Barnes County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With about 10,800 residents, Barnes County, North Dakota has its county seat in Valley City, which is also its largest city. A district court and municipal court make up the trial court system in Barnes County. All civil and criminal proceedings fall within the general jurisdiction of the Barnes County District Court. Trials for infractions of municipal ordinances are often handled by the county's municipal court.

All criminal cases are handled by the Barnes County District Court in Valley City. If a request is made properly and there is a right to a jury trial, the District Court may also take on cases involving violations of local ordinances that have been moved from the Municipal Court. All civil cases, including those pertaining to general civil law, family relations, juvenile law, mental health, and probate, are handled by it. If both parties consent to Small Claims Court jurisdiction, the court's Small Claims Court division handles the majority of general civil claims for less than $5000. It also has a Juvenile Court section that has exclusive original jurisdiction over cases involving accusations of misbehavior, delinquency, or deprivation made against minors. The county's municipal court, Valley City Municipal Court, handles most violations related to the municipal code. Since jury trials are not available in municipal courts, such matters are referred to district court if the parties have the legal right to one and properly request one.

With over 176 criminal and civil cases handled annually, the Barnes County Court System actively works to combat the county's crime rate of 1635.6 incidents per 100,000 people. The North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry (NDCRI) is in charge of managing and maintaining Barnes County's electronic court records. To request a case record, go to the Court Records platform online, choose Barnes County, and then click on the type of record you are looking for. To help with your search, you will be required to provide certain case-related information. Note that the NDCRI contains criminal, traffic, petty misdemeanor, civil, family, and probate case information.

In summary, the judicial system in Barnes County plays a crucial role in the administration of the county and is dedicated to delivering justice in a variety of legal cases. The county's judicial system, which is centered on the district and municipal courts, enables it to efficiently manage the diverse range of cases it receives. Court records in Barnes County are accessible and can be retrieved using NDCRI.