Find Court Records in Dodge County
Dodge County court records are maintained at the District Court in Mantorville, at the county courthouse on East Sixth Street. The 3rd Judicial District serves Dodge County along with several other southeastern Minnesota counties. You can search case records online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online, visit the courthouse in person during regular hours, or send a written request by mail to the court administrator. Most civil, criminal, family, and traffic records are open to the public.
Dodge County Overview
Dodge County District Court
The Dodge County District Court is located at 22 East Sixth Street in Mantorville. It handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases filed in Dodge County. The 3rd Judicial District covers Dodge along with several other southeastern Minnesota counties including Olmsted, Winona, Fillmore, Freeborn, Mower, Wabasha, and others. Court Administrator Aimee McCormack oversees clerk operations. The main phone is (507) 624-7010 and fax is (507) 635-6271.
The courthouse has public parking in the lot on the north side of the building and street parking is available nearby. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The weekly public court calendar is posted at 7:00 a.m. each day and updated hourly. Printed copies of the calendar are posted outside the courtrooms and reflect the most current schedule. The court facility is part of the courthouse facilities in Mantorville.
| Court | Dodge County District Court - 3rd Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address |
Dodge County Courthouse 22 East Sixth Street Mantorville, MN 55955 |
| Phone | (507) 624-7010 |
| Fax | (507) 635-6271 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Aimee McCormack |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/dodge |
Dodge County District Court Website
The Dodge County District Court page on mncourts.gov lists contact information, parking details, court calendar links, and filing resources for Dodge County cases.
The page is maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch and is the primary official source for court service updates and case calendar information for Dodge County.
How to Search Dodge County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the main tool for searching Dodge County case records from anywhere. You can search by party name, case number, citation number, or attorney name. MCRO displays case type, filing date, party names, docket history, and case status. Document viewing has been free as of July 1, 2023. Records from before July 1, 2015 may have limited digital availability.
In person, you can visit the courthouse at 22 East Sixth Street in Mantorville during business hours. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search records at no cost. The weekly court calendar is posted both online and on printed sheets outside the courtrooms, so you can check hearing times before you arrive. Staff at the clerk's office can help with copy requests and general questions about how cases are handled.
Certified copies of Dodge County court documents cost $14 each. Uncertified copies are free. Exemplified and certified copies are $28. Court fines can be paid online at the Court Web Payment portal. Traffic fines can be paid by phone through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611. To request copies by mail, send a written request to the Court Administrator at 22 East Sixth Street, Mantorville, MN 55955, and include the case number, names of parties, and a description of what you need.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, Minnesota government data is presumed public unless a law restricts it. Most civil and criminal court records in Dodge County are open to the public. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and certain family court filings are not public. Contact the court administrator if you have questions about whether a specific record can be released.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide system for searching Dodge County court records. It covers all case types across all 87 Minnesota counties.
Search Dodge County cases by name, case number, or citation. Results include full docket history and case status for all public cases filed in the county.
Criminal History Records
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs a statewide criminal history system that covers arrests, charges, and convictions from all Minnesota counties. This is separate from the court records in MCRO and may include information not in the court file. You can request a criminal history check through the BCA portal online. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data from Minnesota law enforcement agencies is public data. Checking both MCRO and BCA gives you the most complete look at a person's public record in the state.
For Dodge County Sheriff records, local jail information, and incident reports, contact the Dodge County Sheriff's Office directly. The sheriff maintains booking and detention records separate from the court system. The court file covers charges, hearings, sentencing, and dispositions, but it does not include arrest details or booking records. Go to the sheriff for those.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Dodge County traffic fines and court fees online without going to the courthouse in Mantorville.
Have your case number or citation ready before you begin. Traffic fines can also be paid by phone through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611.
Legal Help in Dodge County
If you need help with a court matter in Dodge County, free resources are available. LawHelpMN has plain-language guides and free court forms for family law, eviction, consumer debt, and other civil issues. Everything on the site is free to use. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website also provides self-help forms and procedural guides for self-represented parties.
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents in southeastern Minnesota, including Dodge County. You can reach them at (888) 575-2954 or visit smrls.org. The Public Defender's Office in Rochester serves Dodge County for criminal matters and can be reached at (507) 285-7370. For attorney referrals, use the Minnesota State Bar Association's lawyer referral service.
Cities in Dodge County
Dodge County includes Mantorville (county seat), Kasson, Dodge Center, and other small communities. No cities in Dodge County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All cases filed in the county go through the Dodge County District Court in Mantorville.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Dodge County. Each has its own district court. If you are not sure which county your case is in, check the address where you live or where the incident took place.