What are St. Louis County Public Records?
Under the Minnesota Data Practices Act, St. Louis County public records are defined as all physical or digital data created and utilized by public entities, such as local and state government agencies. Public records in St. Louis County may exist as books, maps, papers, tapes, recordings, or any other documentary material in physical or digital formats. However, not all St. Louis County’s public records are open to the public. The Data Practices Act restricts access to confidential documents. The following public records are exempt from public disclosure:
- Information on domestic abuse records
- An educational record containing prekindergarten to grade 12 information
- Federal contracts data
- Personal information that may violate the privacy of a record subject
- Information on a prospective law enforcement proceeding
- Records on an individual’s medical records
- Reveals information on a confidential source
St. Louis County Criminal Statistics
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety publishes annual crime statistics for all Minnesota counties. Its latest report indicates that St. Louis County recorded three murders, 93 rapes, 81 robberies, and 291 aggravated assaults in 2018. Reported incidences of property crimes include 881 burglaries, 4,467 larceny-thefts, 371 motor vehicle thefts, and 26 arsons. Compared to the 2014 crime data, the murder rate dropped by 50% in St. Louis County in 2018. The five-year crime trend for the county also shows declining robbery (13.8%), aggravated assault (6.7%), burglary (12.5%), and larceny-thefts (5.1%) rates. On the other hand, the rape rate went up by 29.2% in the same period. Similarly, motor vehicle theft and arson rates increased by 31.6% and 36.8%, respectively.
Are St. Louis County Criminal Records Public?
Per the state’s Data Practices Act, most St. Louis County criminal records are open to the public. However, criminal records containing juvenile offenses and other confidential data are exempt from public members. The BCA provides criminal history records for St. Louis County and the rest of the state. It allows citizens to request their criminal records as well as the records of other individuals. Individuals requesting their records must submit written requests containing the following information: full name with correct spelling, date of birth, and any other names used, including maiden and former married names. Requesters must date, sign, and notarize the signature on the request before sending it to:
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106
Each criminal history report costs $8. Interested parties must enclose a money order or personal, business, certified, or cashier’s check for this amount. Send the mail request in a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The BCA also accepts in-person requests for criminal history reports. Visit the agency at the address provided above anytime from Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Record seekers must bring along a valid government-issued photo ID along with the required fee. Citizens looking for public criminal history records on other individuals may also visit this office to request them. Alternatively, they may search the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search website.
Individuals requesting their criminal records will receive both publicly-available and private criminal history data. It is also possible to obtain a complete (public and private data) criminal history report on another person as long as they sign and notarize an informed consent form.
Send this form along with a written request, self-addressed stamped envelope, money order or personal, business, certified, or cashier’s check for $15 made payable to BCA to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension address provided above. Citizens can also bring these documents and fees to the BCA office to submit their requests in person.
How to Obtain St. Louis County Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Records Division of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office maintains and preserves all police reports and arrest records generated within the county. Persons interested in obtaining these records can contact the County Sheriff’s Records Division at any of these locations.
Central Records Division
Public Safety Building
2030 North Arlington Avenue.
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 336-4360
Hibbing Court House
1810 12th Avenue East
Hibbing, MN 55746
Virginia Court House
300 South 5th Avenue
Virginia, MN 55792
As an alternative option, interested persons can also get St. Louis County police reports and arrest records through the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search. Search for arrest records and police reports using the offenders’ full names and birth dates.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in St. Louis County
The Minnesota Department of Corrections maintains a central database of all offenders in the state, including sex offenders and predatory offenders. To search for registered sex offenders living in St. Louis County, interested persons must visit the Public Registrant Search Criteria webpage on the Department’s website and select the county search method. Select “St. Louis County” on the list of Minnesota counties to see a current list of registered sex offenders living in the county.
