| District Court Administration | Washington County District Court Administration |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | (651) 413-8030 (main); fax (651) 430-1345; Court Records (651) 413-8030, option 6 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 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)) |
Washington County, east of Saint Paul along the St. Croix River, is part of the Tenth Judicial District. Like every Minnesota county, one office — the District Court Administrator — keeps every case type filed in the county: civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and conciliation (small claims).
The Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater centralizes court business more than some of its neighbors do, with a single main phone line that routes to case-type-specific extensions for criminal/traffic, family, juvenile, civil, conciliation, probate, and the jury office. Fine payments have their own dedicated numbers separate from records requests, which is worth knowing before calling the main line with a records question.
Because Washington County funnels most business through one building and one administrative office, the fastest way to reach the right person is usually to use the specific extension for the case type you need rather than the general court administration line.
Search Washington County court records online
District Court Administration
Washington County District Court Administration
- Cost
- Free case search; no fee for plain copies, $14 per document for certified copies
- Coverage
- All Tenth Judicial District case types filed in Washington County, including civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and conciliation
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate
Court Administrator is Deb Lepper. Records requests are handled through the Court Records extension, (651) 413-8030, option 6.
What is available online
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) covers most Washington 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.
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
Washington County clerk offices
Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 413-8030 (main); fax (651) 430-1345; Court Records (651) 413-8030, option 6
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
In person. Visit Court Administration at the Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, and ask at the Court Records window for case searches and copies.
By mail. Send a written request to Washington County Court Administration, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. 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."
By phone. Court Records can be reached directly at (651) 413-8030, option 6, for questions before submitting a written request. Case-type-specific lines exist for criminal/traffic, family, juvenile, civil, conciliation, and probate matters, separate from the fine-payment lines.
Online. Search MCRO for case information and available documents at no cost.
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
Is there a free way to search Washington County court cases?
Yes, Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is free and covers most civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Washington County. Juvenile and certain confidential case types are excluded.
How do I get a certified copy of a Washington County court record?
Contact Court Records at (651) 413-8030, option 6, or request one by mail at the courthouse address. Certified copies are $14 per document under the state fee schedule; plain copies have no fee.
Where is the Washington County Courthouse?
14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082. Mail can also be sent to P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082.
Are fine payments and records requests handled by the same phone line in Washington County?
No. Fine payments have their own case-type-specific extensions (for example criminal/traffic or family), while Court Records for case searches and copies is reached at (651) 413-8030, option 6.
Sources
- Washington County District Court — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/washington
- Washington County District Court — Contact Us — https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/washington/contact-us
- 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.