Clay County Court Records

Clay County court records are official documents created, submitted, filed, and maintained concerning cases heard in the county courthouse. Court records typically include claims, affidavits, judgments, case files, transcripts, judgments, evidence, summons, and witness statements. The custodian of these records is the Clerk's Office in the court that handled the case. Access to Minnesota court records ensures accountability, transparency, and citizens' trust in the justice system.

Are Court Records Public in Clay County?

Yes. Per the Minnesota Rules of Public Access, court records and documents created by court administrators are public records. Therefore, anyone may inspect or copy them unless otherwise legally restricted. Due to concerns about privacy and safety, public access to some records may be limited. Individuals or agencies who require access to these restricted records may need to obtain a court order and present it to the record custodians.

Examples of these records include the following:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Some name change records
• Domestic abuse and harassment records
• Paternity records (cases filed before 2021)
• Counseling records by court services
• Race census records.

Clay County Court Records Search

Clay County court record search is available through the following means:

• In-person visits to the record custodians' office
• Contacting the record custodian (phone, email, and mail)
• Searching the court's online database
• Looking up third-party databases.

Clay County Courts

The District Court is the court of general jurisdiction in Clay County. This court is part of the Seventh Judicial District of the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

Clay County District Court
807 11th Street North
Moorhead, MN 56560
Phone: (218) 227-7040
Fax: (218) 233-3119

Clay County Criminal Records

Criminal records detail a person's criminal history from charge to conviction. They typically contain information on all arrests and convictions and are submitted by law enforcement agencies within the county. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the repository for all misdemeanor and felony criminal records in Minnesota. Depending on who requires access to the record, criminal records can be obtained from the BCA by mail, online, and in person.

To obtain their criminal history information, record subjects can mail a signed, dated, and notarized written record request, including their full name and date of birth, to the BCA or visit their office. Individuals may be required to present an acceptable form of government-issued photo identification or even their fingerprint to verify their identity before access is granted to the record. An $8 fee is required for a printed copy of the record, but viewing personal records is free at the BCA.

Individuals can also search online criminal history using the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search tool. To complete a search, the arrestee's full name and date of birth are needed. To obtain criminal history information on another person, a notarized Informed Consent Form signed by the record owner needs to be submitted by the requester to the BCA. A $15 search fee applies for third-party requests. For additional inquiries, contact the BCA at:

Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106
Phone: (651) 793-2400

Get Clay County Civil Court Records

Civil court records are filed for non-criminal legal disputes, such as contract claims, personal injury claims, property disputes, probate cases, and family law matters. The Clay County District Court has jurisdiction over civil cases and is the custodian of civil court records. Interested individuals can obtain Clay County civil court records online using the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) tool to search by name or case number.

For more precise results, select "Civil" under the case category and search for Clay County under "County list". A written mail request containing details of the sought record and applicable fees can also be made to the courthouse or an in-person request can be made at the courthouse during working hours.

Clay County Marriage Records

The Clay County Recorder's Office is the custodian of marriage records that occurred in the county. Clay County marriage records can be obtained from them in person, by mail, or by phone. To request a certified or uncertified marriage record, individuals will be required to provide the subjects' names and the marriage date and pay the applicable fees. For mail requests, complete the marriage certificate request form and send it along with a check or money order for the $9.00 search fee. For additional information, contact the Recorder's Office at:

807 11th Street North
P.O. Box 280
Moorhead, MN 56560.
Phone: (218) 299-5031
Fx: (866) 908-2452.

Individuals can also conduct a statewide search for marriage certificates using the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS). Fees may apply.

Clay County Divorce Records

The Clay County Court Administrator's Office keeps records of all Clay County District Court records, including divorce records. Clay County divorce records can be obtained by contacting the administrator's office by phone, mail, or in person. For finalized divorce cases, the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) can be used to conduct an online case search. The search can be conducted by name or case number.

Clay County Birth and Death Records.

The Clay County Recorder's Office is the record custodian of birth and death records in Clay County. To request a birth record, fill out a birth certificate application form for certified copies or a non-certified birth record application for non-certified copies.

In addition to the completed application, requestors will be required to show a copy of a government-issued ID and pay the applicable fees. Each copy of a non-certified birth certificate is $13, and $26 for a certified copy of the same records. Persons eligible to request a birth record include the adult record owner, their parents, legal guardians, representatives of child support programs, and individuals granted access by a court order.

For a death record request, complete the death certificate application form and send it to the Recorder's Office by mail, fax, or in person. Individuals authorized to request death records include the deceased individual's child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, and siblings. It costs $13 for a death record, with $6 for any additional copy. For additional information, contact the Recorder's Office at:

807 11th Street North
P.O. Box 280
Moorhead, MN 56560.
Phone: (218) 299-5031
Fx: (866) 908-2452.

Clay County Probate Court Records

Clay County probate court records are official documents created and filed in probate cases such as estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Clay County District Court handles probate matters in the county, and the court administrator manages probate court records. To obtain a probate court record, visit the court administration office in person, send a mail request, or conduct an online search using the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) tool. When using the MCRO, individuals should specify the case type as 'Probate or Mental Health" under additional search options for more precise results.

Clay County Property Records

Clay County property records are documents relating to property ownership and transactions. They include property boundary information, ownership history, property values, and tax assessments; examples of property records include deeds, mortgages, property tax records, assessment records, zoning records, and plat maps. The custodian of property records is the Clay County Recorder's Office. Individuals can view property records in person at the County Recorder or online using the Property Information Search tool, which the office maintains. The search is completed using information like the Parcel ID or property address. For additional information, contact the Recorder's Office at:

807 11th Street North
P.O. Box 280
Moorhead, MN 56560.
Phone: (218) 299-5031
Fx: (866) 908-2452.

Clay County Court Records Online

Although run by non-government sources, third-party websites like minnesotacourtrecords.us are alternative sources of online court records. These websites offer a simple and user-friendly interface for individuals to retrieve court records of multiple counties and states at a time. Anyone may obtain a record from these websites using basic details about the case, such as the subjects' names, case numbers, or locations.

Note, however, that despite the convenience and accessibility of third-party databases, records obtained from these sources are limited in completeness and accuracy compared to official documents. This is because their records are not updated often. As such, files obtained from third-party sources may not be used for official purposes.