Ramsey County Court Records
Court records are official documents of all legal proceedings held within Ramsey County’s court system. Court records serve as pillars of transparency and accountability in any judicial system. They can be used to track the progress and status of an ongoing or concluded court case. Academics and legal professionals use these records to study legal trends and gather precedents for current cases. Individuals can also use them to research their own case history and that of others.
In Ramsey County, detailed records of actions from court proceedings are documented in accordance with the Minnesota Court Rules. The Clerk of Ramsey County District Court maintains these records and makes them accessible both online and in person.
Are Court Records Public in Ramsey County?
Yes. According to the Minnesota Rules of Public Access and Data Practices Act, all court records are considered public and are available for review and duplication unless a court rule, law, or court order specifies otherwise. Examples of records exempted from public access include domestic abuse and harassment records, court services records, juvenile appeal cases, and medical records. Other exemptions include sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial data.
What Do Ramsey County Court Records Contain?
Court records provide a comprehensive overview of court proceedings and decisions. Here is an overview of the information available to anyone seeking court records in Ramsey County:
- Case information (case number, title, type, status, date filed, and citation number)
- Party information (names of plaintiff, defendant, and attorney)
- Charges (level of charge, offense date, community of offense, law enforcement agency, prosecuting agency, disposition, disposition date, and level of sentence)
- Case Events (complaints, pleadings, motions, orders, notices, and judgments)
- Dispositions
- Financial information
Where to Conduct a Ramsey County Case Lookup
Court records are generated when a court proceeding takes place. They are usually maintained by the court administrator of the courthouse where the case was heard. Individuals can conduct a search for court cases in Ramsey County at:
How to Conduct a Ramsey County Case Records Search
The Ramsey County District Court is a unified trial court that hears all civil and criminal cases. Individuals wishing to access records of proceedings held at the District Court can visit the courthouse in person. The District Court provides electronic access to court records through public access terminals and also makes locally stored records available in paper form.
Record seekers who prefer remote online access can use the Minnesota Court Records Online Portal (MCRO) to conduct the search. On the portal, users can search for records by entering details like names of case parties, case numbers, or attorney names. The search will return case summaries and court documents similar to the query.
Individuals can also request copies of court records by mail or phone. Call (651) 266-8237 for phone requests and follow the voice prompts. Mail-in requests should be addressed to:
District Court Records Center
Saint Paul City Hall – Ramsey County Courthouse
15 W. Kellogg Blvd Room 72
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Copies of court records come with a cost outlined on the Court Fees page. Acceptable forms of payment are:
- By mail: Check or money order
- By phone: Credit/debit cards
- In-person: Cash, check, money order, credit/debit cards
Ramsey County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court records are official documents of legal proceedings related to non-criminal cases, such as disputes between individuals, organizations, or entities. The Civil Division of the District Court handles all civil cases in Ramsey County. The Civil Division is subdivided into:
- Conciliation Court (Small Claims Court): Hears legal matters where the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000.
- Housing Court: Handles cases related to rental properties, such as disagreements over rent, eviction cases, and violations of housing codes.
- Probate Court: Handles legal matters related to the disposition of properties of deceased individuals and setting up guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults.
- Civil Commitment Court: Has the obligation to commit individuals with mental illnesses or chemical dependencies to treatment centers.
Individuals can visit the District Court in person to retrieve copies of civil court cases or call the Civil Records Center at (651) 266-8253. Requests for copies can also be made by mail or e-mail. Note that copy fees apply.
Alternatively, inquirers can search for civil case records online via the Access Case Records portal of the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. On the portal, requesters can select one of two options: “Minnesota District Court Case Search” or “Access Court of Appeals or Supreme Court Case Records”. These options enable users to view records of civil cases filed at the District Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court.
Ramsey County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court records are official documents that contain detailed information on events and actions taken in criminal proceedings. The Criminal Division of Ramsey County District Court handles all criminal matters in the county, such as rape, murder, theft, misdemeanors and aggravated assault.
To obtain records of criminal cases in Ramsey County, inquirers can use the Access Case Records Search platform or public access terminals at the District Court. The public terminals provide more comprehensive records than the online platform. Only public non-confidential and post-disposition records can be viewed online. For further inquiries on obtaining copies of criminal court records, call the Records Office at (651) 266-8237. For inquiries related to case information, call the Criminal & Traffic Office at (651) 266-1999.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Minnesota Court Rules (Rule 8(5)) permits members of the public to electronically search, inspect, or copy information in a court record. Ramsey County court records are available online for free through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. To use this service, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch website and click "Access Case Records" in the top right corner, then select MCRO. On the portal, users can choose from four different search options:
- Case Search enables users to search for court cases using the names of case parties and attorneys, case number, citation number, or attorney bar number.
- Document Search allows users to search by case number to find public documents in court cases.
- Hearing Search provides information on hearings scheduled in a court case.
- Judgment Search enables users to find judgment details, including any settled money judgments, by searching the debtor's name.
Alternatively, inquirers can access court records for free through public access terminals at the courthouse.
Courts in Ramsey County
The addresses and contact information for courts in Ramsey County are:
Ramsey County District Court
15 W Kellogg Blvd
St Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 266-8500
Ramsey County Suburban Court (Maplewood Court)
2050 White Bear Ave
Maplewood, MN 55109
Phone: (651) 266-1999
Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center
25 W 7th St.
St Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 266-5115
Civil Commitment Court
402 University Ave E, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55130
Phone: (651) 266-2804
