Blue Earth County Court Records
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Blue Earth County sits in south-central Minnesota, with Mankato as its county seat. The Blue Earth County District Court, part of Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District, operates out of the Blue Earth County Justice Center and handles criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. Court Administrator Therese Kadrlik leads the Court Administration office, which manages day-to-day case processing, record maintenance, and public inquiries for the county's roughly 69,000 residents.
If you're looking for court records in Minnesota, you can start locally at the Justice Center, use public access terminals at the courthouse, or search online through tools maintained by the state judiciary. MinnesotaCourts.us is the central hub for Minnesota's judicial branch and can help you find publicly available case information, locate court forms, and identify the right office for your request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Blue Earth County?
Whether you prefer to search from home or visit the courthouse, there are a few practical ways to find Blue Earth County court case records.
Online Through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
The fastest remote option is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), a free portal run by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. It gives you statewide access to district court records and documents. To search Blue Earth County cases:
- Go to the MCRO Case Search page.
- Select Blue Earth under the court location filter.
- Choose the appropriate case category — criminal, civil, family, probate, and so on.
- Enter a search term: party name (person or business), case number, citation number, or attorney name and bar number.
Documents filed after July 1, 2015, are generally available to view and download at no charge. Records from before that date have more limited online availability.
In Person at the Justice Center
Public access terminals inside the Blue Earth County Justice Center connect to the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS), where you can search statewide court records by case file number or party name. Court Administration staff are also available at the service counter to help with record lookups.
Blue Earth County District Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 401 Carver Road, Mankato, MN 56001 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 3366, Mankato, MN 56002-3366 |
| Phone | (507) 594-3055 |
| Fax | (507) 902-2765 |
| Business Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Therese Kadrlik |
Note that counter payments cannot be accepted after 2:30 p.m. on the last business day of the month, though online payments can still be processed through the Court Payment Center.
Requesting Copies by Mail
If you can't visit in person or use MCRO, submit a written request using the Fifth Judicial District Copy Request Form. Mail the completed form to the Court Administration office at P.O. Box 3366, Mankato, MN 56002-3366. Common copy fees for Blue Earth County are:
- Uncertified copies — No charge
- Certified copies — $14.00 per document
- Exemplified copies — $14.00 per document (or $28.00 for an exemplified and certified copy)
- Scanning fee — $25.00 per 50 pages or part thereof
These fees are authorized under Minn. Stat. 357.021, and the full Blue Earth County District Court fee schedule lists all applicable charges.
Are Court Records Public in Blue Earth County?
Court records in Blue Earth County are generally presumed open to public inspection under the Minnesota Data Practices Act, codified in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13. That statute establishes a broad right of access for both the people named in records and the public at large. Minnesota Statutes 15.17, the Official Records Act, also requires county courts to create and maintain documents that accurately reflect their official activities.
That said, not everything is available without restriction. The Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch set out the framework for what you can and can't access. Rule 4 identifies categories of case records that are off-limits to the general public, including:
- Domestic abuse and harassment protection case records (with certain exceptions)
- Court services records, such as pre-sentence investigation reports
- Juvenile court records and juvenile appeal cases
- Medical and psychological records submitted to the court
- Wills deposited for safekeeping at a probate court (before the testator's death)
- Information identifying a minor victim in criminal cases
- Adoption records
- Records sealed or restricted by court order
Under Rule 8, subdivision 2, certain case types are designated as not remotely accessible — meaning you can only view them at the courthouse, not through MCRO or any other remote system. Probate records fall into this category. If you need access to confidential or sealed records, you may have to provide additional documentation showing you're an eligible party.
Blue Earth County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Blue Earth County — felonies, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses prosecuted by the Blue Earth County Attorney's Office — are filed and heard at the District Court within the Justice Center.
Searching Criminal Court Records
You can search for criminal case information through MCRO by selecting Blue Earth as the court location and filtering by the criminal case category. Case details, hearing schedules, and certain filed documents are viewable online for publicly accessible cases. The court calendar, published daily as a searchable PDF, lists scheduled criminal hearings, though confidential matters are excluded.
If you have an upcoming criminal, juvenile delinquency, or CHIPS hearing, you can complete pre-court paperwork using the eCheck-in system.
Criminal Records Through the Sheriff's Office
The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office Records Division keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and law enforcement records from several agencies countywide. The division maintains records for the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office, Eagle Lake Police Department, Lake Crystal Police Department, Madison Lake Police Department, Mapleton Police Department, and the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Phone | (507) 304-4814 |
| Records@blueearthcountymn.gov | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
You can reach the Records Division in person, by phone, or by email. Staff search internal CIBRS and RMS databases to find responsive records. Key fees from the Sheriff's Office fee schedule include:
- Report copies — $0.25 per page after the first four pages
- Photos or audio recordings — $20.00 per disc
- Body camera or squad camera video — $75.00 per disc
- 911 transcriptions — $10.00
- Thumb drive — $20.00
Some records are classified as private under Minnesota's Data Practices Act and may require a signed release before they can be disclosed.
Statewide Criminal History Search
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains Minnesota's centralized criminal history repository. You can run a free search through the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search portal, which returns publicly available criminal history data from across the state.
The Sheriff's Office also publishes a Jail Custody Roster showing individuals currently held in or recently released from the Blue Earth County Jail.
