Search Traverse County Court Records
Traverse County court records are kept at the District Court in Wheaton, the county seat. The court is part of the Eighth Judicial District and has jurisdiction over civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases filed in the county. Records can be searched online through Minnesota Court Records Online at no cost, or you can visit the courthouse in person on any weekday.
Traverse County Overview
Traverse County District Court
The Traverse County District Court is in Wheaton and serves all of Traverse County as part of the Eighth Judicial District. It has original jurisdiction in all civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases filed in the county. Court Administrator Rachel Schmidt runs the clerk office. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Traverse County is one of Minnesota's smaller counties, so the court handles a lower volume of cases than most. That said, the same statewide rules and procedures apply here as everywhere else in Minnesota.
The courthouse is at 702 Second Avenue N. in Wheaton. The mailing address includes P.O. Box 867, Wheaton, MN 56296. Free parking is available in the lot near the courthouse. Call the court at (320) 422-6010 for case questions or copy requests. Fax is available at (320) 563-4311. Email contact goes through the mncourts.gov form.
Public access terminals at the courthouse connect to the Minnesota Court Information System statewide. Use them to search records from any of the 87 counties in Minnesota at no cost. For older paper records stored locally, ask at the counter. Staff can retrieve files for in-person review during business hours. The weekly court calendar is posted at 7:00 a.m. each day and updated hourly. The Eighth District general calendar is also available on mncourts.gov.
| Court | Traverse County District Court - Eighth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | 702 Second Avenue N., P.O. Box 867 Wheaton, MN 56296 |
| Phone | (320) 422-6010 |
| Fax | (320) 563-4311 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Rachel Schmidt |
| Parking | Free parking lot |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Eighth District |
Traverse County District Court Website
The Eighth Judicial District page on mncourts.gov has contact details, location information, and links to court calendars and resources for Traverse County.
Traverse County is served by the Eighth Judicial District. The court calendar is posted each morning and includes all scheduled hearings for the county that day.
How to Search Traverse County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the main tool for searching Traverse County court records. You can search by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. The system returns party names, case types, filing dates, docket histories, and case status in real time. No account is needed, and the system is available at all hours. Case documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally viewable in digital form.
Some case types are restricted in MCRO. Name searches do not return documents for civil commitment, domestic abuse, harassment, or felony juvenile delinquency cases for those 16 and older. Criminal cases with no conviction are only findable by case number. For older cases or physical court files, visit the Wheaton courthouse in person. Staff can assist with record retrieval during regular business hours. Have the case number or a full party name ready to speed things up.
Copy fees are the same statewide. Certified copies cost $14 each. Exemplified and certified copies are $28. Uncertified copies are free. Mail copy requests to Traverse County District Court, 702 Second Avenue N., P.O. Box 867, Wheaton, MN 56296. Include the case number, names of parties, the documents you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Pay traffic fines and some court fees online through the Court Web Payment portal.
Minnesota law under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.03 treats government data as public unless a specific law says otherwise. Court records in Traverse County follow this rule and the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Most civil and criminal files are open to any member of the public. Juvenile records, sealed documents, and some family filings are not accessible to the general public.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide tool for finding Traverse County court records. It covers all case types across every Minnesota county.
Search Traverse County cases by name, case number, or citation. MCRO shows complete docket history and current status for all public cases in the county.
Criminal Records and BCA
Statewide criminal history beyond what the court file shows is available through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) criminal history system. The BCA compiles arrest and conviction data from law enforcement agencies across the state. It is a separate database from MCRO and is available for public searches online. The BCA can show criminal activity from other Minnesota counties, not just those from Traverse County.
Court records tell you what happened in the courtroom. BCA records tell you what law enforcement reported, including arrests and dispositions statewide. Using both together provides the most complete picture. For full case files from Traverse County, including physical documents and older paper records, the courthouse in Wheaton is the definitive source. Staff there can pull files upon request during regular hours.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Traverse County traffic fines and other court fees online without going to the courthouse in Wheaton.
Have your case number or citation number ready when you log in. Traffic fines can also be paid by phone through the Minnesota Court Payment Center at (800) 657-3611.
Legal Help in Traverse County
Legal resources are available if you have a case in Traverse County and need help understanding your options. LawHelpMN.org provides free court forms, plain-language legal guides, and a directory of legal aid programs throughout the state. It covers family law, housing, benefits, and other civil legal issues. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website has self-help guides and forms for most case types at no charge.
The Minnesota Court Self-Help Center can be reached by phone at (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff there answer questions about court forms and procedures but do not provide legal advice. Prairie Five Community Action, which serves west-central Minnesota, may offer connections to legal aid for qualifying residents. The Minnesota State Bar Association has an attorney referral service if you need to find a lawyer licensed in Minnesota.
Cities in Traverse County
The county seat is Wheaton. No cities in Traverse County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All court cases filed in Traverse County are handled by the district court in Wheaton.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Traverse County. Each has its own district court. Traverse County also borders South Dakota and North Dakota to the west and north.