Dakota County District Court Case Search

District courts are the highest trial courts in Dakota and other parts of Minnesota. Dakota County District Court case records are documents and information on various stages of civil and criminal trials within Dakota County. The Dakota County Clerk's Office maintains these records and makes them accessible to eligible persons for legal research, background checks, appeals, case tracking, and other reasons.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Dakota District Court?

The Dakota District Court is part of Minnesota's unified trial court system. As the main trial court, the Dakota County District Court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The Dakota District Court’s case trial jurisdiction encompasses:

• Felonies
• Gross misdemeanors
• Misdemeanors
• General civil litigations
• Small claims (where the amount in dispute is $15.00 or less)
• Family law cases (such as divorce, domestic violence, and custody)
• Probate matters
• Juvenile cases
• Mental health cases.

In Dakota County, the District Court has various specialized divisions that handle specific case types; these divisions include:

• Criminal and Traffic
• Civil and Conciliation
• Family
• Juvenile
• Guardianship and conservatorship
• Probate and Mental Health
• Treatment Courts.

Dakota County District Court

The Dakota County District Court is part of Minnesota’s First Judicial District and has authority over all civil and criminal cases. For dispensation of justice, the Dakota County District Court operates multiple divisions, such as Civil and Conciliation, Criminal and Traffic, Probate, Family law, Juvenile, and Treatment Courts.

As the main trial court in Dakota County, the District Court plays a crucial role in resolving legal disputes for residents. It also provides a platform for fair and impartial adjudication of legal matters.

The Dakota County District Court in Minnesota operates across three main locations. Interested members of the public can contact the Dakota County District Courts at:

Dakota County Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55,
Hastings,
MN 55033
Phone: (651) 377-7180

Dakota County Western Service Center
14955 Galaxie Ave. West
Apple Valley
MN 55124
Phone: (952) 247-7099
Fax: (952) 891-2820

Dakota County Northern Service Center
1 West Mendota Rd.,
Suite 140
West St. Paul
MN 55118
Phone: (651) 377-7190
Fax: (651) 455-1993

Dakota County Case Lookup

Dakota County case lookup comprises trial documents and information from the Dakota County District Court. Interested individuals can access Dakota County court case records through online and offline repositories.

Online Requests

For online access to Dakota County District Court public records, requesters should log into the Minnesota Court Records Online Case Search Portal and enter the necessary information into the search tools to look for specific case records.

Mail Requests

Download a Minnesota Judicial Branch Copy Request Form

• Complete the request form with the necessary information
• Enclose a self-addressed envelope, a check/money order for applicable payment, and mail the request to the Dakota County Court Administrator at:

Dakota County Judicial Center

1560 Highway 55,
Hastings,
MN 55033.
Alternatively, individuals can email the request to:
dakota@courts.state.mn.us.

Walk-in Requests

For certified copies of Dakota County case records, visit the court administrator with a valid government-issued photo ID between 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (excluding holidays) at:

Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55
Hastings
MN 55033
Phone: (651) 377-7180
Email: dakota@courts.state.mn.us

Dakota County District Court case records are also accessible through the public access terminals at the various court locations.

In-person requests may be accessible immediately. However, requests involving multiple files and off-site storage may require additional processing time. The payment options for copies of court records include cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards. Requesters should note that additional processing fees may apply for credit/debit card payments.

The following costs apply to copies of Dakota County case records:

• Uncertified copies - no charges
• Certified copies - $14.00 per document
• Exemplified copies - $14.00 per document
• Exemplified/Certified copies - $28.00 per document
• Exemplified/Uncertified copy - $14.00
• Scanning fee - $25.00 for each 50 pages.

Dakota District Court Case Search by Name

Information seekers can perform a name-based search for Dakota County District Court records through the Minnesota Court Records Online Case Search Portal. Requesters can enter the party's first and last name into the search tools to access Dakota County case records.

Inquirers can also make name-based searches for court case records through mail, email, or in-person requests to the Clerk's Office at the Dakota County Judicial Center. However, to avoid errors and inaccuracies in results, verify spellings, use filters, and additional identifying information to narrow search results.

Dakota District Court Docket Search

Dakota County District Court dockets are official records of legal proceedings, filings, and rulings in a court case. These records provide valuable insights into court case records. Also, court dockets allow users to track case status and progress. Typically, court dockets contain but are not limited to the following information:

• Case information
• Filing history
• Hearing and trial dates
• Court decisions
• Case status.

For Dakota County District Court dockets, record seekers should log into the MCRO Case Search Portal and use the online search tools to look for Dakota County court case dockets. Alternatively, contact the Dakota County Court Clerk's Office at the Judicial Center. Interested individuals can also use the public access terminals at the various Dakota County District Court locations to search for case dockets.

Lookup Dakota County District Court Online

Dakota County District Court records are accessible online through the MCRO Case Search Portal and the Dakota County Court Clerk's Office. Alternatively, third-party websites like Minnesotacourtrecords.us may offer convenient access to Dakota County public case records. These private online platforms provide round-the-clock access to Dakota County Court records through advanced search tools. Also, they may save time by gathering information from various government sources and making them available to interested persons. However, irrespective of using private online platforms, users should be cautious of errors and inaccurate data when sourcing official documents from non-government repositories.

Supreme Court vs. District Court

Minnesota Supreme Court

The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Minnesota, and its decisions are binding on all lower courts (for instance, the Dakota County District Court). The Minnesota Supreme Court does not conduct trials; it reviews appeals from lower courts, sets legal precedents for future trials, and issues final verdicts on legal matters unless they relate to the federal constitution.

Dakota County District Court

The Dakota County District Court is a trial court whose authority is limited to Dakota County. It has general jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate cases. Dakota County District Court cases can be appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.