Blue Earth County Civil Court Records
The District Court handles all civil matters in Blue Earth County — contract disputes, personal injury claims, property disputes, evictions, and other non-criminal actions. The court also runs a Conciliation Court division, which is Minnesota's version of small claims court, for claims of $20,000 or less.
Filing Fees for Civil Cases
Civil filing fees in Blue Earth County are set by state statute and include a $10.00 Law Library surcharge. Key civil filing fees are:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First paper filed (plaintiff or defendant) | $320.00 |
| First paper with jury trial request | $420.00 |
| Motion or response to a motion | $100.00 |
| Conciliation Court (small claims) | $75.00 |
| Eviction action | $320.00 |
| Harassment Restraining Order | $320.00 |
| Subpoena (per name) | $16.00 |
| Writ issuance/filing return | $55.00 |
All fees are authorized under Minn. Stat. 357.021 and 357.022. The full list is on the Blue Earth County fee page.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records can be searched through MCRO by selecting Civil as the case type and Blue Earth as the court location. In-person searches are available at the public access terminals in the Justice Center, and Court Administration staff can help locate specific records on request. If you need physical copies, submit the copy request form along with the appropriate fee.
Self-Help Resources
If you're representing yourself, the Minnesota Judicial Branch offers Self-Help Centers and a Conciliation Court Virtual Assistant for guidance on filing and managing civil cases. General forms and instructions are available for common civil proceedings. If you need to find an attorney, the Find a Lawyer resource offers referral information.
Blue Earth County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Blue Earth County are handled by the District Court and cover divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody, child support, paternity, parenting time, domestic abuse protection orders, legal separation, and annulment proceedings.
Filing Fees for Family Cases
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of Marriage (with or without children) | $400.00 |
| Legal Separation or Annulment | $370.00 |
| Custody, Paternity, Parenting Time, or Registrations | $320.00 |
| Child Support — First paper filed | $370.00 |
| Child Support modification motion | $50.00 |
| Motion or response to a motion (family cases) | $100.00 |
| Forms packet (Dissolution with/without children) | $10.00 |
| Order for Protection (petitioner first paper) | $0.00 |
Searching Family Court Records
Family case information can be searched through MCRO, though access to certain family records is restricted under the Minnesota Rules of Public Access. Domestic abuse protection cases carry especially significant access limitations. Petitioners in domestic abuse proceedings pay no filing fees for motions, as required by federal law (34 U.S.C. 10450).
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and records are maintained by the Blue Earth County License Center, not the District Court. Records of marriages applied for in Blue Earth County go back to 1865. Records from before 1997 are fully public; records from 1997 onward contain confidential information that must be partially redacted before public viewing.
To apply for a marriage license, both applicants must appear in person at the License Center. The license fee is $125 without a Premarital Education Certificate or $50 with one, per M.S. 517.08. You can start the application online through the MN Official Marriage System (MOMS).
To get a certified copy of a marriage record, complete the Certified Copy of Marriage Request Form and mail it with a $9.00 fee per copy to:
Blue Earth County Vital Records
P.O. Box 3524
Mankato, MN 56002-3524
Phone: (507) 304-4340
Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce decrees are available through the Blue Earth County District Court. Plain copies of recent divorce records may be searchable via MCRO using either spouse's name. The Blue Earth County License Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 410 South 5th Street, Mankato.
Birth and Death Records
While not court records, birth and death certificates are frequently requested alongside family case documents. The Blue Earth County License Center has maintained certified copies of vital records since 1870. Under Minnesota Statutes 144.225, Subdivision 7, only individuals with a direct and tangible interest may obtain certified copies — this includes the record subject, a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, legal guardian, or personal representative of the subject's estate.
Request forms are available for both birth certificates and death certificates. Fees are:
- Birth certificate — $26.00 (first certified copy); $19.00 each additional
- Death certificate — $13.00 (first certified copy); $6.00 each additional
Mail your completed and notarized form with payment to Blue Earth County Vital Records, P.O. Box 3524, Mankato, MN 56002-3524.
Blue Earth County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Blue Earth County are heard by the District Court and cover estate administration, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. The probate division handles petitions for distributing a deceased person's assets, appointing personal representatives, and establishing guardianships or conservatorships for incapacitated individuals.
Filing Fees
| Probate Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| First paper filed (estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships) | $320.00 |
| Deposit of will for safekeeping | $27.00 |
| Trust accounts (partial, final, or annual) | $55.00 |
| Motion or response to a motion | $100.00 |
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records in Minnesota are classified as not remotely accessible under Minn. R. Pub. Access 8, subd. 2. That means you cannot view probate records through MCRO or any other remote system — you must visit the Blue Earth County Justice Center in person at 401 Carver Road, Mankato, MN 56001.
When you request probate records, you may need to demonstrate a legitimate interest in the case and present valid identification. Wills deposited for safekeeping are confidential until after the testator's death, at which point they may become accessible to authorized parties. Heirs, personal representatives, and creditors generally have the broadest access to probate case files.
For questions about probate filings or records, call the Court Administration office at (507) 594-3055 during regular business hours. The Fifth Judicial District Administration page also provides district-level policies and administrative orders that may affect how probate cases are processed.