Stearns County Court Records Search
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Stearns County, Minnesota, is served by a single trial-level court — the Stearns County District Court — which holds general jurisdiction over all criminal, civil, family, probate, conciliation, traffic, and juvenile matters within the county. As one of ten courts in the Seventh Judicial District, it operates from the Stearns County Courthouse in downtown St. Cloud. The Court Administrator’s office, the Service Center, and all courtrooms are housed in the same complex, giving the public a centralized point of access for case information and document requests.
Anyone seeking court records in Minnesota can begin with several official resources. The Minnesota Judicial Branch maintains a statewide directory of courts, self-help materials, and fee schedules, while MinnesotaCourts.us may assist users in locating publicly available case information. Records can also be accessed through the Stearns County District Court Service Center, which offers free public-access computer terminals, or through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), the judiciary’s official web-based case lookup tool that covers every district court in the state.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Stearns County?
There are three principal ways to search for a court case in Stearns County: online through MCRO, in person at the courthouse Service Center, or by written request to Court Administration.
Online Search via MCRO
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal provides free public access to case index data for all Minnesota district courts, including Stearns County. To search:
- Go to the MCRO Case Search page.
- Choose a search type — by party name, business name, or case number.
- If searching by name, enter the last and first name. Optional fields such as date of birth, case category (criminal, civil, family, probate, etc.), case status, date filed, and court location can narrow results.
- Review the results, which display case type, filing date, parties, hearing schedules, and monetary judgment information.
MCRO displays index-level data and some documents but does not provide copies of all filed papers. For complete case files, contact the court directly.
In-Person Search at the Service Center
The Service Center is located at:
Stearns County Courthouse
Room 134
725 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public computer terminals in the Service Center provide free access to the court’s case management system. Visitors can search by name, case number, or other identifiers. Court staff may assist with searches, but staff-assisted searches and copies are subject to fees.
Written and Telephone Requests
Contact Court Administration by phone at (320) 656-3620 or by email to request case information. Include as much detail as possible — party names, case number, approximate filing date, and case type — to expedite the search.
Copy Fees
The Stearns County District Court fee schedule governs all document copy charges, authorized under Minn. Stat. § 357.021:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy of any instrument (civil or criminal) | $0.00 |
| Certified copy of any instrument | $14.00 |
| Exemplified and certified copy | $28.00 |
| Case management system reports (1–50 pages) | $5.00 |
| Case management system reports (per additional 50 pages) | $25.00 |
| Scanning fee (per 50 pages or part thereof) | $25.00 |
| Fax transmission (per 50 pages or part thereof) | $25.00 |
Uncertified copies — including printouts of imaged or electronically filed documents — are provided at no charge. Certified copies carry a flat $14.00 fee per instrument.
Are Court Records Public in Stearns County?
Minnesota operates under one of the more detailed public-access frameworks in the country. The Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch establish a general presumption that all case records maintained by a court administrator are publicly available for inspection and copying. This presumption extends to final decisions, court orders, trial transcripts, docket entries, and other court-generated documents.
However, Rule 4 identifies specific categories of records that are not accessible to the public. The restricted categories most relevant to Stearns County users include:
- Domestic abuse and harassment records — filings under Minn. Stat. § 518B.01 or § 609.748 are not public until the court order has been served on the respondent.
- Court services records — pre-sentence investigation reports, custody evaluations, psychological evaluations, and counseling assessments prepared at the court’s request.
- Juvenile case records — delinquency and protection matters have their own access rules; child name searches do not return results through MCRO.
- Medical records — records from health care professionals submitted in commitment or other civil proceedings, including genetic information.
- Adoption records — all adoption case records are inaccessible to the public under Minn. R. Adopt. P. 7.
- Wills deposited for safekeeping — a will held by the court under Minn. Stat. § 524.2-515 is not public during the testator’s lifetime.
- Sealed and expunged records — records sealed by court order or expunged under Minn. Stat. § 609A.03 are not available.
- Minor victim identifying information — in sexual offense cases, information identifying a minor victim is confidential.
- Race census data, restricted identifiers, death certificates filed with the court, in forma pauperis financial disclosures, grand jury records, and pre-2021 paternity proceedings also fall outside public access.
A court may restrict access to otherwise public records only upon findings required by law, court rule, or case law precedent. The state court administrator publishes and periodically updates a list of non-public record categories.
