, or case number.
- Courthouse Terminals: Public access terminals at the Anoka County Courthouse provide the most complete electronic view of civil case files.
- Counter or Mail: Request copies from the Court Administration Records Room at 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303-2489. Mail requests should include the case name, file number, specific documents sought, a daytime phone number, and payment.
Civil Filing Fees
Key fees for civil actions filed in Anoka County District Court, as authorized by Minn. Stat. 357.021:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First paper filed (plaintiff or defendant) | $325.00 |
| First paper with jury trial request | $425.00 |
| Motion or response to a motion | $100.00 |
| Conciliation court (first paper) | $80.00 |
| Removal from conciliation to District Court | $325.00 |
| Name change petition | $325.00 |
| Eviction action | $325.00 |
| Subpoena (per name) | $16.00 |
| Writ issuance/filing return | $55.00 |
Judgments
Judgment-related fees include $5 for a judgment search (per name certified), $40 for a transcript of judgment, and $5 for satisfaction or assignment of judgment filings. The Judgment Search function in MCRO lets you look up docketed money judgments by debtor name.
Property Records
Real property records in Anoka County — including deeds, tax information, sales data, and parcel details — are maintained by the Property Records and Taxation Division. The Anoka County Property Information Search Tool allows searches by parcel ID, address, or owner name.
Property Records & Taxation Division
Address: 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: (763) 323-5400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Anoka County Family Court Records
The Family Court Division of the Anoka County District Court handles dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody and parenting time, child support establishment and modification, paternity, adoption, domestic abuse orders for protection, harassment restraining orders, and guardianship matters. Many family court records are generally accessible to the public, though specific categories carry confidentiality protections under the Rules of Public Access.
Searching Family Court Records
Family court case dockets and documents can be searched through MCRO by selecting the appropriate family case category. Domestic abuse and harassment filings are not publicly accessible until the order is served on the respondent. Adoption case records are restricted from public access entirely under Rule 4 of the RPA.
Divorce and Dissolution Records
Dissolution of marriage case files are maintained by the Anoka County District Court and are generally public, though certain financial exhibits and custody evaluations filed under a confidential cover sheet may be restricted. To obtain a copy of a divorce decree:
- Online: Search MCRO by party name under the Family case category and download available documents at no cost.
- In Person: Visit the Court Administration Records Room at the Anoka County Courthouse (2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka) during business hours.
- By Mail: Submit a written request with party names, approximate year of filing, and applicable fees to the Court Administration office.
Marriage and Vital Records
Marriage licenses in Anoka County are issued by the Anoka County Government Center, not the District Court. Contact:
Anoka County Government Center
Address: 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: (763) 324-4761
Certified copies of marriage certificates can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $13 per certified copy. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Birth and death certificates are also obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health, with fees of $13 per certified copy for birth certificates and $13 for death certificates.
The Office of Vital Records is located at:
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Phone: (651) 201-5970
Birth records in Minnesota are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Immediate family members and legal representatives may request records during this period; others must demonstrate a tangible interest in the record.
Anoka County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Anoka County are heard in the Probate Division of the District Court, including administration of decedent estates, probate of wills, guardianships of incapacitated persons, conservatorships, commitment proceedings, and trust matters. All probate filings are maintained by the Office of Court Administrator at the Anoka County Courthouse.
How to Search Probate Records
- Online: Search MCRO by selecting Probate or Mental Health/Probate under the case category filter. Enter the decedent's or ward's name to locate case docket information. Note that wills deposited for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime are non-public under Rule 4 of the RPA and will not appear in search results.
- In Person: Visit the Court Administration Records Room at the Anoka County Courthouse, 2100 3rd Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303. Public access terminals at the courthouse provide the most complete view of probate case data. Staff can help locate physical files stored on-site or advise on retrieval for records held off-site.
- By Mail: Send a written request to the Court Administration office with the decedent's name, approximate date of death, file number if known, specific documents requested, and payment for applicable fees.
Types of Probate Filings
Anoka County District Court handles these categories of probate proceedings:
- Formal and informal probate of wills and intestate estates
- Appointment and discharge of personal representatives
- Supervised and unsupervised estate administration
- Guardianship of minors and adults
- Conservatorship of protected persons
- Civil commitment proceedings
- Trust and charitable trust matters
- Summary assignments and affidavits for small estates
Probate Filing Fees
The following fees apply to probate filings in Anoka County, authorized under Minn. Stat. 357.021:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for formal probate or appointment (first paper) | $325.00 |
| Petition for informal probate (first paper) | $325.00 |
| Guardianship petition (first paper) | $325.00 |
| Conservatorship petition (first paper) | $325.00 |
| Motion or response to a motion in probate | $100.00 |
| Filing will for safekeeping | $0.00 |
For certified copies of probate documents, the standard fee is $14 per certified copy. Uncertified copies and document downloads through MCRO carry no charge.
Restricted Probate Records
Most probate filings are publicly accessible, but several categories are restricted. Wills filed for safekeeping during the testator's lifetime are non-public. Mental health commitment records filed within the probate docket are subject to confidentiality protections. Guardianship and conservatorship files may contain medical or psychological records submitted under a non-public cover sheet, which are restricted from public view. Ask the Court Administration staff whether a particular document has been filed as confidential before requesting it.
For older or archived records not available through MCRO, contact the Tenth Judicial District Court Administration at the Anoka County Courthouse or consult the Minnesota Historical Society, which holds historic court records from across the state.