Houston County Court Records Search
Houston County court records are kept at the District Court in Caledonia, at the county courthouse on South Marshall Street. The 3rd Judicial District covers Houston County along with other southeastern Minnesota counties. You can search court records online for free through the Minnesota Court Records Online system, visit the courthouse during business hours, or send a written request by mail. Civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic records are public under Minnesota law in most cases.
Houston County Overview
Houston County District Court
The Houston County District Court is at 306 South Marshall Street in Caledonia. It has original jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases in the county. The 3rd Judicial District serves Houston along with Winona, Fillmore, Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, Waseca, and Steele counties in southeastern Minnesota. Court Administrator Darlene Larson runs the clerk operations. The main phone is (507) 724-7002 and fax is (507) 725-5550.
The courthouse has public parking in the lot on the north side of the building and street parking is available as well. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The weekly court calendar is posted in searchable PDF format online at 7:00 a.m. each business day and is updated hourly. A hearing eReminders notification service is also available for those who want to get alerts about case hearing dates. Houston County is a small rural county in the far southeast corner of Minnesota, bordered by Wisconsin and Iowa.
| Court | Houston County District Court - 3rd Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address |
Houston County Courthouse 306 South Marshall Street Caledonia, MN 55921 |
| Phone | (507) 724-7002 |
| Fax | (507) 725-5550 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Darlene Larson |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/houston |
Houston County District Court Website
The Houston County District Court page on mncourts.gov provides contact details, parking information, court calendar links, and access to case resources for Houston County.
This is the official Minnesota Judicial Branch page for Houston County. Check here for current court news, service updates, and calendar information.
How to Search Houston County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the primary online tool for searching Houston County cases. You can look up by name, case number, citation, or attorney. Results show case type, party names, filing date, full docket history, and current status. Document viewing has been free since July 1, 2023. Records from before July 1, 2015 may not be fully available online.
To search in person, visit the courthouse at 306 South Marshall Street in Caledonia during regular business hours. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for free use. Staff at the clerk's office can help with copy requests and case questions. Parking is available in the north lot or on the street nearby. The court does not charge a fee to view records in person.
Copy fees are set by state law. Certified copies cost $14 each. Uncertified copies are free. Exemplified and certified copies cost $28. The scanning fee for large requests is $25 per 50 pages. You can pay court fines online at the Court Web Payment portal or by phone at (800) 657-3611 through the Minnesota Court Payment Center. To request copies by mail, write to the Court Administrator at 306 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, most government records in Minnesota are presumed public. Court records follow this rule along with the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Juvenile records, certain sealed cases, and restricted family court filings are not available to the public. If you are not sure about a particular file, contact the court administrator's office to ask.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide tool for searching Houston County court records. It covers every case type filed across all 87 Minnesota counties.
Search Houston County cases by name, case number, or citation. The system shows docket history and case status for all public cases filed in the county.
Criminal History Records
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains statewide criminal history records covering arrests, charges, and convictions from all counties in Minnesota. This system is separate from MCRO and may include data that is not in the court file. You can request a criminal history check through the BCA's online portal. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest records collected by law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are public data. Using both BCA records and MCRO gives the most thorough picture of a person's public criminal history in the state.
For Houston County Sheriff records, including local jail information and incident reports, contact the Houston County Sheriff's Office directly. The sheriff maintains booking data and detention records that are separate from the court system. Court records show what was charged, what happened at hearings, and what the final outcome was, but they do not include arrest details or booking sheets. Those come from the sheriff or arresting agency.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Houston County traffic fines and other court fees online without making a trip to Caledonia.
Have your case number or citation number ready before you start. Traffic fines can also be paid by phone at (800) 657-3611 through the Minnesota Court Payment Center.
Legal Help in Houston County
Free legal resources are available for Houston County residents. LawHelpMN provides free guides and court forms for family law, housing, and other civil matters. You can use the site at no cost. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website also has free self-help guides and printable forms for the most common case types.
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provides free civil legal assistance to people who meet income guidelines in southeastern Minnesota, including Houston County. Call (888) 575-2954 or visit smrls.org to find out if you qualify. For criminal matters, the Public Defender's Office covers Houston County. For attorney referrals, contact the Minnesota State Bar Association's lawyer referral service through the MSBA website. Legal aid and public defender services serve residents who cannot afford a private attorney.
Cities in Houston County
Houston County includes Caledonia (county seat), Houston, La Crescent, and other small communities. No cities in Houston County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All cases filed in the county are handled by the Houston County District Court in Caledonia.
Nearby Counties
Houston County borders Winona County to the north, Fillmore County to the west, and the states of Wisconsin and Iowa. Each Minnesota county has its own district court. Check the county where your case was filed if you are looking for records.