Swift County Court Records Search
Swift County court records are kept at the District Court in Benson, the county seat. The court is part of the Eighth Judicial District and handles 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 during business hours.
Swift County Overview
Swift County District Court
The Swift County District Court sits in Benson and serves all of Swift County as part of the Eighth Judicial District. The court has original jurisdiction over every type of case filed in the county: civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic. Court Administrator Katie Bloch runs the clerk operations. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but closes from noon to 1:00 p.m. daily for lunch. Keep that midday closure in mind before you make the trip.
The courthouse is at 301 14th Street N. in Benson. Free parking is available in a lot next to the building and on the street nearby. Call (320) 843-2744 with questions about a case or a copy request. For email contact, use the form on mncourts.gov. The court does not publish a direct public email address.
Public access terminals at the courthouse give you free access to statewide court records. These terminals connect to the full Minnesota Court Information System, which covers all 87 counties. If you want to look at older paper files or get copies of physical documents, ask at the front counter during business hours. Have the case number or the full name of a party ready when you arrive.
| Court | Swift County District Court - Eighth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 14th Street N. Benson, MN 56215 |
| Phone | (320) 843-2744 |
| Fax | (320) 843-4124 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.) |
| Court Administrator | Katie Bloch |
| Parking | Free lot and street parking |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Eighth District |
Swift County District Court Website
The Eighth Judicial District page on mncourts.gov has contact details, location info, and links to court calendars and case resources for Swift County.
The court calendar for Swift County is posted at 7:00 a.m. each business day and updated hourly. You can get the weekly public court calendar as a searchable PDF from the Eighth District page on mncourts.gov.
How to Search Swift County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the best starting point for any Swift County case search. You can look up records by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. The system shows party names, case types, filing dates, docket entries, and current case status. It runs around the clock and needs no login to use. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally available to view in digital form.
MCRO does have limits. Documents are not available through name search for cases involving civil commitment, domestic abuse, harassment, or felony juvenile delinquency for those age 16 and older. Criminal cases without a conviction can only be found by case number, not by name. For older paper records, the courthouse in Benson is your best option. Staff can pull files and let you review them at the public counter during business hours.
Copy fees are set statewide. A certified copy costs $14 per document. An exemplified and certified copy is $28. Uncertified copies are free. You can mail copy requests to 301 14th Street N., Benson, MN 56215. Include the case number, party names, the specific documents you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return by mail. Pay court fines and some fees online through the Court Web Payment portal.
Under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.03, government data is presumed public in Minnesota unless classified otherwise by law. Court records follow this rule along with the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, which the Minnesota Supreme Court approves. Most Swift County civil and criminal records are open to any member of the public. Some records, like juvenile files, sealed orders, and certain family court documents, are not.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide system for looking up Swift County court records. It covers every case type across all 87 Minnesota counties.
Search Swift County cases by name, case number, or citation. MCRO shows full docket history and case status for all public cases filed in the county.
Criminal Records and BCA
For criminal history beyond what appears in court files, use the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) criminal history system. The BCA holds statewide arrest and conviction data collected by law enforcement agencies across Minnesota. This is a separate system from MCRO and can give a broader view of a person's criminal history in the state. The BCA system is available online for public searches.
Court records in MCRO show what happened during court proceedings. BCA records reflect what law enforcement agencies collected, including arrest data. Using both gives the most complete picture. For cases in Swift County specifically, the physical court file at the Benson courthouse has the most detail, including documents not always available digitally. If a case predates July 2015, in-person review or a written copy request to the court is likely necessary.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Swift County traffic fines and other court fees online without making a trip to Benson.
Have your case number or citation ready before you start. Traffic fines can also be paid by phone through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611.
Legal Help in Swift County
Several free and low-cost resources are available if you need legal help with a case in Swift County. LawHelpMN.org has plain-language guides, free court forms, and a directory of legal aid programs statewide. The site covers family law, housing, public benefits, and other civil matters. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website also has self-help guides and forms for most case types at no cost.
The Minnesota Court Self-Help Center is reachable by phone at (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff can answer questions about court procedures and forms but cannot give legal advice. For attorney referrals, the Minnesota State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Prairie Five Community Action, which serves west-central Minnesota, may also connect you with legal aid resources if you qualify by income.
Cities in Swift County
The county seat is Benson. No cities in Swift County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All cases filed anywhere in the county go through the Swift County District Court in Benson.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Swift County. Each has its own district court. If you are not sure which county your case is filed in, check the address where the event occurred or where you live.