Olmsted County Court Records
Olmsted County court records are maintained at the Olmsted County Courthouse at 151 Fourth Street SE in Rochester. The District Court handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases for the county. Olmsted County is home to Rochester, the state's third-largest city and the home of the Mayo Clinic. Court Administrator Hans Holland manages the records office. You can search Olmsted County court records free online through Minnesota Court Records Online, or visit the courthouse in Rochester. This page covers how to search records, what is public, property record access, and what fees apply for copies.
Olmsted County Overview
Olmsted County District Court
The Olmsted County District Court sits at 151 Fourth Street SE in downtown Rochester. Court Administrator Hans Holland oversees the office and manages all records access. The court belongs to the Third Judicial District, which covers 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona.
The courthouse keeps slightly different hours than most county courts. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday it is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the office opens one hour later at 9:00 a.m. but still closes at 4:30 p.m. Plan your visit accordingly. Parking is available in the lot in front of the building on 90-minute meters. The Holiday Inn ramp connects to the courthouse via skyway if you need more time.
| Court | Olmsted County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
Olmsted County Courthouse 151 Fourth Street SE Rochester, MN 55904 |
| Phone | (507) 722-7264 |
| Fax | (507) 285-8996 |
| Hours | Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Wed: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Administrator | Hans Holland |
| Judicial District | Third Judicial District |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/olmsted |
Public access terminals are available at the courthouse and at the Olmsted County Law Library. Both terminals connect to the statewide MCRO system, giving you full access to public court records at no charge during business hours. The Olmsted County Daily Court Calendar is posted at 7:00 p.m. for next-day activities and updated every hour starting at 7:00 a.m.
How to Search Olmsted County Court Records
Searching for Olmsted County court records is easy. Start online with MCRO or come to the courthouse in Rochester. Either way, basic case lookup is free.
Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us covers every county in the state. For Olmsted County cases, you can search by person name, business name, case number, citation number, or attorney name. The system shows all docket entries, party names, case status, and links to public documents for cases filed on or after July 1, 2015. MCRO has four tabs: Case Search, Document Search, Hearing Search, and Judgment Search. If you need to find a money judgment, use the Judgment Search tab to search by debtor name. Note that document viewing on MCRO carries a fee of $8.00 per document; basic case information is always free.
In-person access at the courthouse is free. Staff can look up cases and pull files. The Olmsted County Law Library also has public access terminals. Bring a valid ID. If you want to submit a mail request, include the case number, party names, specific documents needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Written requests are typically handled within 10 business days.
Note: Minn. Stat. § 13.03 gives you the right to view public government data at no cost before deciding whether to order copies.
Minnesota Court Records Online for Olmsted County
The Minnesota Court Records Online system gives free public access to Olmsted County case records, covering civil, criminal, family, and probate filings in Rochester and the rest of the county.
MCRO is updated daily and available any time. Search by name or case number to find current and past Olmsted County cases without needing an account.
Olmsted County Property Records
Olmsted County provides free online access to property records through its public property data portal. This is separate from court records but often relevant for civil cases, judgment liens, and real estate matters. The county's Property Records and Licensing Department maintains this database.
The LandShark Online Research tool lets you search deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents. This is useful if you need to trace ownership history, check for judgment liens, or look at mortgage documents. LandShark is available through the county and covers records from the Property Records and Licensing Department, not from the District Court.
The county also has a public property data portal that shows ownership, tax, and parcel information at no charge. You can access the Olmsted County public property records portal online to look up parcel data, ownership information, and assessment records for any property in the county.
Olmsted County Property Data Portal
The Olmsted County public property records portal provides free access to parcel data, ownership, and assessment information for properties throughout the county.
The property portal is useful for checking who owns a parcel, what liens are attached, and what the assessed value is. It is a free public resource from Olmsted County government.
Types of Court Records in Olmsted County
The Olmsted County District Court keeps records for all case types it handles. Criminal records include misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony charges filed in Rochester and across the county. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement data tied to those cases is public. Conviction records are part of the permanent public record. Cases that were dismissed or acquitted may still appear but could be subject to expungement petitions.
Civil records cover lawsuits between individuals and businesses, contract disputes, personal injury cases, and small claims. Family records include divorce and dissolution cases, custody orders, parenting time schedules, and child support determinations. Most family court orders are public. Financial documents submitted in those cases are restricted. Divorce case files in Olmsted County are generally public, but financial information within those files is often restricted by local practice.
Probate records cover wills, estate filings, guardianships, and conservatorships. All are public. Juvenile records are sealed. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office at 101 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904 (507-328-6800) maintains a free online warrant search database and a searchable list of current inmates.
Pay Olmsted County Court Fines Online
The Minnesota Court Web Payment portal lets you pay traffic tickets and court fees for Olmsted County cases online without visiting the Rochester courthouse.
Enter your citation or case number to look up your balance and pay securely online. The portal handles eligible cases from the Olmsted County District Court around the clock.
Copy Fees and Courthouse Costs
Olmsted County has a slightly different copy fee structure compared to many other Minnesota counties. The first page of a copy costs $10.00. Each additional page is $5.00. Certified copies carry an additional $16.00 per document on top of the per-page cost. Viewing public records in person is always free.
Online document access through MCRO charges $8.00 per document for viewing. Basic case information, party names, and docket entries remain free on MCRO. The statewide scanning fee of $25 per 50 pages applies for large reproduction requests. Filing fees follow the standard Minnesota schedule: $310 for a civil first paper plus the law library fee, $100 for motions and responses, and $65 for conciliation court filings.
Income-based fee waivers are available. The In Forma Pauperis process lets the court waive fees for people who qualify. Get the petition form from the court clerk or at mncourts.gov. The judge reviews your income information and decides whether to grant the waiver.
Olmsted County District Court on mncourts.gov
The Olmsted County page on mncourts.gov has courthouse hours, the daily court calendar, contact details for the court administrator, and links to court forms.
Use this page to check the daily calendar, get the courthouse address in Rochester, and access local forms and filing information for the Olmsted County District Court.
Legal Help in Olmsted County
Olmsted County has several legal aid and attorney resources. Because it serves a large population anchored by Rochester, the county has more robust access to legal services than most rural counties in the state.
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) provides free civil legal help to low-income residents. They handle family law, housing, public benefits, and other civil matters. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid may also serve parts of the region. For attorney referrals, call the Minnesota State Bar Association at (612) 752-6699 or search at mnbar.org. LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org has free self-help guides and links to all court forms. The MN Judicial Branch Self-Help Center is at (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All official court forms are free at mncourts.gov.
Cities in Olmsted County
Olmsted County is home to Rochester, one of Minnesota's largest cities. All court cases in the county are filed at the Olmsted County Courthouse in Rochester.
Other communities in Olmsted County include Byron, Eyota, Oronoco, Pine Island, Plainview, and Stewartville. All court filings go through the District Court at 151 Fourth Street SE in Rochester.
Nearby Counties
Olmsted County is surrounded by other counties in southeastern Minnesota. These counties are all part of the Third Judicial District.