Washington County Court Records

Plaintiffs and prosecutors initiate civil and criminal proceedings by filing complaints with the appropriate division of the Washington County district court. During these cases, the courts collect evidence, motions, pleadings, and witness statements. They also issue warrants, orders, subpoenas, and judgments to enforce judicial actions and decisions. These information and documents are called Washington County court records.

Court records are an integral part of Minnesota court records, as they form the state's cache of case data history and preserve public access to the Minnesota judiciary. They also ensure judges and lawyers can refer to previous cases and decisions to uphold precedent and properly research cases.

The Washington County court administration is responsible for preserving and providing these records to members of the public.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes, court records are part of Washington County public records. Minn. Stat. § 13.90 establishes the Minnesota Supreme Court’s rulemaking authority over access to data generated by the state's judiciary. The court's Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch (Minn. R. Pub. Access 2) pronounces that court records are presumed open to the general public unless statutory or court rule exemptions exist.

The following records are not accessible to the public per the Supreme Court’s rules:

• Medical records
• Criminal expungement response petitions
• Administrative warrants
• Wills filed for safekeeping while the testator is alive
• Motion to quash or enforce subpoenas
• Information that identifies certain victims, such as minors
• Harassment and domestic abuse records
• Death certificates
• Passports and drivers' licenses
• Certain juvenile records
• Other records and information protected by state and federal law

Washington County Court Records Search

Members of the public can search for Washington court records, order copies, and certify court papers through the Washington County Court Administration office. The agency provides online, mail-in, and in-person options.

Further, third-party websites without government affiliation also help people source court records from official agencies.

Washington County Court Records Search by Name

Name searches are among the most common types of court records searches. Individuals can use various court-provided methods, such as online tools and courthouse terminals, to find court documents using the names of case parties and attorneys.

Washington County Courts

The Washington County district court divisions hear various civil, criminal, and family cases in the following location:

Washington County Courthouse
14949 62nd Street North
P.O. Box 3802
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 413-8030

Washington County Superior Court Case Search

The Minnesota court system does not have a superior court. Instead, district courts serve as the general jurisdiction courts for county-level trial cases. Individuals looking to obtain any Washington court record must go use resources for files generated in any of the county’s district court divisions.

Washington County District Court Records

The Washington County district court, like other district courts in the state, comprises the traffic, criminal, small claims (conciliation) and civil, probate/mental health, family, and juvenile divisions.

Minnesota's tenth judicial district administration is responsible for maintaining and providing access to court records generated and collected by these court divisions. It provides different options for finding and gathering case records, including visiting the courthouse, using the Minnesota Court Records Online case search system, and sending requests by mail and phone.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)

The MCRO is an online database where users can search for Washington court records by name (business, attorney, and case party), citation number, attorney bar number, case number, and filing date. The system provides the following search options to find specific records:

• Case Search: The Case search tab allows site visitors to view court case details such as case and party information, charges, case events, dispositions (court decisions), and financial information (fees and fines). Individuals can run their search by name or number (case, attorney, citation) and provide additional information like case status, date of birth,filing date, county, and case category.
• Hearing Search: Provides access to court hearing schedules. The search parameters are identical to the case search option.
• Document Search: This tab allows users to view publicly available case documents. They must search by entering a case number.
• Judgment Search: Shows judgment details and allows members of the public to search by debtor name with options for additional information like docketed date, judgment status, and court location.

Washington County Courthouse

The district court provides computer terminals at the courthouse to find and view various Washington County court records. The service is free and provides better access than the MCRO database. People can also view paper records at the courthouse if they wish or if the record does not exist electronically.

Copy requests

Another option involves ordering copies of court records. The court administration allows the public to submit requests in person, by mail and over the phone. While plain copies are free, ordering certified documents will cost intending requesters $14 per document. Mail-in and in-person requesters can fill out the Request for Court Document(s) form (PDF) and submit using the following details:

Court Administration Records Room
14949 62nd Street North
P.O. Box 3802
Stillwater, MN 55082-3802

People looking to request by phone can call (651) 413-8030 and select 6.

