Search Roseau County Court Records
Roseau County court records are kept at the District Court on 5th Avenue SW in Roseau, Minnesota, and are open to the public under state law. You can search cases online for free through MCRO, visit the courthouse in person, or request copies by mail during regular business hours.
Roseau County Overview
Roseau County District Court
The Roseau County District Court sits at 606 5th Avenue SW, Room 20, in Roseau. Court Administrator Pamala Shaw manages records and handles public requests. The phone number is (218) 463-2541. Fax is (218) 463-1889. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free surface lot and on-street parking are nearby.
Roseau County is part of the Ninth Judicial District, which covers 17 counties across northwest Minnesota. The district spans a large geographic area from Aitkin and Cass in the south to Kittson and Roseau at the Canadian border. The court has original jurisdiction over all cases filed in Roseau County, including civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic matters. All case data is entered into the statewide system and is searchable through MCRO.
The weekly public court calendar is posted as a searchable PDF by 7:00 a.m. on each business day and updates hourly throughout the day. You can find the calendar through the court's page on mncourts.gov. Confidential cases are not listed on the public calendar.
| Court | Roseau County District Court - Ninth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address |
606 5th Avenue SW, Room 20 Roseau, MN 56751 |
| Phone | (218) 463-2541 |
| Fax | (218) 463-1889 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Pamala Shaw |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/roseau |
| Parking | Free surface lot and on-street parking |
Roseau County District Court Website
The Roseau County District Court page on mncourts.gov has contact details, courthouse hours, and links to the weekly public court calendar for the courthouse in Roseau.
Check this page for updates to court procedures, contact info for the clerk office, and any changes to how Roseau County cases are processed in the Ninth Judicial District.
How to Search Roseau County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the fastest way to search Roseau County court records. MCRO is available around the clock with no login required. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. Results include case type, filing date, party names, docket entries, and case status. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are typically available to view in digital form at no cost.
One important note: criminal cases without a conviction are not searchable by name in MCRO. You must use the case number to find those records. If you do not have the case number, contact Court Administration directly for help.
If you prefer to search in person, the courthouse has public access terminals open during business hours. These let you view records at no charge. To get copies, ask at the Court Administration window. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free. Exemplified copies cost $28. For mail requests, include the case number or party names, the documents you need, your contact info, and payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the response.
Under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.03, most government records in Minnesota are presumed public. Court records follow this rule along with the Minnesota Supreme Court's Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Most civil and criminal records are open to anyone. Juvenile files and sealed documents have restricted access.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide search tool for Roseau County court records. No account is needed to search cases filed in the county.
Search Roseau County cases by name or case number. The system covers every case type filed in the county and shows full docket history for all public records.
Criminal Records and the BCA
For criminal history data beyond what the court file contains, use the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) criminal history system. The BCA holds statewide arrest and conviction records gathered from law enforcement agencies across Minnesota. This system is separate from MCRO and covers much more than just Roseau County cases.
The BCA search costs a fee. Access it at chs.state.mn.us. For a full picture of someone's public record in Minnesota, pair a BCA check with an MCRO name search. MCRO shows what the court recorded. The BCA shows what law enforcement reported. Neither system alone is complete on its own.
Roseau County court records only cover cases filed in Roseau County. If a person has cases in other counties, you need to search each one in MCRO or run a statewide BCA check. Court records in MCRO typically go back several years for most case types, though the depth of historical records varies.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Roseau County traffic fines and other court fees online without making the trip to the courthouse in Roseau.
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 Roseau County
If you need help with a court matter in Roseau County, start with LawHelpMN. The site offers free plain-language guides and court forms for common case types including family law, housing, and civil matters. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website also has self-help forms and step-by-step instructions for self-represented parties.
Legal aid organizations serving northwestern Minnesota may be able to help income-qualifying residents in Roseau County. Call the state self-help center at (651) 435-6535, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They help you find forms and understand court procedures but do not give legal advice. For attorney referrals, contact the Minnesota State Bar Association at (612) 752-6699.
The clerk's office on 5th Avenue SW can answer questions about forms and procedures, but staff cannot advise you on your legal options. For more complex matters, it is worth talking to an attorney before you file or respond to a case. Many attorneys in the Ninth District region offer a free or reduced-cost first meeting.
Cities in Roseau County
Roseau County is a rural county in the far northwest of Minnesota, near the Canadian border. Roseau is the county seat. Other communities include Warroad, Badger, Greenbush, and Strathcona. None meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All residents file court cases at the Roseau County District Court in Roseau.
Nearby Counties
Roseau County sits at the top of the state and borders Canada to the north and North Dakota to the west. These Minnesota counties also border Roseau County. Each has its own district court.