| District Court Administration | St. Louis County District Court Administration — Duluth Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | St. Louis County Courthouse (Duluth), 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., Duluth, MN 55802. Hibbing Courthouse: 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing, MN 55746. Virginia Courthouse: 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792 |
| Phone | (218) 221-7560 (Duluth); (218) 274-6007 (Hibbing); (218) 305-7021 (Virginia) |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., all three courthouses. Remote self-help center: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., (651) 435-6535 |
| 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)) |
St. Louis County stretches from Duluth on Lake Superior north through the Iron Range to the Canadian border, and it is the largest county by land area in Minnesota. It makes up the Sixth Judicial District together with Carlton, Cook, and Lake counties. As in every Minnesota county, one unified District Court handles every case type — civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic — and the District Court Administrator keeps the files.
What makes St. Louis County different from every other county in the state is that it is the only one with chambered judges sitting in three separate courthouses: Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia. Each of the three has its own full-service court administration office, its own main phone line, and its own public-access computer for searching court records. A case is filed and kept at the courthouse that serves the part of the county where it arose, so the first question for any records request is which courthouse holds the file.
The Duluth courthouse handles the largest share of business, including most cases from the city of Duluth and the southern part of the county. Hibbing and Virginia serve the Iron Range communities. If you are not sure which location has a case, Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) will show the case number and court location for any public case in the county, which tells you where to call.
Search St. Louis County court records online
District Court Administration
St. Louis County District Court Administration — Duluth Courthouse
- Cost
- Free case search on MCRO or the courthouse public-access computer; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- All Sixth Judicial District case types filed in St. Louis County at the Duluth courthouse — civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Interim Court Administrator is Kim Vezina. A public-access computer for court records is available in the courthouse. Metered parking ramp attached via skywalk.
Other courts
St. Louis County District Court — Hibbing Courthouse
- Cost
- Free case search; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- Full-service court administration office for cases filed at the Hibbing courthouse, 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing, MN 55746; phone (218) 274-6007
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Court Administrator is Rhonda Duesler (also administrator for Virginia). Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; public-access records computer available; free surface-lot parking.
Other courts
St. Louis County District Court — Virginia Courthouse
- Cost
- Free case search; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- Full-service court administration office for cases filed at the Virginia courthouse, 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792; phone (218) 305-7021
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Court Administrator is Rhonda Duesler. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; the ADA entrance is Door
What is available online
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) covers St. Louis County cases from all three courthouses in one statewide search, with documents generally available for cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. Each courthouse also has a public-access computer that shows more detailed case information than MCRO does over the internet. Domestic abuse, harassment, CHIPS, and serious juvenile-delinquency cases are excluded from MCRO regardless of filing date and must be checked in person with court administration. Weekly public court calendars for Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia are posted as searchable PDFs on each courthouse's page.
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
St. Louis County clerk offices
St. Louis County Courthouse (Duluth), 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., Duluth, MN 55802. Hibbing Courthouse: 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing, MN 55746. Virginia Courthouse: 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 221-7560 (Duluth); (218) 274-6007 (Hibbing); (218) 305-7021 (Virginia)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., all three courthouses. Remote self-help center: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., (651) 435-6535
First, find the right courthouse. St. Louis County keeps case files at the courthouse where the case was filed — Duluth, Hibbing, or Virginia. If you have a case number, MCRO will show which location handles it. If you only have a name, search MCRO first; if the case type is one MCRO excludes, call the courthouse closest to where the events occurred.
In person. Visit court administration at the Duluth Courthouse, 100 N. Fifth Avenue W.; the Hibbing Courthouse, 1810 E. 12th Avenue; or the Virginia Courthouse, 300 South Fifth Avenue. All three are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and each has a public-access computer for looking up cases. Plain copies are free; certified copies are $14 per document, payable at the counter.
By mail. Write to the court administration office at the courthouse that holds the file. Include the case number (or the parties' names and approximate filing year), the specific document you need, whether you want a plain or certified copy, and a check or money order payable to "District Court Administrator." Call the courthouse's main line first to confirm the total, since a county law library fee may apply on top of the state base fee.
Online. Search MCRO for case information and download available documents at no cost. Each courthouse page also links a contact-by-email form for general questions, though email does not substitute for a formal copy request.
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 St. Louis County courthouse has my case file?
The one where the case was filed — Duluth for most of the southern county and the city of Duluth, Hibbing or Virginia for the Iron Range. Search the case on MCRO to see its court location, or call the courthouse nearest to where the matter arose.
Can I search St. Louis County court records online for free?
Yes. Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is free and covers cases from all three St. Louis County courthouses. Public-access computers at each courthouse show more detail than the internet version.
How much is a certified copy of a St. Louis County court record?
Certified copies are generally $14 per document under Minn. Stat. § 357.021; plain (uncertified) copies have no fee. Confirm the total with the courthouse before mailing payment, since a county law library fee can be added.
Who is the court administrator for St. Louis County?
Each courthouse has its own office. As of the 2026 court page, Kim Vezina is Interim Court Administrator in Duluth, and Rhonda Duesler is Court Administrator for both Hibbing and Virginia.
Sources
- St. Louis County District Court — Duluth — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/duluth
- St. Louis County District Court — Hibbing — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hibbing
- St. Louis County District Court — Virginia — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/virginia
- 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.