Court records of Stearns County, Minnesota, are available through several channels. StearnsCourt.us allows for quick access to public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be searched through official state online systems, directly at the district court clerk's office, or at public terminals in the courthouse. Below is a practical guide to each of these resources.
Stearns Court System & Jurisdictions
In Minnesota, there are no separate magistrate or justice courts at the county level. All first-instance cases are heard by the Stearns County District Court, which is part of the state's Seventh Judicial District. This court is the only general jurisdiction court in the county and handles a wide range of cases.
Criminal cases—from felonies to misdemeanors—are processed through the District Court. The county attorney's office maintains a criminal case database, which is updated several times a day and contains information about adult defendants' cases.
What other cases fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court:
- Civil lawsuits, including small claims cases (conciliation court—up to $15,000)
- Family cases: divorce, custody, child support
- Probate and guardianship cases
- Traffic violations and petty misdemeanors
- Orders for protection cases
Juvenile cases are also heard by the District Court, but access to these records is restricted by Minnesota law.
Stearns Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings in Stearns County can be viewed through the statewide system Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). After selecting Stearns County from the list, users can search for a case by party name or case number—results include scheduled hearings with dates and times.
Another option is to call the court office at (320) 656-3620. Staff will confirm the date and time of a specific hearing or advise on which cases are scheduled for today or the coming days.
Public access terminals (MPA Courthouse terminals) are available directly in the courthouse, displaying current hearing schedule information. Note: the data on public terminals may differ slightly from what is available online, as the volume of records in these systems varies.
How to Get a Copy of a Stearns Court Document
It is important to distinguish between two types of copies: uncertified and certified. An uncertified copy is suitable for personal review. A certified copy has the court's official seal and is accepted by other institutions as evidence.
Online
Through MCRO, you can view basic case information and some documents. However, not all documents are available for online download—the system has limitations on the types of records.
In Person or by Mail
- Contact the Stearns County District Court clerk's office with the case number or party names.
- Specify which copy you need—uncertified or certified.
- Pay the established fee (see the table below).
For civil cases, including divorce cases, access may be restricted according to Minnesota Rules of Court. Certified copies of a divorce decree are issued by the court where the decision was made—more details are explained by the Minnesota State Law Library.
Mail requests should be sent to the court's address:
In your request, include the full name of the party, case number (if known), type of document, and contact information for feedback. Include payment in the form of a check or money order payable to Stearns County District Court.
Stearns Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents in Minnesota are set at the state level and regulated by Minn. Stat. § 357.021. Below are the main rates applicable in Stearns County District Court.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Document copy (first page) | $14.00 |
| Each additional page | $1.00 |
| Document certification | $14.00 |
| Record search in court archive | $10.00 |
These amounts correspond to the fee schedule established by state law. Actual fees may vary—check current rates with the court office by calling (320) 656-3620 or on the Stearns County District Court page.
Payment is accepted in person (cash, check, money order) or by mail (check, money order). For online requests through MCRO, some documents may have a separate fee for electronic download.
Older records stored in the court archive are also available for search—this is noted on the county's court records research page. If the required document pertains to a case reviewed before the transition to the Minnesota Court Information System in 2007, the search may take longer.