Find Wright County Court Records
Wright County court records are maintained at the District Court in Buffalo, the county seat. The court is part of the Tenth Judicial District and handles all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases filed in the county. Records can be searched online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online, or you can visit the courthouse in Buffalo during regular business hours.
Wright County Overview
Wright County District Court
The Wright County District Court is in Buffalo and serves all of Wright County as part of the Tenth Judicial District. With a population of around 140,000, Wright County is one of the faster-growing counties in the state and sees a significant volume of court filings. The court has original jurisdiction in all civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases. Court Administrator Monica Tschumper runs the clerk operations. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The courthouse is at 3700 Braddock Ave NE in Buffalo, MN 55313. Free parking is available in a surface lot and on the street nearby. Call (763) 760-6300 for questions about cases, copy requests, or filing procedures. Email contact is available through the form on mncourts.gov. The court posts both a weekly public court calendar and a District Referee weekly calendar each business day at 7:00 a.m., updated hourly. These are available as searchable PDFs on the Tenth District page of mncourts.gov.
Public access terminals at the Buffalo courthouse connect to the Minnesota Court Information System statewide. Use them at no cost to search records from all 87 Minnesota counties. For older paper records or case files not in the digital system, ask staff at the counter. They can pull physical files for in-person review. Given the county's size and case volume, having the case number or full party name ready will save time at the counter.
| Court | Wright County District Court - Tenth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | 3700 Braddock Ave NE Buffalo, MN 55313 |
| Phone | (763) 760-6300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Court Administrator | Monica Tschumper |
| Parking | Free surface lot and street parking |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Tenth District |
Wright County District Court Website
The Tenth Judicial District page on mncourts.gov covers Wright County along with Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, and Washington counties. It lists court contacts, locations, and case resources.
The court posts a weekly public calendar and a District Referee calendar each morning. Both are available as searchable PDFs and are updated hourly throughout the business day.
How to Search Wright County Court Records
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the fastest way to search Wright County court records. Search by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. The system shows party names, case types, filing dates, full docket histories, and current case status. No account is needed, and the system runs 24 hours a day. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally viewable online in digital form.
Some records 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 without a conviction can only be found by case number. For pre-2015 records or physical files not in the online system, visit the courthouse at 3700 Braddock Ave NE in Buffalo. Staff can retrieve paper records for in-person review during business hours. With a county this size, arriving with the exact case number is particularly helpful.
Copy fees are uniform statewide. A certified copy is $14. Exemplified and certified copies are $28. Uncertified copies are free. To request copies by mail, write to Wright County District Court, 3700 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313. Include case number, party names, what you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Pay traffic fines and some court fees online at the Court Web Payment portal. Phone payment for traffic fines is available at (800) 657-3611.
Under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.03, government data in Minnesota is presumed public unless classified otherwise by law. Wright County court records follow that standard along with the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. Most civil and criminal case files are open to any member of the public. Juvenile records, sealed documents, and some family court filings are not available for general public access.
MCRO - Minnesota Court Records Online
The MCRO portal is the free statewide system for searching Wright County court records. It covers all case types across all 87 Minnesota counties.
Search Wright County cases by name, case number, or citation. MCRO shows full docket history and current case status for all public cases filed in the county.
Criminal Records and BCA
Statewide criminal history data is available through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) criminal history system. The BCA holds arrest and conviction records from law enforcement agencies across Minnesota. This is a separate system from MCRO and covers activity statewide, not just Wright County. The BCA is available for public searches online without special authorization for basic record lookups.
MCRO shows the judicial history of a case filed in Wright County. The BCA shows the law enforcement record, including arrests and dispositions from agencies across the state. Using both gives the most thorough view of a person's public criminal record. For the complete case file including physical documents and any records older than 2015, an in-person visit to the Buffalo courthouse is your best option. The court handles a large volume of cases, so be prepared to wait if you visit during busy hours.
Pay Court Fines Online
The Court Web Payment system lets you pay Wright County traffic fines and other court fees online without making a trip to the courthouse in Buffalo.
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 Wright County
Several legal resources are available if you need help with a Wright County case. LawHelpMN.org has free court forms, plain-language guides, and a directory of legal aid organizations throughout the state. The site covers family law, housing, public benefits, and other civil matters. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website offers self-help guides and forms for most case types at no cost to the public.
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 help you understand forms and court procedures, though they do not provide legal advice. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid serves several counties in the region and may assist income-qualifying residents with civil legal issues in Wright County. The Minnesota State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service if you need a private attorney. Legal aid for criminal matters may be available through the State Public Defender's office if you qualify.
Cities in Wright County
The county seat is Buffalo. Wright County has several growing communities, but no cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All cases filed in the county are handled by the Wright County District Court in Buffalo.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Wright County. Each has its own district court. If you are not sure which county your case belongs to, check the address where you live or where the matter occurred.