Dakota County Court Records
Court records in Dakota County, also called court case records, encompass all documents and information of a particular case or controversy, including the pleadings and motions filed by case parties and the orders and findings of the court (Minnesota Court Rules, Rule 3).
Dakota County's legal cases primarily begin and end in the district courthouses (except appealed), and the county's district court maintains records of all case proceedings through its court administrator's office. These court records deliver an extensive account of the events and activities of any trial or litigation. As such, they help enhance openness and answerability within the county's judicial system.
Court records have other uses beyond assessing the judicial system. Case parties can peruse court records to track their case's progress. At the same time, attorneys of record can review past cases to find pertinent legal precedents or prepare for an appeals process, and the public can access the records to follow cases affecting their communities.
Are Court Records Public in Dakota County?
Yes. The general public can access Dakota County's court records under the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. These court rules direct how the public can inspect or copy the records of the judiciary (including court case records) and the types of court records that are publicly accessible. Accordingly, several case records are deemed confidential to the public under Rule 4: Accessibility to Case Records. Examples include:
- Domestic Abuse and Harassment Records
- Juvenile Appeal Cases
- Judicial Work Product and Drafts
- Court Services Records
- Race Records
- Medical Records
- Administrative Warrants
- Minor Victim Identifying Information
- Information Obtained from the Department of Safety for the Collection of Court Debt
- Adoption Case Records
- Pre-Adjudication Paternity Proceedings in Cases Filed before January 1, 2021
Where to Conduct a Dakota County Case Lookup
The public can conduct a Dakota County court case lookup as follows:
- At any Minnesota district courthouse or the Minnesota State Law Library.
- Via the Minnesota Judicial Branch's Access Case Records page.
How to Conduct a Dakota County Case Records Search
Individuals can conduct a Dakota County case records search online or in person.
In-Person Research
In-person requesters can stop by any courthouse in Dakota County, Minnesota district courthouse, or the Minnesota State Law Library during business hours. These sites have public computers that visitors can use for free to pull up case information. The on-site electronic terminals are linked to a statewide public case records database. As such, it is possible to look up any Minnesota court case record, including Dakota County's, regardless of the location one visits.
At a Dakota County courthouse, a person may request to review local case records in paper form at the court administrator's counter. An inquirer may also request a copy of a court record at the counter, via mail, or through the state judiciary's eFile and eServe System. Copy request guidelines are available on the judiciary's Copy Requests page. A Dakota County courthouse or court division's phone lines are also useful for learning how to find court records in person, by mail, or online.
Generally, the courts do not charge requesters a fee to obtain an uncertified copy. However, it costs $14 per document to get certified copies (photocopies carrying a court seal or an image of a court seal) and $14 per document for exemplified copies (photocopies bearing the signatures of the court administrator and judicial officer). Other pertinent fees can be obtained from the court's website.
Note that any search or copy request for a court record must be accompanied by details that can identify the relevant case or case record, such as a party name (defendant/plaintiff) or the court file number.
Online Research
Online research for Dakota County case records can be conducted through the Minnesota Judicial Branch's Access Case Records page. The webpage has two search tools for conducting case research in Minnesota's district and appellate courts.
A person looking for Dakota County District Court case records should access Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The system has four search engines, including Case Search, Document Search, Hearing Search, and Judgment Search, but is generally accessible with a party name or court file number (case number). Researchers can also download available case documents from the system.
However, MCRO only provides unofficial court case records and limited case record information. Persons who require complete and official records should visit the local courthouse. They may also contact the Dakota County court administration at (651) 377-7180 for information on how to find court records in person.
Dakota County Civil Court Case Records
The phrase "Dakota County civil court case records" describes every record created from civil (non-criminal) lawsuits and proceedings in Dakota County. These records are locally stored in the county's district courthouses and are accessible through an in-person visit. Requesters can also utilize online statewide search engines to find Dakota County civil court case records, as explained above.
Dakota County Criminal Court Case Records
Dakota County criminal court case records include all court records produced from resolving a misdemeanor or felony charge within the local court system. The district court in Dakota County hears criminal court cases.
Members of the public can visit any Dakota County district courthouse to search for or request copies of criminal case records, or they may access online case search portals provided by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
One way to obtain Dakota County court records online for free is via the State Judicial Branch's Minnesota Court Records Online system. The system provides both public case information and uncertified copies of documents generated from a court case.
Additionally, individuals can get Dakota County court records online from third-party aggregator databases. Like the state judiciary's database, a third-party website is typically searchable with specific criteria, often a party's name. However, a user may need to pay or subscribe to receive a comprehensive report for their query.
Courts in Dakota County, Minnesota
Minnesota's Dakota County has one district court, which hears legal matters at three physical locations. Below are the court's addresses:
Dakota County Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: (651) 377-7180
Dakota County Western Service Center
14955 Galaxie Avenue West
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: (952) 247-7099
Fax: (952) 891-2820
Dakota County Northern Service Center
1 West Mendota Road
Suite 140
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Phone: (651) 377-7190
Fax: (651) 455-1993
