Minnesota Civil Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Minnesota Civil Court Records

The Minnesota court system consists of appellate and trial courts. The District Courts are part of the trial courts, while the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals are part of the appellate courts.

The Supreme Court establishes and enforces Minnesota legal practice and court procedures in this state.

The Court of Appeals handles most pleas from District Courts and government agencies. This court also makes most of the state's final judicial decisions.

On the other hand, District Courts have general authority over all civil cases filed in the state.

Apart from these courts, Minnesota has the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and Tax Court. These courts are independent entities of the executive arm of the Minnesota State Government with special authority over tax and workers' compensation disputes.

Can you inspect Minnesota Civil Court Records? The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act allows you to seek, check, and copy these records regardless of form, storage method, or usage.

What Are Minnesota Bankruptcy Records?

The bankruptcy records of Minnesota contain all court paperwork submitted by individuals or companies seeking protection from creditors due to outstanding obligations.

The United States Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Minnesota heard these cases in this state.

Depending on the form of bankruptcy, the outcome of filing for bankruptcy can vary. In Minnesota, bankruptcy filings fall under several Bankruptcy Code chapters, including the following:

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Minnesota lets the debtor restructure a business to make it easier to meet debt obligations. A company that may become profitable over time can avoid liquidation through reorganization.

In this kind of bankruptcy, the debtor must file a plan with the court to get their finances back in order. This plan will outline the debtor's business strategy to repay creditors.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

You can file for this type of bankruptcy in Minnesota if you want to start over financially while maintaining your most important assets.

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court will choose a trustee to collect all the non-exempt property, sell it, and use the money to pay off the debtor's creditors.

To qualify for this bankruptcy filing, you must pass the means test and have received credit counseling from an approved provider within 180 days of filing.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

To file for Minnesota Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must have a regular income and some disposable income.

This bankruptcy petition will reorganize your debts and allow you to pay them off over time.

When you apply for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in this state, you can avoid repossessing your house and other collection procedures without selling all of your property.

In Minnesota Bankruptcy Records, you may also find a Chapter 12 bankruptcy, along with Chapter 11, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

How To Find Minnesota Bankruptcy Records?

In Minnesota, you can access both electronic and non-electronic bankruptcy records.

To access electronic bankruptcy records, you must sign up and create an account name on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) site.

You can also get these records at the clerk's office in the bankruptcy courts in St. Paul, Duluth, and Minneapolis.

You may use these offices' public terminals for free to access these records. But if you want to print these documents, you must pay a small fee for each copy.

Also, all three bankruptcy courts have a clerk's office where you can get non-electronic bankruptcy records.

Alternatively, you can directly request records from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) over its offices or by searching the archive's website.

On the Minnesota Bankruptcy Records, you can expect the following details:

  • The debtor's information
  • Bankruptcy type
  • The names and addresses of creditors
  • Discharge date
  • Case development
  • Listed assets
  • Case disposition

What Are Minnesota Property Lien Records?

The Minnesota Civil Court Records also include property liens, which are legal claims on a property to provide reliability for a creditor.

By putting this lien on a property, a creditor gets security in the form of a physical item that the lender can take back and sell if the borrower doesn't pay back the loan.

There are different kinds of liens in Minnesota, but the most common ones are:

Judgment Lien

This kind of property lien is a legal matter that depends on a judge's decision.

When attached to a debtor's property, a judgment lien gives a creditor the legal right to take ownership of the debtor's assets as collateral.

Mortgage Lien

A mortgage lien applies to those who purchase or refinance a home with a mortgage loan.

The house being acquired or refinanced serves as collateral in a mortgage agreement. When this happens, the lien stays on the property until the payment of the debt.

If the debtor doesn't repay the mortgage, the creditor can seize and repossess the residence.

UCC Lien

In Minnesota, this type of lien filing occurs immediately after the loan processing to assure payback and prevent the creditor from suffering a loss.

