Find Court Records in Washington County

Washington County court records go back to 1847 and are kept at the District Court in Stillwater. The court is part of the Tenth Judicial District and covers all civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases filed in the county. Court Administrator Deb Lepper runs the records office. You can search many Washington County court records for free online through Minnesota Court Records Online, or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers the search tools, office details, record types, and legal resources available to residents and researchers.

Washington County District Court

The Washington County District Court is located in Stillwater, the county seat. It serves one of the fastest-growing counties in Minnesota, with a large suburban population east of the Twin Cities. The court sits in the Tenth Judicial District along with Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, and Wright counties. Court Administrator Deb Lepper leads the administration office, which handles all records requests.

Washington County holds some of the oldest court records in Minnesota. Divorce and court records date back to 1847. Marriage records begin in 1845 and birth and death records from 1870 are also on file. For old records that predate the digital age, an in-person visit or written request to the courthouse is the best approach. Newer records are available online through MCRO.

Search Washington County Court Records Online

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the free public access system for Washington County court records. You can search by person name, business name, case number, attorney name, or citation number. The system shows case type, filing date, party names, and hearing history. Visit publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us to search.

The screenshot below shows the MCRO search interface for Washington County court records. No account is needed for basic case searches.

MCRO gives free name and case number searches for Washington County cases filed in the District Court in Stillwater.

Some records are not available in MCRO. Civil commitment, domestic abuse, harassment, juvenile delinquency felonies for those 16 and up, and CHIPS cases don't show documents. Criminal records without a conviction require a case number to search. Documents filed before July 1, 2015 may also have limited online access. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, government data is public unless a law restricts it. Most Washington County court records are open to the public under that rule.

In-Person Records at the Stillwater Courthouse

You can visit the Washington County courthouse in Stillwater to view records in person. The courthouse has a public access terminal that lets anyone search statewide court records at no cost. Staff can also look up cases and pull documents from the file room. Bring a name or case number to make the search go faster.

The screenshot below is from the Washington County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. It shows contact information and the courthouse address in Stillwater.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch page for Washington County has address, phone, and contact details for the court administration office in Stillwater.

Uncertified copies are free. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Exemplified and certified copies run $28. You can request records by mail if you cannot visit in person. Send a written request to Washington County District Court, 14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. Include the case number, party names, and the specific documents you want. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can mail back your copies.

Paying Court Fines in Washington County

Washington County residents can pay many court-related fines online. The Court Web Payment system covers traffic citations and some criminal case fees. The screenshot below shows the payment portal.

Visit webpay.courts.state.mn.us to pay fines tied to Washington County court cases. You can also pay in person at the Stillwater courthouse during regular office hours.

The court office can tell you which fines are eligible for online payment. For questions about your case balance or payment options, call (651) 413-8030.

Washington County Records for Woodbury Residents

Woodbury is the largest city in Washington County, with a population of roughly 76,000. All court cases involving Woodbury residents are filed at the Washington County District Court in Stillwater. There is no separate city court for Woodbury. If you live in Woodbury and need to file a case or request court records, you go to the Stillwater courthouse or search MCRO online.

Woodbury also has a city records request process for non-court public data. You can submit a records request to the city through the Woodbury Records Request page. This covers city documents like meeting minutes, permits, and police reports. For guidance on how the city handles data under Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act, the city posts its data practices guidelines online. Court case records, however, go through the District Court, not the city.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest and incident data held by law enforcement agencies is public. Woodbury's police department maintains those records separately from the court. If you need an arrest record from the Woodbury Police Department, contact the department directly. For the court case that follows an arrest, search MCRO or visit the Washington County courthouse.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has many cities and communities. All court cases from these cities are handled at the Washington County District Court in Stillwater.

Other communities in Washington County include Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Maplewood, Mahtomedi, Lake Elmo, Hugo, and many more. All court filings for those cities go to the Washington County District Court.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders several counties in the Twin Cities metro area and the St. Croix River valley. Make sure you're searching the right court if you're not certain where a case was filed.