Benton County Court Records Search
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Benton County, Minnesota, sits in the central part of the state with Foley serving as the county seat. Court records generated within the county document the full range of judicial activity — from criminal charges and civil disputes to probate proceedings and family law matters. These records include rulings, judgments, dockets, motions, and filings created during active cases, and they are preserved by court custodians for use by parties to litigation, attorneys, researchers, and members of the general public.
Locating Minnesota court records starts with knowing where to look. MinnesotaCourts.us is a useful starting point for finding court case information across the state. In Benton County, records can be accessed through the district court’s online case system, by visiting the courthouse in person, through public access terminals available at the Foley courthouse, or by contacting court administration directly. The appropriate channel depends on whether you need a quick case lookup or certified copies of physical documents.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Benton County?
The primary tool for online court record searches in Benton County is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. This free platform provides access to public district court records statewide, including those from Benton County’s Seventh Judicial District. MCRO is organized around four search functions:
- Case Search — Find a case using a party name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. Results include the Register of Actions, case status, and links to available public documents.
- Document Search — Locate specific documents within a case file using a known case number.
- Hearing Search — Look up scheduled hearings by case number, party name, attorney name, or judicial officer.
- Judgment Search — Search docketed monetary judgments by debtor name, including satisfaction records.
For documents filed before July 1, 2015, or for physical case files not accessible digitally, contact the Benton County District Court directly:
Benton County District Court
Address: 615 Highway 23, P.O. Box 189, Foley, MN 56329
Phone: (320) 968-5205
Fax: (320) 968-5353
Court Administrator: Sara Grife
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The court is located in Foley with free public parking available on site. Public access terminals on the courthouse premises can also be used for on-site MCRO searches. The Minnesota Judicial Branch’s contact directory allows users to reach court staff by email for record inquiries.
Are Court Records Public in Benton County?
Access to court records in Minnesota is governed by the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, established under the authority of the Minnesota Supreme Court. These rules create a broad presumption of public access — any person may inspect or copy court records unless a specific rule or statute restricts access.
The following categories of records are generally not available to the public in Benton County:
- Juvenile court records and proceedings
- Adoption case documents
- Grand jury proceedings
- Domestic abuse and harassment-related case files
- Video recordings of child victims
- Records referencing Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial account details
- Records of individuals undergoing sentencing evaluations, psychological evaluations, or court-ordered counseling
- Guardianship and conservatorship case documents (accessible through MCRO in formal probate matters but subject to specific restrictions)
When records contain restricted information, the court redacts that information before providing public access to the underlying document. Requesters denied access may ask the court administrator to identify the specific rule or statute supporting the restriction.
Benton County Criminal Court Records
The Benton County District Court holds original jurisdiction over all criminal matters filed in the county, including felonies, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and petty misdemeanors. Criminal case records — charging documents, plea records, orders, and sentencing information — are maintained by Court Administration and are searchable through MCRO’s Case Search tab for cases on record within the system.
For certified copies of criminal court documents, contact the court clerk’s office in person or by phone at (320) 968-5205 during regular business hours. Certified copies of instruments from criminal proceedings cost $14.00 per document under Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2). Uncertified copies carry no charge.
Arrest records, incident reports, and booking information are maintained by law enforcement agencies rather than the court. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office — the chief law enforcement agency for the county — handles felony investigations, county jail operations, and court security. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at:
Benton County Sheriff’s Office
Address: Benton County Government Center, 531 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
Phone: (320) 968-7201
Emergency: 911
Fax: (320) 968-6885
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) operates the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search, a free online service provided by the Department of Public Safety. This system includes records of felony, gross misdemeanor, and select misdemeanor arrests and convictions from across Minnesota and is available to any member of the public.
Criminal expungement petitions — used to seal prior criminal records — can be filed at the Benton County District Court for a fee of $325.00 per petition, as authorized under Minn. Stat. § 357.021.
Benton County Civil Court Records
The Benton County District Court handles all civil litigation filed within the county, including tort claims, contract disputes, landlord-tenant matters, property disputes, and small claims (conciliation court) proceedings. Court Administration is responsible for managing all aspects of civil case processing, from initial filing through final judgment, and for collecting associated fees and fines.
