Search Hennepin County Court Records
Hennepin County court records are maintained at the District Court in downtown Minneapolis and at service locations across the county. The court is the largest trial court in Minnesota and serves about 1.28 million people. You can search Hennepin County court records online through the state's free Minnesota Court Records Online system, visit the Government Center in person, or use one of four suburban service centers in Brooklyn Center, Minnetonka, Edina, and Maple Grove. Court Administrator Sara Gonsalves oversees the clerk operations. Most court records are public under Minnesota law, and the county offers several ways to access them.
Hennepin County Overview
Hennepin County District Court
The Hennepin County District Court is the busiest trial court in Minnesota. It sits at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis and handles every type of case: civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic. Court Administrator Sara Gonsalves runs the clerk operations. The Fourth Judicial District, which serves Hennepin County exclusively, is the largest trial court in the state. You can call the main number at (612) 348-6000 for general help and case questions.
The court has multiple locations in Hennepin County. The main Records Center is at the Government Center at 300 South 6th Street, Room A260 on the Skyway Level of the Administration Tower. This is where you go for record requests, certified copies, and in-person research. Family court hearings take place at the Government Center following a consolidation of family court services in 2025. The court also operates a self-help center at the Government Center on the A-20 level.
| Court | Hennepin County District Court - Fourth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Main Address |
Hennepin County Government Center 300 South Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Records Center | Room A260, Skyway Level, Administration Tower 300 South 6th Street, #SK-0260, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Phone | (612) 348-6000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Sara Gonsalves |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin |
Hennepin County District Court Website
The Hennepin County District Court page on mncourts.gov gives you court contact info, location details for all court facilities, and links to case resources across the county.
This page is updated regularly with news about court relocations, new services, and changes to how Hennepin County cases are heard and processed.
Hennepin County Court Service Locations
Hennepin County runs four suburban service centers in addition to the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. These locations handle traffic matters and some other case types for residents who live in different parts of the county. Each service center serves specific cities within Hennepin County. The Records Center at the Government Center handles all records requests regardless of where a case was handled.
The Brookdale service center is at 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy in Brooklyn Center. It serves Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Corcoran, Crystal, Golden Valley, Greenfield, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Robbinsdale, and Rogers. The Ridgedale service center is at 12601 Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka and covers Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Wayzata, and many other western and southwestern communities. The Southdale service center is at 1225 Southdale Center in Edina. The Maple Grove service center is at 9325 Upland Lane N in Maple Grove.
For any of these suburban locations, records searches and certified copy requests should still go through the main Records Center at the Government Center downtown. The service centers mostly handle in-person appearances for traffic and certain criminal matters. If you need a certified copy of a court document or want to do a records search, the Government Center or the online systems are your best options.
Note: For court location questions or if you are unsure where your hearing takes place, call the main help line at (612) 348-6000. The court also issues a Warrant Helpline at (612) 540-6485 for questions about warrants.
How to Search Hennepin County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system covers all Hennepin County court cases and is the fastest starting point for any search. You look up by name, case number, or citation. The system shows party names, case types, filing dates, full docket histories, and case status. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally available to view in digital form. MCRO runs 24 hours a day and requires no login.
For records requests in person, go to the Records Center at Room A260 on the Skyway Level of the Administration Tower at 300 South 6th Street. The Records Center Public Access Terminals are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can view records on the terminals for free. To request copies, you need to provide your name, phone number, address, and email address along with the case details. Written copy requests can be mailed or placed in the drop-box at the Skyway Level of the Government Center.
Certified copies of Hennepin County court documents cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free. Exemplified and certified copies are $28. The court accepts checks by mail or in-person. You can also pay fines and certain fees online at the Court Web Payment portal. For traffic fines, the Minnesota Court Payment Center is at (800) 657-3611.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, government data is presumed public in Minnesota unless classified otherwise. Court records follow this standard along with the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Most Hennepin County civil and criminal records are open to any member of the public. Juvenile records and some family court documents have restricted access.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide system for searching Hennepin County court records. It covers every case type across all 87 Minnesota counties.
Search Hennepin County cases by name, case number, or citation. The system shows full docket history and case status for all public cases filed in the county.
Hennepin County Attorney Case Search
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office maintains a separate case search tool for adult felony cases prosecuted by that office. It is a useful supplement to MCRO when you are looking for detailed information on felony prosecutions in Hennepin County specifically. You can access it at hennepinattorney.org.
This tool is specific to cases handled by the County Attorney, which covers most felony matters in Hennepin County. It does not cover cases handled by city attorneys or the State Public Defender. Misdemeanor cases, civil cases, and family matters are not in this system. For those, use MCRO. But for felony criminal cases in Hennepin County, the County Attorney case search can give you a different angle on the same information, sometimes with more detail on prosecutorial decisions and charging history.
Criminal history beyond what is in the court file is available through the Minnesota BCA criminal history system. The BCA covers statewide arrest and conviction data and is separate from both MCRO and the County Attorney tool. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data collected by law enforcement agencies is public data in Minnesota. Combining BCA data with MCRO records gives a thorough picture of a person's public record in the state.
Hennepin County Attorney Case Search
The Hennepin County Attorney adult felony case search covers felony prosecutions handled by the county attorney's office in Minneapolis.
This case search covers adult felony matters prosecuted by the Hennepin County Attorney. Use it alongside MCRO for a more complete view of criminal case records.
Technology and Digital Services
Hennepin County District Court adopted the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System (MNDES), which became mandatory on January 1, 2025. This system handles how exhibits are submitted and managed in court cases. If you have a case in Hennepin County and need to submit exhibits, ask court staff or check the mncourts.gov website for current MNDES requirements.
eFiling has been in place for Hennepin County since the statewide rollout. Attorneys, government agencies, guardians ad litem, and sheriffs are required to use eFiling and eService for all case types. This means most new documents are submitted and available electronically. For self-represented litigants, paper filing is still accepted at the Records Center at the Government Center. The court also offers eCheck-in for criminal, juvenile delinquency, and CHIPS cases.
The court issues periodic warnings about jury scams. The court will never ask a law enforcement officer to collect a fine if you miss jury service. The court will not collect personal info or serve a warrant over the phone for missed jury duty. If you receive a suspicious call about jury duty, contact the court directly at (612) 348-6000 to verify.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Hennepin County traffic fines and other court fees online without going to the courthouse in Minneapolis.
Have your case number or citation ready before you log in. Traffic fines can also be paid by phone through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611.
Legal Help in Hennepin County
Hennepin County has more legal aid options than most Minnesota counties. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid serves the Minneapolis area and handles family law, housing, public benefits, and other civil matters for income-qualifying residents. The Volunteer Lawyers Network in Minneapolis runs free legal clinics. LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org has plain-language guides and free court forms. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website also has free self-help guides and forms for most case types.
The court's self-help center at the Government Center, located on the A-20 level, is open to walk-ins during business hours. Staff there can help you understand forms and court procedures, though they cannot give legal advice. For attorney referrals, the Minnesota State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Call or check the MSBA website to get connected with a family law or criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis or the suburbs.
Cities in Hennepin County
Hennepin County covers Minneapolis and dozens of suburbs. All cases filed anywhere in the county go through the Hennepin County District Court system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hennepin County. Each has its own district court. If you are unsure which county your case is in, check the address where you live or where the incident occurred.