How to Find St. Louis County Inmate Information
The St. Louis County Sheriff and Jail Administrator oversee the operations of the detention facility. Check the facility’s Jail Roster for details of individuals who are currently held in jail. Inmates’ details, such as the full name, birth date, age, booking date, inmate number, and projected release date, are accessible on the jail roster.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in St. Louis County Jail
The St. Louis County jail is the main detention facility in the county. It is located at:
4334 Haines Road
Duluth, MN 55811
Court Records
Part of the Minnesota Sixth Judicial District, the St. Louis court system comprises three district courts occupying different cities in the county. These courts handle cases, such as civil, criminal, family, small claims, probate, and traffic cases. Furthermore, Clerks of these District courts are responsible for generating court records during judicial proceedings. Court records in St. Louis County comprise affidavits, party pleadings, motions, and appeals filed. The location and contact details of St. Louis County District Courts are listed below.
St. Louis County District Court - Duluth
Duluth Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2460
Phone: (800) 450-9777 ext. 2460
St. Louis County District Court - Hibbing
Hibbing Courthouse
1810 East 12th Avenue
Hibbing, MN 55746
Phone: (218) 262-0105
Phone: (800) 450-9777 ext. 8105
St. Louis County District Court - Virginia
Virginia Courthouse
300 5th Avenue South
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-7106
Phone: (800) 450-9777 ext. 7106
Are St. Louis County Court Records Public?
Per the Minnesota Data Practices Act, St. Louis County court records are accessible to the public. Generally, this means any interested public member can access components of court documents, such as decisions and orders of the court, trial transcripts, docket information, any form of court-related documents.
However, not all court records in St. Louis County are open to the public. Confidential court records, such as child adoption cases and juvenile court records, are closed to the public.
The Copy Center of the Sixth District provides copies of the records of these courts. To request copies of District Court records, complete a Copies Request Form for Agencies or a Copy Request Form. The Copy Center charges $8 per document for plain copies and $14 per document for certified copies.
Send request for St. Louis County criminal records via email or mail requests. For the email option, send the completed request form to 6thcentralcopy@courts.state.mn.us. The Sixth District’s Copy Center will only send copies of the requested records to the email address provided after the service fee’s payment. Only plain and non-confidential documents are sent through email. Interested persons can also send the completed request form via mail to the address below.
Lake County Court Administration
Attn: 6th District Copy Center
6013th Avenue
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Can You Look Up a St. Louis County Court Record Online?
The Minnesota Judicial Branch, via the Minnesota Public Access (MPA), offers online access to copies of St. Louis County court records. Through the online searchable platform, record seekers can access court records, such as criminal, civil, probate, family, small claims, and traffic court cases. Search for the preferred court records type using the case number, case status, and the case filing date.
How to Obtain St. Louis County Civil Court Case Records
The Sixth Judicial Copy Center in Lake County generates and preserves all St. Louis County civil case records. The Copy Center generates civil court records for St. Louis County and other counties in the sixth district. To request copies of civil court records, interested persons must complete a Copies Request Form for Agencies or a Copy Request Form. The Copy Center charges $8 per document for plain copies and $14 per document for certified copies of St. Louis civil court case records.
St. Louis County civil court case records are obtainable via mail or email requests. For the email option, send the completed request form to 6thcentralcopy@courts.state.mn.us. The Sixth District’s Copy Center will only send copies of the requested records to the email address provided after the service fee’s payment. Only plain and non-confidential documents are sent through email.
Interested persons can also send the completed request form via mail to the address below.
Lake County Court Administration
Attn: 6th District Copy Center
6013th Avenue
Two Harbors, MN 55616
On the other hand, the Minnesota Judicial Branch provides online access to civil court records in St. Louis County. Search for St. Louis County civil court records using the case number, case status, and the case filing date.
How to Obtain St. Louis County Criminal Court Case Records
The Sixth District Copy Center handles records of all criminal court cases in St. Louis County. Interested persons can obtain copies of St. Louis County civil court through email or mail requests. On the other hand, record seekers can access St. Louis County criminal court case records online through the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Search for St. Louis County criminal court records on the online platform using the case number, case status, and the case filing date.