When filed on a property, a UCC lien notifies the public that a debtor's property is serving as collateral and that the creditor will seize the asset if a breach occurs.

Other than judgment, mortgage, and UCC liens, you might find tax and mechanic's liens in the Minnesota Property Lien Records.

How To Check Minnesota Property Lien Records?

After being recorded, a property lien in Minnesota becomes a public record. Therefore, anyone interested in monitoring state liens must contact or visit appropriate government departments or offices.

You can also use the Minnesota Business and Lien Systems (MBLS) to find property lien records online, such as tax and UCC lien records. You must create an account on this system to acquire copies of their results.

Additionally, you can use the Secretary of State (SOS) website to look at these records. To search, you must provide the case number or the debtor's name.

Lastly, you can visit the recorder's office of the country where the estate lies and conduct a title deed check to examine property liens records. However, there will be a fee applied for copy requests.

What Are Minnesota Civil Driving Violation Records?

The Minnesota Civil Driving Violation Records contain any offenses committed while operating a vehicle in contravention of the Minnesota state traffic code.

In this state, the most common type of civil driving violation records are:

  • Refusal to yield
  • Speeding
  • Driving without a license
  • Going through a red light
  • Illegal parking

These offenses are not criminal convictions, as opposed to other violations. Instead, they are civil infractions that can result in fines, community service, and a driver's license suspension.

How To Look Up Minnesota Civil Driving Violation Records?

There are many methods for locating Minnesota Civil Driving Violation Records.

The most popular approach to accessing these documents in this state is through the Minnesota Court Payment Center.

Furthermore, you can get these records by calling the courthouse where your violation occurred. The clerk will then give you all the facts you need to contest the ticket or pay the fee.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS) also keeps track of all civil driving violations in the state. You can contact them to look up these records. However, this convenience comes with a cost.

Lastly, you can look at these records for free using the Minnesota Trial Court Public Access (MPA) website. On this website, you have to choose where you got a ticket and then select one of four ways to search.

What Are Minnesota Legal Judgment Records?

Legal judgment records in Minnesota describe a judicial proceeding and the court's conclusion after a hearing.

In Minnesota, a judgment is the court's final decision after a criminal trial or civil suit. It may be verbal or written and usually describes the type and extent of the violation and the sanctions imposed on the losing party.

Chapter 548 of the Minnesota Statutes outlines regulations for the enforcement, redemption, and exclusion of legal judgments.

If interested, you can examine the code for details relating to the filing and execution of state-wide legal judgments according to judicial process regulations.

How To Look Up Minnesota Legal Judgment Records?

Similar to other civil court records in Minnesota, legal judgment records are accessible to interested and qualified public members.

To see a judgment record in Minnesota, ask the court clerk who heard the case in person, by mail, or online.

On the Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) website, you can use the Find Your Court Tool to learn how to get in touch with different courts in the state.

Moreover, some jurisdictions allow remote searching of legal judgment records if they are not prohibited or sealed.

To obtain records, you must give the information essential for a record search. It comprises a case identification number, the parties' names, and the name of the judge who rendered the judgment.

A Minnesota Legal Judgment Record typically includes the following details:

  • The parties' names
  • The name of the judge
  • The court's decision
  • The judgment date
  • The specific claims made by each party

What Are Minnesota Small Claims Records?

In the Small Claims Records of Minnesota Civil Court Records, you can find all of the information and documents that the court put together during small claims cases.

In this state, Small Claims Courts, known as the Conciliation Courts, hear cases with claims of less than $15,000 in money or property and less than $4,000 in consumer loans.

The most common Minnesota Small Claims Records are:

  • Civil cases involving a security deposit
  • Check Recovery
  • Property damage
  • Impounded car or property return
  • Loan-related arguments

In Minnesota, you can take someone to small claims court by filling out a Statement of a Claim form and turning it in to the correct Conciliation Court. Usually, this court must be in the county where the defendant lives or has a business.

