Search Ramsey County Court Records

Ramsey County court records are kept at the District Court on Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul. You can search case files online through Minnesota Court Records Online or visit the courthouse in person. Ramsey County is home to the state capital and is the second most populous county in Minnesota. The court handles thousands of civil, criminal, family, and probate cases each year across its main location and several branch facilities.

Ramsey County District Court

The Ramsey County District Court is the only court in the Second Judicial District. It serves Ramsey County alone, which makes it one of the few single-county judicial districts in the state. Court Administrator Heather Kendall runs the clerk side of operations. The main courthouse is at 15 W. Kellogg Blvd. in downtown St. Paul, Room 72. The main phone number is (651) 266-8266. For records, call the direct records line at (651) 266-8237.

The court has multiple locations in St. Paul and nearby Maplewood. Family court and protective order cases are handled at the Juvenile and Family Justice Center at 25 West 7th Street. A Suburban Court operates at 2050 White Bear Ave in Maplewood for cases from the eastern part of the county. Civil commitment cases go to a separate office at 402 University Ave E, Suite 100. Each location serves a different function, so knowing which one handles your case saves time.

Chief Judge Sara R. Grewing leads the Second District. Assistant Chief Judge Kelly Olmstead assists. Remote hearings are available by Zoom for certain case types. The court also has a Housing Court for landlord-tenant cases, a Family Court division, and electronic filing for approved case types.

Ramsey County Court Locations

Ramsey County has several court facilities spread across St. Paul and Maplewood. Knowing which location to go to depends on your case type. Most civil, criminal, and probate cases go through the main courthouse on Kellogg Boulevard.

The State Law Library is also in St. Paul. It is at Room G25, Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155. The phone number is (651) 297-7651. This library is open to the public and holds legal reference materials, statutes, and court rules going back many years.

How to Search Ramsey County Court Records

You can search Ramsey County court records online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The system lets you search by person name, business name, case number, citation number, or attorney bar number. Most civil, criminal, and family case data shows up in results. Criminal cases without a conviction must be searched by case number only. Name searches will not return those cases.

Document downloads on MCRO cost $8 per document. Basic case information is free. Documents not available through MCRO include civil commitment, domestic abuse, harassment, juvenile delinquency (felony, age 16+), and CHIPS cases. For those, you must go to the courthouse in person or contact the appropriate division. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, the public has the right to inspect government data, and most court records fall under that right.

To request copies by mail, send your request to the District Court Records Center at 15 W. Kellogg Blvd., Room 72, St. Paul, MN 55102. Include the case number or party names, the specific documents you need, your contact info, and payment for certified copies. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Certified copies cost $14 each. Uncertified copies are free.

Online Tools for Ramsey County Records

The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers several online tools for Ramsey County. MCRO is the main public search portal. The Court Web Payment system lets you pay fines and fees without visiting the courthouse. You can also check the court's page at mncourts.gov for calendars, forms, self-help resources, and information about your hearing.

The Ramsey County District Court page at mncourts.gov provides court hours, contact details, calendar links, and access to online filing and self-help tools.

The MCRO portal at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the free statewide search tool for Ramsey County court cases. Search by name or case number to find case status, filings, and docket entries.

The Court Web Payment portal handles online payments for fines and court fees tied to Ramsey County cases. You can pay by credit or debit card.

Historical Court Records in Ramsey County

Ramsey County has a long court history. Civil case files from 1858 to 1902 and pre-1953 criminal files are held at the Minnesota Historical Society. If you are researching old cases or genealogy, the Historical Society is the right place to start. Their collections include early district court records that predate the electronic records system.

For more recent records, the District Court keeps files on site. Court Administration can help you locate cases from the past several decades. Older paper files may take more time to pull. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement data such as arrest records and incident reports are also public in most cases, though they are managed separately from court files.

Ramsey County Court Fees

Ramsey County uses a $15 law library surcharge added to most filing fees. A civil or family first paper costs $310 base plus $15, totaling $325. A motion or response is $100. Jury trial requests add $100 to the filing cost. Expungement filings cost $325. Adoption of a U.S.-born child costs $400. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free.

You can pay in person by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Phone payments by credit card are accepted for some case types. Mail payments should be by check or money order made payable to Ramsey County Court Administration. The court also accepts electronic filing for certain case types, which may allow online payment as part of the filing process.

Legal Help in Ramsey County

Several groups help people with court cases in Ramsey County. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and Volunteer Lawyers Network both serve the St. Paul area. The state self-help center is available remotely Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (651) 435-6535. Staff can walk you through forms and procedures for common case types.

LawHelpMN has self-help guides at lawhelpmn.org. All court forms are free at mncourts.gov. The Minnesota State Bar Association lawyer referral service can be reached at (612) 752-6699. If you need help finding a family law attorney, divorce attorney, or criminal defense lawyer in St. Paul, that line is a good first call.

Cities in Ramsey County

Ramsey County includes St. Paul, the state capital, along with a number of inner-ring suburbs. All court cases in the county are filed at the Ramsey County District Court or one of its branch locations.

Other communities in Ramsey County include Maplewood, Roseville, Shoreview, Arden Hills, Little Canada, North St. Paul, Mounds View, New Brighton, and others. All court cases from these cities go through the Ramsey County District Court system.

Nearby Counties

Ramsey County borders four other metro-area counties. If your case involves an address in another county, you may need to file there instead.