Winona County Court Records

Winona County court records are the legal files of the county’s District Court. These official documents of the court are introduced or prepared and filed during civil and criminal cases. The records are maintained by the Court Administrator whose office is located at the Winona County Courthouse. The Administrator then sends copies of these records to the state’s Judicial Branch where they are included with other Minnesota court records.

Are Court Records Public in Winona County?

Most criminal and civil court records in Winona County are publicly available except when sealed by court order or state/federal statutes. Juvenile records are confidential, by default, in Minnesota. Courts in the state will also block access to records containing sensitive information such as confidential business and financial details as well as the identities of minors and victims of abuse.

Winona County Court Records Search

You can search for Winona County court records on the Minnesota Judicial Branch Access Case Records. The Judicial Branch’s Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) provides access to most public court records in the state. Access to all public court records in the county is allowed from the computer terminals located at the Winona District Court. If you prefer to search paper records, you can also ask the Court Administrator to search for records of interest on your behalf, for a nominal fee.

Winona County Courts

The single court of trial in Winona County is:

Winona County District Court
171 West Third Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: (507) 615-5183
Fax: (507) 452-5979

Winona County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Winona County can either be court records documenting the criminal cases heard in the county’s District Court or law enforcement records detailing the criminal histories of individuals in the county. Criminal court records are kept by the Administrator of the Winona District Court and also available on the MCRO.

Winona County criminal histories are provided by local and state law enforcement agencies. The county’s Sheriff’s Office provides arrest reports upon request. To obtain a Winona County arrest record prepared by the Sheriff’s Office, you may call its Records Division at (507) 457-6368 or mail a written request for copies of arrest reports to:

201 West 3rd Street
Winona, MN 55987

For a complete criminal history, you should visit the headquarters of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) with a signed and notarized Informed Consent Form, a large manila envelope, and the $15 fee required for a background check paid with cash, personal check, money order, certified check, or business check. Alternatively, you can mail the completed Informed Consent Form, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a personal check, money order, certified check, or business check for $15, to:

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Justice Information Services - CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Ave E
St. Paul, MN 55106

A walk-in request for a criminal record takes 3 business days to complete while a mail request takes up to 2 weeks.

Get Winona County Civil Court Records

Winona County civil court records are official court documents filed during civil law cases heard in the county. The county’s District County Administrator creates or receives these documents whenever a case involving personal injury, rights violation, or contact dispute is brought before the court. To get Winona County civil court records, you may visit the District Courthouse and head to the Administrator’s Office. The Office is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. You can also access public civil court records for Winona County on the MCRO.

Winona County Marriage Records

Winona County marriage records are official certificates that serve as legal proof of licensed marital unions that took place in the county. These certificates, for marriages in the county from 1854 to date, are available from the Winona County Vital Records Department. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you should complete the Marriage Record Application and bring or mail it to:

Winona County Vital Records
202 W 3rd Street
Winona, MN 55987

If submitting a mail request, you should enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to Winona County Recorder. This official charges $9 for each certified copy of Winona marriage certificate issued.

Winona County Divorce Records

In Winona County, divorce records are divorce decrees issued by the county’s District Court when finalizing the dissolution of marriages. To get a copy of a Winona divorce decree, you should contact the Administrator of the District Court by calling (507) 615-5183 or visiting the county courthouse.

Winona Birth and Death Records

Winona County birth and death records are official certificates confirming birth and death events in the county. These records are issued by the Winona County Vital Records Department. This agency provides certificates for births and deaths that occurred in Winona County from 1870 till date. To get a copy of a Winona birth or death certificate, you can download and complete any of the follow forms, as applicable:

• Birth Certificate Application
• Non-certified Birth Record Application
• Death Certificate Application
• Non-certified Death Record Application

Winona charges $26 for a certified birth certificate and $19 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. A copy of a Winona County certified death certificate, non-certified death certificate, or non-certified birth certificate costs $13 with each additional copy ordered concurrently costing $6.

Winona County Probate Court Records

Winona County probate records are available at the Office of the Recorder of the county. Probate records are legal documents filed while settling the estates of deceased individuals. To find Winona probate documents, you can visit the Recorder at:

202 W Third Street
Winona, MN 55987

The Recorder’s business hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. You may visit to search for probate records during the research hours of 8:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. To inquire about the availability of specific records or schedule an appointment, call (507) 457-6340 or email the Recorder.

Winona County Property Records

The Recorder is also the official that maintains most of Winona County property records. These records include deeds, liens, mortgages, plat maps, and real estate tax records. The Recorder also provides online access to some of Winona County property records. The Winona County Assessor Department also maintains certain real estate records such as sales history, land/building sizes, and permits. You can access these property records by visiting the Assessor Office at 202 W Third Street in Winona, sending an email, or calling them at (507) 457-6300.

Winona County Court Records Online

Online access to Winona County court records is possible through the Minnesota Judicial Branch Access Case Records. Besides this official resource, you can also find case files for the county using third-party court record finders, like minnesotacourtrecords.us. These independent websites make finding the records you want easier by providing powerful search tools that query multiple judicial databases at once. However, their reach is limited to online public court records found on official court websites.