Washington County Criminal Records

Washington County criminal records include arrest, incident, and other related reports compiled by law enforcement agencies in the county. People can visit the Sheriff's Office's website to use the following online resources:

• Warrant Search: Allows members of the public to search active arrest warrants issued by the Washington County District Court and probation officers to the Sheriff's Office. Starting a search involves entering the subject's first or last name.
• Daily Jail Bookings: Daily reports about people confined in the county jail. It shows the names of detainees, their charges, age, arresting officer's name and number, arrest location, arrest date and times, release information, and date of birth.
• Inmate Roster: List of inmates currently in jail as at the time the roster was published. It only contains each inmate's jail ID, booking date, number of days in jail, estimated time of release, booking number.

The Sheriff's Office also allows individuals to contact its Records Unit by email (WCSO-RecordsReq@co.washington.mn.us) and phone at (651) 430-7600 to inquire about records and order copies of publicly available documents. Copies of documents and certain services come at a fee as specified in the Sheriff's records request webpage.

The public can also contact specific city police departments, such as the Woodbury PD, to obtain police reports containing Washington County arrest records and other crime-related information.

Additionally, landlords and certain employers are authorized to run background checks on individuals seeking employment or looking to rent properties. They can run these checks through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

People looking to search these criminal records must note that the Sheriff's Office, BCA, and City police departments will not release criminal reports and arrest information protected by law, especially records connected to ongoing investigations.

Washington County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Washington Criminal records are generated during criminal prosecutions filed by the county attorney's office in the district court's traffic and criminal divisions. The traffic division is responsible for cases that do not involve court appearances. Every case that requires the defendant to appear in court is handled by the criminal division.

People looking to obtain these case documents can open the MCRO system, select “Criminal” under case category, and run their search. They can also approach the Washington County Court Administration to view records in person or request copies.

Get Washington County Civil Court Records

Civil cases are adjudicated by the conciliation (small claims) and civil courts. They are legal proceedings where disputes between two or more parties are settled and legal actions are approved.

The conciliation court handles uncomplicated cases where the matter in contention is worth $20,000 or less.

The civil court division handles other proceedings, including collections, landlord and tenant matters, forfeitures, and personal injury cases among other civil actions.

People seeking Washington County civil case records can use the same methods explained earlier for district court cases.

Washington County Family Court Records

The Washington County district court's family division adjudicates domestic abuse, child custody and support, adoption, paternity, and marriage dissolutions (divorces) cases. Files created during these proceedings can be ordered through the Washington County Court Administration or viewed using the MCRO. However, interested parties must note that certain family law records, such as child adoption and support, are not open to the general public.

Washington Dissolution of Marriage Records

Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 518.002) defines dissolution of marriage cases as divorce proceedings. However, the state's statutes cover divorce, annulment, and legal separation under one chapter (Minn. Stat. § 518). Dissolution of marriage cases are heard and approved or rejected in the district court's family division. They produce documents such as divorce decrees, certificates of dissolution, and notices among others.

Members of the public can lookup these Washington County marriage records, including documents, through the MCRO's case and document search systems and in person using courthouse terminals. People who want to obtain certified records must submit requests by mail or in person to the court administration office.

Washington County Marriage and Divorce Records

The methods explained earlier for finding dissolution of marriage documents will help guide people seeking divorce records. The process for other records, such as a Washington County marriage certificate, are different. They are classed under vital records and can be obtained through the county’s Property Records and Taxpayer Services department.

Members of the public can view records in person at 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082. People looking to request certified copies can order at the same address and any of the county's license and service facilities.

Any individual requesting by mail must complete a Copy of Marriage Record form (PDF) enclose the fee as a check payment to Washington County, and mail to the following address:

Washington County Vital Records
14949 62nd Street N.
P.O. Box 6
Stillwater, MN 55082

Each Washington County marriage certificate (certified copy) costs $10.