Irrespective of the type of request, interested agencies and persons must complete a Copies Request Form for Agencies or a Copy Request Form, respectively. The Copy Center charges $8 per document for plain copies and $14 per document for certified copies.
Requests for copies can be sent by email or mail. Send the completed request form to 6thcentralcopy@courts.state.mn.us. The Sixth District’s Copy Center will only send copies of the requested records to the email address provided after the service fee’s payment. Only plain and non-confidential documents are sent through email. Interested persons can also send the completed request form via mail to the address below.
Lake County Court Administration
Attn: 6th District Copy Center
6013th Avenue
Two Harbors, MN 55616
What are St. Louis County Vital Records?
St. Louis County vital records comprise information on all recorded life events within the county. Vital records include the following life events - birth, marriage, death, and divorce. Since vital records are under St. Louis County public records, any interested person can request these records from custodial agencies.
However, not all vital records are open to the public. As a result, agencies provide these records only to owners of the files and those that meet the requirements. Consequently, interested parties must apply to the approved caretakers before they can obtain the records.
The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office is the custodian of vital records at the county level. Furthermore, it provides access to the documents through mail, fax, and in-person requests. At the state level, the Minnesota Department of Health, via the Vital Records Office, keeps records of all life events.
Where and How to Obtain St. Louis County Divorce Records
St. Louis County divorce records are open records and under the St. Louis County District Court’s purview. To access divorce records, contact the St. Louis County District Court’s Office at:
Virginia Courthouse
300 5th Avenue South
Virginia, MN 55792-2666
Phone: (218) 749-7106
Phone: (800) 450-9777 Ext 7106
Where and How to Get Public St. Louis County Marriage Records
St. Louis County marriage records are public records. Interested persons may access copies of marriage records from the St. Louis County Recorder’s Office. To obtain marriage records from the Recorder’s Office, download and print out the request form, or write a request detailing the record bearers’ names, the marriage date, place and county where the marriage occurred, and the purpose of the request. Email the request form alongside the payment confirmation form to birthdeathmarriage@stlouiscountymn.gov or fax to (218) 725-5052.
Visit the official payment website to pay for St. Louis County marriage records. Payment is solely through credit cards. On the official payment website, use the marriage date as the document number to get a faster response from the County Recorder’s Office.
The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office also allows in-person and mail requests. Send the completed request form to the Recorder’s Office at:
St. Louis County Recorder
P.O. Box 157
Duluth, MN 55801-0157
Similarly, interested persons can access online copies of marriage records from the Minnesota Official Marriage System. Select the county where the marriage event occurred and input the record bearer’s name and the event’s date range.
Where and How to Get Confidential St. Louis County Marriage Records
All marriage records in St. Louis County are public records.
Where and How to Find St. Louis County Birth Records
The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office maintains records of all birth events within the county. Birth records in St. Louis County are not public records.
Only the following applicants can access birth records: the record subject, immediate family member (children, grandchildren, parents, legal guardians, record subject’s health care agent, adoption agencies, government entities, legal representatives, and applicants with a court order for the release of the birth record.
In St. Louis County, birth records are accessible to requesters through mail, fax, emails, and in-person requests. To obtain birth records in-person, print out and complete the request form and visit any of the locations below:
St. Louis County Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 5580
Phone: (218) 726-2000
Phone: (800) 450-9777
St. Louis County District Court - Duluth
Duluth Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2460
Phone: (800) 450-9777 ext. 2460
Government Service Center
Vital Records Division
201 South Third Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-0673
Access St. Louis County via mail requests by filling out the birth request form. Send the completed form alongside the specified fee to the:
St. Louis County Recorder’s Office
Attention: Vital Records Division
P.O. Box 157
Duluth, MN 55801-0157
The processing time for mail requests takes between one to two weeks. A certified birth record costs $26, while a non-certified birth record costs $13 for the first copy. In addition to this, each additional copy of certified and non-certified birth records costs $19 and $6, respectively. Email the request form alongside the payment confirmation form to birthdeathmarriage@stlouiscountymn.gov or fax to (218) 725-5052.
