Brown County Court Records

Brown County court records are the official documentation of legal proceedings held within the county's judicial system. Researchers, attorneys, and the general public often use these records to track a case's progress, verify legal outcomes, or obtain background information. Court records typically detail the following:

• Case number, title, and type
• Case location, status, and filing date
• Party information (including plaintiff and defendant information)
• Case events
• Hearings
• Financial information
• Dispositions
• Evidence

Are Court Records Public in Brown County?

Yes. Court records are part of the Brown County public records and are, thus, generally accessible to the public. Access to these records is regulated by Minnesota's Rules of Public Access to Judicial Branch Records, which outline statewide guidelines for transparency. While most court records are available for public inspection and copying, specific categories are exempt, including:

• Domestic abuse and harassment records
• Race/ethnicity records
• Medical records
• Judicial work products
• Juvenile appeal case records
• Administrative warrants (prior to execution)
• Court services records

It is necessary to note that these rules do not extend to the Tax Court, the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, the Office of Administrative Hearings, or the State Guardian ad Litem Board.

Brown County Court Records Search

Brown County residents may access court records through the following means:

• Making a request at the courthouse in person
• Searching public access terminals at the courthouse or searching the court's online portal
• Utilizing online third-party resources

Brown County Courts

Brown County is part of the Fifth Judicial District of the Minnesota State Court System. All court matters in the county are handled by the Brown County District Court, a trial court of general jurisdiction. Below is the contact information for the court:

Brown County Courthouse
14 South State Street
New Ulm, MN 56073-0248
Phone: (507) 441-7020
Fax: (507) 359-9562

Brown County Criminal and Civil Records

Brown County criminal records provide information about a person's involvement with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. By accessing Brown County arrest records (primarily maintained by law enforcement), individuals can get fundamental details about an individual's criminal history. Meanwhile, the Brown County criminal court records are valuable for discovering criminal case events and outcomes.

Conversely, civil records cover non-criminal legal matters between private parties, such as contract disputes, property conflicts, harassment cases, and personal injury claims.

Individuals can obtain access to a criminal or civil court record at the Brown County District Courthouse. Requesters can inspect records using the public access terminal located at the courthouse or request copies from court staff. The fee for obtaining a paper copy of a court record is $5, while a certified copy costs $14.

Court records can also be searched online via the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. Users may search by person or business name, case number, attorney number, or citation number.

Brown County Marriage Records

Marriage records contain facts about a marriage, such as the parties involved and the date of the union. These records are part of Brown County vital records, which are maintained and issued by the County Recorder's Office.

To request a Brown County marriage certificate, an individual may fill out the Marriage Certificate Request Form and submit it to the Recorder's office in person or by mail. The fee for a certificate is $9.

Some Brown County marriage records may also be accessible online through the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) website. The database allows searches using either spouse's full name.

Brown County Divorce Records

The Brown County District Court maintains divorce records as part of its family court jurisdiction. Like most court documents, these records are considered public information unless restricted explicitly by court order or state law. Individuals seeking divorce records may visit the courthouse to view corresponding cases on public access terminals or request copies from court staff. Additionally, non-confidential divorce records can be accessed online through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal.

Brown County Birth Records

The Brown County Recorder oversees the filing and issuance of Brown County birth records. In Minnesota, birth records are not public until 100 years have elapsed post-birth (Minn. Stat. § 144.225). To access a birth record before it becomes a public record, the individual must be:

• The registrant, if 16 years of age and above, or a homeless youth
• The registrant's parent or legal guardian
• A legal representative
• A person with a tangible interest, as determined by the court

A Brown County birth certificate can be obtained by submitting a Birth Certificate Application to the local Recorder's Office in person or by mail. The certificate costs $26 for an initial copy and $19 for additional copies requested at the same time.

Brown County Death Records

Death records are essential for managing post-death legal affairs, verifying deaths for government or financial purposes, and maintaining accurate public health and population statistics. Individuals seeking death records in Brown County may submit a completed Death Record Application to the County Recorder in person or by mail. A death certificate costs $13 for the first copy and $6 for each other copy requested simultaneously.

Brown County Probate Court Records

Brown County probate records document estate proceedings and guardianship/conservatorship cases handled by the court. These public records are available for review at the county courthouse, where individuals may access them through public terminals or request copies from court staff. Many probate records can also be found on the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal.

Brown County Property Records

Brown County property records document ownership, valuation, and tax-related information for real estate located within the county. Persons interested in viewing or obtaining a property record may visit the Recorder or Assessor's Office, depending on the sought record. The Recorder's office maintains deeds and other records mentioned in the Recording Checklist, while the Assessor maintains property valuation and tax records.

Both offices also provide online portals that the public can use to access property records:

• The Recorder's Land Records portal
• The Assessor's Property Search portal

Brown County Court Records Online

Members of the public can generally find and access Brown County court records online through third-party sources like Minnesotacourtrecords.us. Opting for online third-party sources when searching for court records may eliminate the need to visit the court to submit requests. These sites allow users to search for records by name or case number. Depending on the site, users may be able to view basic record details for free or may be required to pay a fee for full access. It is crucial for users to review a platform's terms before use.

While third-party resources offer convenience, they may not always provide complete or up-to-date information. As such, users should verify their findings with official sources when accuracy is essential.