Stearns County Criminal Court Records
The Stearns County District Court has jurisdiction over all felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor prosecutions in the county. The Stearns County Attorney’s Office maintains a searchable database of adult criminal cases filed in Stearns County District Court, offering a county-specific lookup tool separate from the statewide MCRO system.
Online Criminal Case Search
Criminal case records can be searched through MCRO by selecting “Criminal/Traffic” under the case category filter and entering the defendant’s name or case number. The system returns charge information, hearing dates, case status, and disposition data.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
For a comprehensive criminal background check that extends beyond Stearns County court records, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search system. This free online tool queries the statewide criminal history database, which includes all felonies and serious misdemeanors (those punishable by more than 93 days) reported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts across Minnesota’s 83 counties. It does not include suppressed records, warrants, federal offenses, juvenile adjudications, traffic-only offenses, or out-of-state records.
For questions about the statewide system, contact:
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Justice Information Services
1430 Maryland Ave East
St. Paul, MN 55106
Phone: (651) 793-2400
Stearns County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office Records Division maintains incident reports, motor vehicle accident reports, and other law enforcement records. A Request for Law Enforcement Data form (PDF) is available for formal data requests. For motor vehicle accident reports, call Sheriff Records at (320) 259-3700.
Stearns County Sheriff’s Office
807 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Phone: (320) 259-3700
The Sheriff’s Office also provides a public Jail Roster Search displaying adults currently in custody at the Stearns County Jail, as well as a past inmate search and outstanding warrant information. Juvenile detention data is not distributed.
Older Criminal Case Files
The District Court holds criminal case records from 1946 to the present. For cases filed between 1858 and 1949, contact the Minnesota Historical Society Research Center at (651) 259-3300 or visit their website. Their library is at 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul, MN 55102.
Stearns County Civil Court Records
Civil actions in Stearns County — contract disputes, personal injury claims, property litigation, employment matters, and other non-criminal cases — are filed in and maintained by the Stearns County District Court. Conciliation court (small claims) cases also fall within the District Court’s jurisdiction.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records are available through MCRO by selecting “Civil” under the case category. The system can be filtered by party name, business name, case number, filing date, and case status. In-person searches are available at the Service Center on the courthouse’s first floor using the free public terminals.
Filing Fees
Civil filing fees for Stearns County District Court, governed by Minn. Stat. § 357.021 and § 357.022, include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil action — first paper filed (plaintiff or defendant) | $324.00 |
| Civil action with jury trial requested at filing | $424.00 |
| Jury trial request (filed separately) | $100.00 |
| Motion or response to motion | $100.00 |
| Conciliation court — first paper filed | $79.00 |
| Conciliation court appeal to District Court | $324.00 |
| Conciliation court appeal with jury | $424.00 |
| Name change petition | $324.00 |
| Eviction action | $324.00 |
| Subpoena (per name) | $16.00 |
| Writs / filing return | $55.00 |
Each base fee includes a $14.00 law library surcharge where indicated. Fee waiver petitions (in forma pauperis) may be filed under Minn. Stat. §§ 563.01–563.02; the financial disclosures in such petitions are not accessible to the public.
Forms
Court forms for civil actions are available at the Service Center (Room 134, 725 Courthouse Square) or through the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s Get Forms page. Information packets of 10 pages or fewer are free; packets exceeding 10 pages cost $5.00.
Older Civil Records
The District Court maintains civil case files from 1946 to the present. Records from 1858 to 1949 are held by the Minnesota Historical Society Research Center, reachable by email at archives@mnhs.org or by phone at (651) 259-3300.
Property Records
While not court records, property records are often sought alongside civil litigation files. The Stearns County Recorder’s Office maintains historical land records dating to 1855. Registered users can search recorded documents and images through the county’s LandShark portal, with annual access fees set by the county. The Recorder’s Office is at 705 Courthouse Square, Room 136, St. Cloud, MN 56303; Phone: (320) 656-3870 Property tax and assessment data can be searched separately through the Stearns County Property Search Tool.
Stearns County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Stearns County are handled by the District Court’s family division. Case types include dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, annulment, child custody and parenting time, paternity, child support, and domestic abuse proceedings.
Searching Family Court Records
Family cases appear in MCRO under the “Family” case category. Search by party name or case number. Certain family records — particularly those involving domestic abuse orders, custody evaluations, and court services reports — are restricted under Rule 4 of the Minnesota Rules of Public Access and will not appear in public search results.