Washington Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are also classed under Washington County vital records. They are important documents required for various legal purposes including the following:

• School enrollment
• Passport and driver's license application
• Social security
• Insurance claims
• Estate settlement and administration (death certificates)
• Identity verification (birth records)

Minnesota law limits (Minn. Stat. § 144.225) who can obtain Washington County birth records and death certificates to protect individuals from identity theft and fraud. Only the following entities can order these records:

• The person named on the record,
• The subject's spouse, relatives (children, parents, grandparents, and siblings), attorney and estate representative.
• The subject's legal custodian, conservator, and guardian
• The subject's successor (if they are deceased)
• Federal, state, and local government representatives
• People with valid court orders
• Individuals and organizations responsible for filing the record

Also, parties who can prove that they require the certificate for legitimate reasons and people with notarized authorization from other eligible entities can obtain birth and death records.

Qualified individuals must fill out the Washington County birth certificate (PDF) or death certificate (PDF) application, provide valid identification, and pay the required fee in cash or check (addressed to Washington County). They can submit their requests using the following addresses:

Government Center (Records from 1870)

14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-6000

Cottage Grove Service Center (Birth records from 1900 and death records from 1997)

13000 Ravine Parkway South
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Phone: (651) 430-6000

Headwaters Service Center ((Birth records from 1900 and death records from 1997)

19955 Forest Road North
Forest Lake, MN 55025
Phone: (651) 430-6000

Mailing address
Washington County
ATTN: Vital Records
14949 62nd Street North
P.O. Box 6
Stillwater, MN 55082-0006

A Washington County birth certificate costs $26 for the first copy and $19 per additional copy during the same purchase. Death certificates cost $13 for the first copy and $6 per subsequent copy during the same purchase.

Washington County Probate Court Records

Washington County's probate court division handles cases related to deceased people's property dispositions, and administration of trusts. It also presides over conservatorships and guardianships for minors and incapacitated or incompetent adults. Additionally, the court has a civil commitment/mental health section that deals with people's commitment to mental treatment facilities.

Individuals can view and order publicly available probate court documents and other records through the MCRO and the Washington County court administration. However, some sensitive mental health records will not be available to every member of the public.

Washington County Property Records

Property records are legal documents used to validate and verify real estate ownership details and transfer, transactions, and taxes. They also hold other information such as tax assessments, judgment liens, mortgages, legal disputes, and schematic details, including maps and boundaries.

The Property Records and Taxpayer Services administration is the custodian for tax, assessment, and land records. It offers the following online resources:

• Property Information Search: Allows individuals to review the county assessor's valuation of their properties. It helps them know how much tax they are expected to pay. They can search by parcel number, house number, street name, lot, block, section, township, and range. Apart from assessment details, it displays building permit, sale, and land information. Additionally, the system reveals the property's legal description and Map details.
• Tax Search: This portal helps members of the public understand how much they owe in tax bills. It also shows their payment histories, taxing districts, ownership details, and other property information such as status and address. Users must search using the property's parcel number or address.
• Property Records Search: Also known as RecordEASE, this database allows users to search and view property documents for a fee. These documents and data include plats, tax liens, Torrens Certificates of Title, tract cards, and 60-day charges. The fees are as follows:
  • $30 per user for the system's monthly subscription (individuals must sign an agreement)
  • $3.25 convenience fee per login session (only applicable to occasional users without subscriptions)
  • 50 cents per search
  • $1.5 to view each recorded document
  • $2.5 to view each Torrens Certificate of Title, tract page, or tract card
  • $5 to view each recorded plat

Individuals can also visit the following address to research documents and order copies:

Government Center,
First floor
14949 62 Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082

It is important to note that requesters must perform research themselves and provide the specific parcel details when requesting copies. Certified copies cost $10 per document, email copies cost $1.5 per document, and paper copies cost $1 per page.

Washington County Court Records Online

Some third-party vendors like Minnesotacourtrecords.us offer faster and more convenient ways to view and purchase Washington arrest records, court case information and documents, and vital records. These entities do not have running agreements to operate on behalf of government entities. They are private businesses that gather records from official sources and provide them to users through central databases.

Individuals can search records from multiple agencies by name from one search field instead of using various web tools. While these services may offer free searches, they typically charge per search and sell subscription plans.