| District Court Administration | Dakota County District Court Administration |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 (main courthouse and juvenile court). Western Service Center: 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley, MN 55124. Northern Service Center: 1 West Mendota Rd., Suite 140, West St. Paul, MN 55118 |
| Phone | (651) 377-7180 (Judicial Center, Hastings); (952) 247-7099 (Western Service Center); (651) 377-7190 (Northern Service Center) |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., all Dakota County courthouse locations (closed holidays) |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | No fee for an uncertified (plain) copy of a court document (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)) |
| Certified copy fee | $14.00 per document, certified or exemplified (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2) and 2(14)) |
Dakota County sits in the First Judicial District, a seven-county district that also covers Carver, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley counties. As in every Minnesota county, one office — the District Court Administrator — keeps every case type: civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic.
What sets Dakota County apart is that court business is spread across three physical locations rather than one courthouse. The Judicial Center in Hastings is the main courthouse and the only location for juvenile matters. The Western Service Center in Apple Valley and the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul handle filings and hearings for residents in those parts of the county, so which building you need can depend on where in Dakota County the case originated.
Dakota County was also one of two pilot sites (with the City of Duluth) for Minnesota's Expedited Civil Litigation Track, a court-supervised program designed to move smaller civil cases through more quickly, which is worth knowing if you're trying to understand why a Dakota County civil case moved faster than one you're used to elsewhere.
Search Dakota County court records online
District Court Administration
Dakota County District Court Administration
- Cost
- Free case search; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- All First Judicial District case types filed in Dakota County, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Court Administrator is Mary Dalbec. Juvenile Court sits only at the Judicial Center in Hastings, not at the service centers.
Other courts
Dakota County Court Divisions and Locations
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Directory of Dakota County's civil, family, criminal/traffic, juvenile, and probate divisions and which of the three locations handles each
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Confirm which of the three Dakota County locations to visit before making a trip.
What is available online
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) covers most Dakota County civil, criminal, family, and probate case information statewide, with documents generally available for cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. Domestic abuse, harassment, CHIPS, and serious juvenile-delinquency cases are excluded from MCRO regardless of filing date. Because filings are split across three locations, confirm with court administration which building holds a specific case before visiting.
Which clerk has your record
In Minnesota, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Minnesota page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| District Court (10 judicial districts) | Felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor criminal cases; Divorce, custody, and other family cases; Civil suits of any amount, including business and property disputes | District Court Administrator of the county |
| Conciliation Court (small claims division of District Court) | Small claims up to the statutory limit; Individual and business disputes without an attorney | District Court Administrator of the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Dakota County clerk offices
Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 (main courthouse and juvenile court). Western Service Center: 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley, MN 55124. Northern Service Center: 1 West Mendota Rd., Suite 140, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Phone: (651) 377-7180 (Judicial Center, Hastings); (952) 247-7099 (Western Service Center); (651) 377-7190 (Northern Service Center)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., all Dakota County courthouse locations (closed holidays)
In person. Visit whichever of the three locations handles the case type and area you need: the Judicial Center in Hastings for juvenile matters and general court administration, or the Western or Northern Service Center for filings originating in those service areas. Call (651) 377-7900 to confirm a civil or family motion date before submitting paperwork, or the location's own number for other business.
By mail. Send a written request to Dakota County Court Administration, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Include the case number if known, the parties' names and approximate filing year if not, the document needed, and whether you need a plain or certified copy, with a check or money order made payable to "District Court Administrator."
Online. Search MCRO for case information and available documents at no cost. Dakota County's website also has fax-filing procedures under Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure 5.05 for documents that are not required to be e-filed.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | No fee for an uncertified (plain) copy of a court document (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2)) |
| Certified copy | $14.00 per document, certified or exemplified (Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2) and 2(14)) |
Base fees are set by Minn. Stat. § 357.021 and published in the Minnesota Court Fees catalog; individual counties may add a law library fee on top of the state base fee, so the total at a specific courthouse can be slightly higher. Confirm the county total before mailing payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Minnesota court records are open to the public under the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, but several categories are not available in any public search:
The Minnesota guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dakota County courthouse do I need?
It depends on where the case originated and the case type. The Judicial Center in Hastings handles juvenile matters and is the main courthouse; the Western Service Center in Apple Valley and the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul handle filings for their respective service areas.
Is there a free way to search Dakota County court cases?
Yes, Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is free and covers most civil, criminal, family, and probate cases statewide, including Dakota County. Juvenile and certain confidential case types are not included.
How do I schedule a civil or family motion in Dakota County?
Call Dakota County Court Administration at (651) 377-7900 to get a motion date before submitting paperwork; the court requires a date be obtained first for both civil and family motions.
How do I get a certified copy of a Dakota County court record?
Request it in person at the appropriate location or by mail to the Judicial Center in Hastings. Certified copies are $14 per document under the state fee schedule; plain copies have no fee.
What is the Expedited Civil Litigation Track in Dakota County?
A Minnesota Supreme Court pilot program, effective 2013, that applies to certain smaller civil cases in Dakota County and the City of Duluth to move them through the court process on a faster schedule.
Sources
- Dakota County District Court — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/dakota
- Dakota County Court Divisions — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/dakota/court-divisions
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) — https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch
- Minnesota Judicial Branch — About the Courts — https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) — Overview — https://mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro
- Minnesota BCA Public Criminal History Search — https://chs.state.mn.us/
- Minnesota Appellate Courts Case Management System (P-MACS) Public Search — https://macsnc.courts.state.mn.us/ctrack/publicLogin.do
- Clerk of the Appellate Courts — https://mncourts.gov/clerk-of-appellate-courts
- Minnesota Courts — District Court Fees — https://mncourts.gov/Help-Topics/Court-Fees/District-Court-Fees.aspx
- Minnesota Courts — Copy Requests — https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request
- Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A — Expungement — https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609A/full
- Minn. Stat. § 357.021 — Court Administrator Fees — https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/357.021
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota — https://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Minnesota counties.