After filing, the Minnesota Small Claims Record will contain the parties' personal information, the court's ruling, and the claim's value recovered by the claimant.

How To Look Up Minnesota Small Claims Records?

The Small Claims Court administrator is in charge of keeping Minnesota Small Claims Records.

To look up and copy these records, you can go to a courthouse and ask for them from the administrator's office. You can also use the county courthouses' public terminals to see records for free and copy them for a cost.

Alternatively, you can access these records online through the MPA's Remote View. This tool can search for documents using a case file, details about a party, or information about a prosecutor.

What Are Minnesota Divorce Court Records?

Before filing for divorce in Minnesota, you must meet the residency criteria and have a legally acceptable reason to end your marriage, just like in any other state.

To learn more about divorce in this state, you can look at this basic information about divorce, which includes an explanation of the residency requirements and the fees or costs.

Similarly, if you desire to obtain a divorce in Minnesota, you can review these court forms, which you may need.

In this state, there are three divorce forms that the court generates. To save time and money while attempting to obtain these documents, you must be aware of their distinctions if you wish to make a request.

The following clarification will assist you in differentiating the following divorce documents in Minnesota:

Divorce Certificate

A divorce certificate has minor information from the three types of Minnesota Divorce Court Records. It only shows the names of the people involved and where and when the divorce occurred.

This type of divorce document is a public record in Minnesota, but usually, only the people involved, their lawyers, and the judge who oversaw the case have access to it.

Divorce Decree

This sort of divorce paperwork provides a more comprehensive explanation of a divorce. It has all of the information that a divorce certificate has, plus the agreements and decisions made at the end of the proceedings.

Included among these decisions and agreements in this state are:

  • Property division
  • Child custody
  • Financial agreements

Like divorce certificates, a divorce decree is open to the public, but only the people involved and their lawyers can get a certified copy.

Divorce Record

Divorce records are the most comprehensive Minnesota Divorce Court Records since they have all of the mentioned information above and every file or transcript produced during the divorce court hearings.

In Minnesota, when one of the parties intends to contest the enumerated agreements, they request this document.

Thus, it may be difficult for the general public to gain access without valid rationale and eligibility confirmation.

Only the relevant parties can get comprehensive and accredited copies of these records in this state.

How To Look Up Minnesota Divorce Court Records?

District Court Record Centers in Minnesota retain copies of divorce court documents.

To get these records, you must first find the District Clerk in the district where the divorce happened. Some courts also have record offices in this state, so you must decide which office you will visit.

You can also visit the District Court's website to find out what forms and steps you need to get these documents. Note, though, that depending on the type of document you want, you may have to pay a charge to access these records.

What Are Minnesota Probate Court Records?

In Minnesota, probate is the legal proceedings of obtaining court authorization to transfer a deceased person's property.

Among the probate matters in the state are:

  • Wills
  • Trust
  • Estate
  • Inventories
  • Accounts
  • Petitions

To start a probate case in this state, you must prepare a petition or application with the court. After you file, the court will choose a representative in charge of the probate proceedings.

On the MJB website, you can find more information about probate in this state.

Where can you find Minnesota Probate Court Records? The MPA's Remote View is where you should begin if you want to conduct a remote public search of these records.

If interested, select "Civil, Family, and Probate Case Records" and conduct a name-based search.

Using this search tool, you can find the probate case number, a summary of the probate, and the name of the person in charge.

How To Look Up Civil Court Cases in Minnesota?

Contacting the court's record custodian allows you to get Minnesota Civil Court Records.

The Court Administrator maintains these documents in the Minnesota District Courts. If interested, you can find contact information for the state's District Courts and their Court Administrators in the MJB's court directory.

After contacting the record custodian, you must provide details of the civil court records you want to see, produce a valid photo ID, and pay copy fees.

You may also examine these data through the public access terminals supplied by the District Courts in courthouses.

Apart from visiting the court of jurisdiction, you can also look for these documents remotely through the MPA's Remote View.