Fillmore County Court Records Search

Fillmore County court records are maintained at the District Court in Preston. The court handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases filed in the county. You can search Fillmore County court records free of charge through the state's Minnesota Court Records Online system, or stop by the courthouse on Fillmore Street East during business hours. Court Administrator Darlene Larson oversees record keeping and can help with document requests. Most court records are open to the public under Minnesota law.

Fillmore County District Court

The Fillmore County District Court is at the courthouse in Preston, the county seat in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. Court Administrator Darlene Larson manages the clerk operations and all record keeping. The court has original jurisdiction over every case type filed in Fillmore County. You can reach the court by phone at (507) 765-6021 or by fax at (507) 765-4571 during regular business hours.

Fillmore County is part of the Third Judicial District, which covers much of southeastern Minnesota. The 3rd District serves a large geographic area in the corner of the state and shares judicial resources among its counties. Judges travel between courthouses in the district to hear cases. All court administration remains at each county's courthouse, so Fillmore County records stay in Preston. If you have a case in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county's court office separately.

Fillmore County District Court Online

The Fillmore County District Court page on mncourts.gov provides court contact details, the public calendar, and links to self-help services for people with cases in Preston.

This page lists the courthouse address, hours, and links to the weekly court calendar updated each business day in Preston.

How to Access Fillmore County Court Records

Online access is the quickest way to find Fillmore County court records. The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is free and covers all counties in the state. You search by name or case number. Results include party names, case types, filing dates, and the full docket history. Documents filed after July 1, 2015 are typically available in digital form through the portal.

For older records or full case files, a visit to the Preston courthouse is the way to go. Public access terminals at the courthouse give you free access to the MCRO system during business hours. Staff can pull paper files and make copies on request. Bring the full name of a party or a case number to speed up the search. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free. An exemplified and certified copy is $28.

You can also submit a mail request. Send your written request to Fillmore County District Court, 101 Fillmore Street East, Preston, MN 55965. Include the case number, party names, and a description of the documents you want. Enclose payment for any copy fees. The court will process your request and mail the documents back to you. Response time can vary depending on workload.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, government data is presumed public unless classified as private or confidential by law. That rule applies to court records in Minnesota alongside the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Most civil, criminal, and traffic records are fully open. Certain juvenile records and some family court documents have access limits.

MCRO - Free Court Record Search

The Minnesota Court Records Online portal is your free starting point for searching Fillmore County case information from any internet-connected device.

Enter a name or case number to pull up Fillmore County case records. The system shows docket entries and case status for public cases across the state.

Fillmore County Court Contacts and Resources

The courthouse in Preston has several county offices that handle different legal matters. For jury duty questions, call the Jury Call-In Message Line at (507) 765-6046. Traffic fines can be paid through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611. Court Services (probation) is at (507) 765-3667. The County Attorney's office is at (507) 765-2530, and the Sheriff's office can be reached at (507) 765-3874.

Victim services in Fillmore County can be reached at (507) 765-2805. If you need a public defender, call the Rochester office of the State Public Defender at (507) 285-7370. For civil legal aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) serves Fillmore County at (888) 575-2954 or through smrls.org. SMRLS handles family law, housing, and consumer matters for income-qualifying clients.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch website has free forms and self-help guides covering most case types. The court calendar for Fillmore County is posted daily in searchable PDF format at 7:00 a.m. and updated hourly. For online payments, the Court Web Payment system handles traffic fines and some other court fees without a trip to Preston.

Criminal history records beyond what is in the court file are available through the Minnesota BCA criminal history system. That covers statewide records and is separate from the court's own system. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, most law enforcement data on arrests and incidents is public data.

Pay Fillmore County Court Fines Online

The Court Web Payment portal lets you pay traffic fines and other Fillmore County court fees online without visiting the courthouse in Preston.

Have your case number or citation number ready when you log in to make a payment. The system accepts most major credit cards.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fillmore County or are nearby in southeastern Minnesota. Each has its own district court in the 3rd Judicial District.