| District Court Administration | Olmsted County District Court Administration |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Olmsted County Courthouse, 151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904 |
| Phone | (507) 722-7264 (main); fax (507) 285-8996 |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 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)) |
Olmsted County, home to Rochester and the Mayo Clinic, is the most populous county in southeastern Minnesota and part of the Third Judicial District, which covers eleven counties along the state's southern tier. Like every Minnesota county, it has a single unified District Court with original jurisdiction over civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases, and one District Court Administrator's office that keeps every file.
Court administration is located in the Olmsted County Courthouse at 151 Fourth Street SE in downtown Rochester, connected by skyway to the Government Center. The office publishes a detailed directory of phone numbers for civil scheduling, criminal scheduling, the jury manager, and a separate statewide line for traffic fees, so records questions and payment questions can be routed to the right desk without going through a general switchboard.
One quirk worth knowing before a visit: Olmsted is one of the few Minnesota county courts that opens late on Wednesdays, at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. The daily court calendar is posted the evening before as a searchable PDF, which is useful for confirming a hearing time or checking whether a case is active before making the trip.
Search Olmsted County court records online
District Court Administration
Olmsted County District Court Administration
- Cost
- Free case search on MCRO; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- All Third Judicial District case types filed in Olmsted County — civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Court Administrator is Hans Holland. Civil scheduling (507) 722-7325; criminal scheduling (507) 722-7326; jury manager (507) 722-7327; traffic fees and information (800) 657-3611.
What is available online
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) covers Olmsted 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 and must be checked directly with court administration. The Olmsted County daily court calendar is posted as a searchable PDF at 7:00 p.m. for the next day and updated hourly from 7:00 a.m.; confidential cases do not appear on it.
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
Olmsted County clerk offices
Olmsted County Courthouse, 151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: (507) 722-7264 (main); fax (507) 285-8996
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
In person. Visit Court Administration at the Olmsted County Courthouse, 151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester. Public parking is in the 90-minute metered lot in front of the building or the Holiday Inn ramp connected by skyway. Bring the case number if you have it, or the parties' names and approximate filing year, and say whether you need a plain or certified copy. Plain copies are free; certified copies are $14 per document at the counter.
By mail. Send a written request to Olmsted County Court Administration, 151 Fourth Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Include the case number or party names and year, the document you need, whether you want a plain or certified copy, and a check or money order payable to "District Court Administrator." Call (507) 722-7264 first to confirm the total, since Olmsted's fee schedule can include a county law library fee on top of the state base fee.
By phone. The main court administration line is (507) 722-7264. Scheduling questions go to civil scheduling at (507) 722-7325 or criminal scheduling at (507) 722-7326. Traffic fine amounts and payment questions are handled by the statewide line at (800) 657-3611, not the Olmsted office.
Online. Search MCRO for case information and download available documents at no cost. Olmsted County also publishes standing orders — on child custody classes, plea petitions, and ICMC valuation dates — on its court page, which can help interpret what a docket entry means.
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
What are the Olmsted County Courthouse hours?
Court administration is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The building is closed on state court holidays.
Is there a free way to search Olmsted County court records?
Yes. Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is free and covers most civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Olmsted County. Confidential case types such as juvenile and domestic-abuse matters are not included.
Who do I call about a traffic ticket in Olmsted County?
For fine amounts and payment, call the statewide traffic line at (800) 657-3611. For questions about a scheduled criminal or traffic hearing, call criminal scheduling at (507) 722-7326.
How much does a certified copy of an Olmsted County court record cost?
Certified copies are generally $14 per document under Minn. Stat. § 357.021; plain copies have no fee. Confirm the total with court administration at (507) 722-7264 before mailing a check, since a county law library fee may apply.
Sources
- Olmsted County District Court — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/olmsted
- Olmsted County District Court — Administration Phone Numbers — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/olmsted/olmstedcontact
- Minnesota Courts — Copy Requests — https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request
- 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
- 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.