Dissolution of Marriage
Filing fees for dissolution cases in Stearns County:
- Dissolution of marriage (with or without children): $404.00 (base $340 + $50 surcharge under Minn. Stat. § 518.005, subd. 6 + $14 law library fee)
- Legal separation or annulment: $374.00
- Custody, paternity, parenting time, or registration filings: $324.00
- Child support first paper: $374.00
- Motion for modification of child support: $50.00
- Motion or response in family cases (excluding child support): $100.00
- Divorce form packets: $10.00 each (available at the Service Center)
Domestic Abuse and Harassment
Petitioners filing for an Order for Protection under Minn. Stat. § 518B.01 pay no filing fee; respondents pay $0 for their first paper as well. Petitioners filing a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) under Minn. Stat. § 609.748 pay $324.00, though the fee may be waived for certain alleged acts. Motion fees are $0 for petitioners and $100.00 for respondents in these cases. Harassment form packets are available free of charge from the Service Center.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Stearns County License Center, not the District Court. The application process can be started online through the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS). Both parties must appear at the License Center with valid identification to finalize the application. The license fee may be reduced for couples who complete at least 12 hours of premarital education and present a Statement of Premarital Education.
Copies of marriage certificates for marriages previously filed in Stearns County are available through the Virtual License Center (VLC) at $9.00 per copy.
Stearns County License Center
Administration Center
705 Courthouse Square, Room 130
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Phone: (320) 656-3902
Email: LC@stearnscountymn.gov
Birth and Death Records
The Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office maintains birth certificates filed in Stearns County from 1870 to present (statewide records from 1935) and death certificates from 1870 to present (statewide from 1997). Access to certified copies is restricted to authorized requestors under Minnesota Statute § 144.225, subdivision 7, which limits eligibility to the record subject, parents, children, spouses, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, legal guardians, personal representatives, and certain other designated parties.
Current fees through the Virtual License Center:
| Record Type | First Copy | Each Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Certified birth certificate | $26.00 | $19.00 |
| Non-certified birth certificate | $13.00 | $6.00 |
| Certified death certificate | $13.00 | $6.00 |
| Non-certified death certificate | $13.00 | $6.00 |
Credit card payments are charged a 2.49% convenience fee. Applications can be submitted online through the VLC, in person at Room 130 of the Administration Center, or by mail using the downloadable PDF application forms for birth or death certificates.
Stearns County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Stearns County belongs to the District Court. The court handles estate administration, wills (testate and intestate proceedings), trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and civil commitments.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information can be searched through MCRO by selecting “Probate/Mental Health” under the case category. In-person access is available at the Service Center using the public terminals.
Filing Fees for Probate Matters
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships — first paper | $324.00 |
| Motion or response to motion | $100.00 |
| Trust accounts (partial, final, or annual) | $55.00 |
| Deposit of will for safekeeping | $27.00 |
All fees include a $14.00 law library surcharge where applicable. Payment is due at the time of filing.
Wills Deposited for Safekeeping
A will deposited with the court under Minn. Stat. § 524.2-515 is not a public record during the testator’s lifetime. Following proof of the testator’s death, the court may disclose the will’s existence and deliver it to the appropriate court for probate.
Probate Forms
Minnesota’s court system does not publish a full set of proprietary probate forms. The Minnesota Judicial Branch provides some standard probate forms and guardianship/conservatorship forms on its website. Additional forms may be obtained from private legal publishers such as Miller/Davis, whose online catalog is referenced by the Stearns County court as a helpful resource. The Service Center at 725 Courthouse Square, Room 134, also stocks information packets and brochures related to probate procedures.
Older Probate Files
The Stearns County District Court holds probate records from 1973 to the present. Records from 1864 to 1982 are maintained by the Minnesota Historical Society Research Center, which can be reached at (651) 259-3300 or by visiting 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul, MN 55102.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Petitions for guardianship of a minor or legally incapacitated adult, and for conservatorship, are filed with the Stearns County District Court. The first-paper filing fee is $324.00. The Seventh Judicial District periodically offers informational workshops on guardianship and conservatorship responsibilities; check the Stearns County court forms page for current schedules and resources. Guardianship records are generally accessible to the public through MCRO, though court services evaluations and medical records filed in connection with a guardianship proceeding may be restricted under Rule 4.