Visit the official payment website to pay for St. Louis County marriage records. Payment is solely through credit cards. On the official payment website, use the marriage date as the document number to get a faster response.
Similarly, the Minnesota Department provides access to copies of St. Louis County birth records through mail and email requests. To access birth records, applicants must complete the birth record request form and send it to the Office of Vital Records at:
Minnesota Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 64499
St. Paul, MN 55164-0499
Where and How to Get St. Louis County Death Records
The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office maintains records of all death events in the county. Death records in St. Louis County are not public records.
Only the eligible applicants can obtain these records through mail, fax, email, and in-person requests.
- The deceased’s immediate family members (children, grandchildren, grandparents, spouse, siblings, parents, and legal guardians)
- Legal representatives
- Beneficiaries of the deceased’s insurance policy or will
Access St. Louis County death records via mail requests by filling out the death request form. Send the completed form alongside the specified fee to the:
St. Louis County Recorder’s Office
Attention: Vital Records Division
P.O. Box 157
Duluth, MN 55801-0157
To obtain death records in-person, requesters must print out and complete the request form and visit any of the locations below:
St. Louis County Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2000
Phone: (800) 450-9777
St. Louis County District Court - Duluth
Duluth Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2460
Phone: (800) 450-9777 ext. 2460
Government Service Center
Vital Records Division
201 South Third Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-0673
Certified or non-certified death records cost $13 for the first copy, while additional copies cost $6. Conversely, copies of St. Louis County death records are available at the MDH’s Vital Records Office. To obtain certified or non-certified copies of St. Louis County death records, applicants must complete the death record application form and send it to the Office of Vital Records at:
Minnesota Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 64499
St. Paul, MN 55164-0499
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in St. Louis County?
According to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, property records are open to interested members of the public in St. Louis County. The Data Practices Act grants members of the public access to inspect or obtain copies of St. Louis County property records upon request. To obtain the records, interested persons are required to contact the custodian's office.
Where and How to Find Property Records in St. Louis County
The St. Louis County Recorder's Office maintains and issues copies of property records in the county. Examples of recorded documents available at the Recorder's Office include mortgage, deeds, federal tax liens, and more. Interested members of the public can obtain St. Louis County property record by contacting the office locations:
Public Records - Virginia
Government Service Center
Vital Records Division
201 South Third Ave. W
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-0673
By Appointment: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding major holidays).
Physical Address:
Public Records -Duluth
Duluth Courthouse
Recorder and Registrar of Titles
100 North 5th Ave. W.
Room 101
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2677
By Appointment: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding major holidays).
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 157
Duluth, MN 55801-0157
How to Look Up St. Louis County Property Records
The St. Louis County Assessor’s Office maintains an online property information page through the different tools available: County Land Explorer, Property Details Search, and Assessment Maps. The County Land Explorer allows interested persons to access information on properties within the county by searching using the property address or tax PIN.
Interested persons may also access property information by using the Property Details Search option. The property search data is updated daily and can be searched using any of the criteria: parcel ID, plat, address, and sales search. On the other hand, the Assessment Maps provides access to changes in Assessment Maps.
Location of St. Louis County Property Assessors
Assessor's Office - Duluth Courthouse
100 North 5th Avenue W
Room 212
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2304
Assessor's Office -Duluth AP Cook
2503 Rice Lake Road.
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 726-2304
Assessor's Office -Ely
SLC Service Center
320 Miners Dr. E.
Room 105
Ely, MN 55731-1061
Phone: (218) 365-8206
Hibbing Assessor's Office
401 East 21st Street.
Hibbing, MN 55746
Phone: (218) 262-6089
St. Louis County Public Works & Government Services Center – Cook
9558 Ashawa Road
Cook, MN 55723
Phone: (218) 471-7220
Virginia Assessor's Office
Government Services Center
201 South 3rd Avenue West
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-7147