Key civil filing fees for Benton County District Court include:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Action – First Paper Filed (Plaintiff or Defendant) | $325.00 |
| Civil Action – with Jury Trial Request at Filing | $425.00 |
| Request for Trial by Jury (separate) | $100.00 |
| Motion or Response to Motion | $100.00 |
| Name Change Petition | $325.00 |
| Eviction Action | $325.00 |
| Issuing Writs/Filing Return | $55.00 |
| Conciliation Court (Small Claims) – First Paper Filed | $80.00 |
| Appeal from Conciliation Court to District Court | $325.00 |
| Foreign Judgment (over $20,000) | $325.00 |
| Foreign Judgment ($20,000 or less) | $80.00 |
| Transcript of Judgment | $40.00 |
All fees are authorized under Minn. Stat. § 357.021 and Minn. Stat. § 357.022. Civil case dockets and documents are searchable through MCRO, with document imaging generally available for cases filed from 2015 forward. Older physical case files are available for in-person review at the courthouse or by contacting court administration.
Benton County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Benton County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, paternity, parenting time, child support, and domestic abuse protective orders — are handled by the Benton County District Court as part of its jurisdiction over all civil and family proceedings. Court Administration manages case filings and maintains records for all family-related proceedings.
Filing fees for family law matters include:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce), with or without Children | $405.00 |
| Legal Separation or Annulment | $375.00 |
| Custody, Paternity, Parenting Time, or Registration | $325.00 |
| Child Support – First Paper Filed | $375.00 |
| Child Support – Motion to Modify | $50.00 |
| Harassment Restraining Order – First Paper Filed | $325.00 |
| Order for Protection (Petitioner filing) | $0.00 |
| Motion or Response to Motion (Family, excl. child support) | $100.00 |
| Dissolution Forms Packet | $10.00 |
Orders for Protection for domestic abuse victims carry no filing fee for petitioners, as authorized under Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 3a. Petitioners in harassment restraining order cases may also have fees waived for certain alleged acts.
Divorce records are maintained by the Benton County District Court and are accessible through MCRO or by contacting the clerk’s office. Requesters should provide both parties’ full names and the approximate date of the proceeding or the case number when making records requests.
Marriage records in Benton County are managed by the Benton County Recorder’s Office. Marriage certificates are available for $9.00 per copy and can be requested using the Marriage Certificate Request form submitted to the Recorder’s Office. The statewide Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) allows users to search marriage records from 1858 to the present across all Minnesota counties, and certified copies can be ordered directly through that portal for $9.00 per record.
Recorder’s Office – Marriage, Birth, and Death Records
Address: 531 Dewey Street, Foley, MN 56329
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 129, Foley, MN 56329
Phone: (320) 968-5037
Fax: (320) 968-5306
Birth records have been maintained by the Benton County Recorder’s Office since approximately 1860, with certified copies available from 1900 forward. Certified birth certificates cost $26.00 for the first copy and $19.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. To request a copy, submit the Birth Certificate Application along with a copy of accepted identification and a check or money order payable to the Benton County Recorder.
Death records are similarly maintained by the Recorder’s Office. Death certificates from 1997 forward can be obtained from any Minnesota county; certificates predating 1997 must be requested from the county where the decedent resided. The fee is $13.00 for the first certified copy and $6.00 for each additional copy requested simultaneously. Submit the Death Certificate Application with acceptable identification and payment to the Recorder’s Office.
Credit and debit card payments are accepted by Benton County for most transactions, subject to a convenience fee of $1.95 or 2.35% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater. Recording documents requires cash or check payment.
Benton County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Benton County — including estate administration, the probate of wills, guardianships, and conservatorships — fall under the original jurisdiction of the Benton County District Court. Court Administration processes all probate filings and maintains the related case records as part of the unified district court system.
Probate records are accessible through MCRO, which provides public access to formal probate proceedings, guardianship and conservatorship filings, and trust case records. Case Search allows users to locate a probate matter by the decedent’s name or estate case number. Hearing Search can be used to find scheduled probate hearings.
Filing fees for probate proceedings at Benton County District Court are established under Minn. Stat. § 357.021:
| Probate Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, Conservatorships – First Paper Filed | $325.00 |
| Deposit of Will for Safekeeping (without opening estate) | $27.00 |
| Trust Account (Partial, Final, or Annual) | $55.00 |
| Motion or Response to Motion | $100.00 |
For in-person access to probate case files, requesters should visit the Benton County District Court at 615 Highway 23, P.O. Box 189, Foley, MN 56329, during regular business hours. Staff can assist with locating specific case files and processing copy requests. Certified copies of probate instruments cost $14.00 per document; uncertified copies are provided at no charge.
Guardians and conservators appointed through Benton County District Court proceedings can be verified through the statewide Guardian and Conservator Registry maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch, which provides a searchable database of court-appointed guardians and conservators operating under Minn. Stat. §§ 524.5-101 to 524.5-502.