Search Lake of the Woods County Court Records
Lake of the Woods County court records are kept at the county courthouse in Baudette, part of Minnesota's Ninth Judicial District. The court handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases filed in the county. You can search records online through the free Minnesota Court Records Online system or visit the courthouse in person. Court Administrator Pamala Shaw oversees the clerk's office. Most records are public under Minnesota law, and a public access terminal is available at the courthouse for in-person record searches.
Lake of the Woods County Overview
Lake of the Woods County District Court
The Lake of the Woods County District Court sits at the county courthouse at 206 8th Avenue SE, Suite 250, Baudette, MN 56623. It is part of the Ninth Judicial District, which covers a large stretch of northern Minnesota. Court Administrator Pamala Shaw runs the clerk's office. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Note the earlier start time compared to most other Minnesota county courts, which typically open at 8:00 a.m. Free parking is available in the surface lot and on the street near the courthouse.
Lake of the Woods is the most recently established county in Minnesota, becoming the state's 87th county in 1922. It was previously part of Beltrami County. In 2001 the county opened a new government center, which replaced the old courthouse. The court handles the full range of case types, including civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic matters, for one of the smallest counties in the state by population.
If you are searching for a case by number in MCRO, Lake of the Woods County uses the prefix 39 at the start of its case numbers. Enter 39 at the beginning of the case number when searching by case number. Keep in mind that new citations may take up to 30 days to be entered into the system, so a recent traffic stop may not yet show up online.
| Court | Lake of the Woods County District Court - Ninth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address |
Lake of the Woods County Courthouse 206 8th Avenue SE, Suite 250 Baudette, MN 56623 |
| Phone | (218) 634-1451 |
| Fax | (218) 634-9444 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Pamala Shaw |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/lakeofthewoods |
Lake of the Woods County District Court Website
The Lake of the Woods County District Court page on mncourts.gov provides current contact details, court hours, and links to case search tools for the Baudette courthouse.
This page is the best place to confirm current hours and contact info for the courthouse. Note the 7:30 a.m. opening time, which is earlier than most Minnesota county courts.
How to Search Lake of the Woods County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system covers all Lake of the Woods County cases and is the easiest way to search remotely. Look up cases by name, case number, or citation. The system shows party names, case types, filing dates, registers of actions, and current case status. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally available to view online. MCRO is available 24 hours a day with no account or login required.
When searching by case number, remember to enter 39 at the beginning of the number. This is the county-specific prefix for Lake of the Woods cases. Citations issued in the county may take up to 30 days to appear in the system, so if you just received a ticket, wait a few weeks before searching if you do not find it right away.
For in-person access, a public access terminal is available at the courthouse during business hours. You can view records on that terminal for free. To request copies, contact the court at (218) 634-1451. Certified copies of court documents cost $14. Uncertified copies are free. Exemplified and certified copies are $28. For mail requests, send a written request with the case number, party names, and documents needed to: Lake of the Woods County District Court, 206 8th Avenue SE, Suite 250, Baudette, MN 56623.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, government data is presumed public in Minnesota unless specifically classified otherwise. Most civil and criminal court records are open to any member of the public. Juvenile records and certain family court documents have restricted access.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide system for searching Lake of the Woods County court records. It covers all 87 Minnesota counties and every case type.
Search by name, case number, or citation. Enter the county prefix 39 when searching by case number. Documents filed from July 2015 onward are generally viewable online.
Criminal Records and Online Payments
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains the state criminal history database, which is separate from MCRO. The BCA system covers statewide arrest and conviction records. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data collected by law enforcement is public in Minnesota. If you need to look up someone's arrest history beyond what appears in the court file, the BCA system is the right place to check. The Lake of the Woods County Sheriff's Office handles local law enforcement records for the county.
You can pay many fines online at the Court Web Payment portal. This lets you handle traffic fines and other court fees without driving to Baudette. You can also pay by phone by calling (800) 657-3611 or, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, (651) 281-3219. Note that credit card payments by phone carry a $1.50 fee. Have your case number ready before you call or log in.
Pay Lake of the Woods County Court Fines
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Lake of the Woods County traffic fines and court fees online without going to the courthouse in Baudette.
Have your case or citation number ready before you start. Phone payments are available at (800) 657-3611 with a $1.50 credit card fee.
Legal Help in Lake of the Woods County
LawHelpMN offers free plain-language guides, court forms, and civil legal aid information for residents across Minnesota. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website has self-help guides and free forms for most case types. Both resources are useful if you need to handle a matter without an attorney.
For an attorney referral, the Minnesota State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. If you qualify based on income, legal aid organizations in northern Minnesota may provide help at no cost. Lake of the Woods is one of the more remote counties in the state, so knowing about remote options is helpful. The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers remote hearing options for some case types, and remote self-help services may be available by phone. Contact the court at (218) 634-1451 to ask about current options.
Cities in Lake of the Woods County
Baudette is the county seat of Lake of the Woods County and the location of the district court. No cities in Lake of the Woods County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All court filings for the county are handled at the courthouse in Baudette.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Lake of the Woods County in Minnesota. Each has its own district court. The county also borders Canada to the north.