Benton County Court Docket
Benton County court docket records are public records that document every action taken in cases filed with the district court in Foley. The court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters for all of Benton County. You can search court docket records for free through the statewide MCRO portal, or stop by the courthouse on Highway 23 in Foley to look things up in person. Certified copies are available through the court administrator's office for a fee.
Benton County Overview
Benton County District Court Information
The Benton County District Court is located in Foley, the county seat. Court Administrator Kay J. B. Betterly oversees court operations, including record requests and filings. The court is part of the Seventh Judicial District, covering west-central Minnesota.
| Address | 615 Highway 23, Foley, MN 56329 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (320) 968-5205 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | Seventh Judicial District |
| Court Administrator | Kay J. B. Betterly |
The Benton County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website has current contact details and links for local court resources. If you plan to file documents or request records in person, call (320) 968-5205 in advance to confirm any changes to hours or procedures.
The Benton County court directory page on mncourts.gov provides address, phone, and judicial district information for the local court.
This screenshot shows the Benton County court listing on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, including contact details and district assignment.
Searching Benton County Court Docket Records
The main tool for online access is MCRO at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The case search is free and open to everyone. Enter a name or case number, apply the Benton County filter, and you'll see a list of matching cases. Click any result to see the full register of actions for that case.
The register of actions shows every event in the case in order by date. For each entry, you see the date, the type of action, and any order or ruling that resulted. This makes it easy to track what has happened and what is still pending. New filings and hearing results typically appear in MCRO within a day or two of occurring.
The Hearing Search shows scheduled court hearings by date and county. This is useful if you want to know when a case is next set for hearing without opening each case record individually. The Judgment Search is designed for looking up civil money judgments in Benton County cases.
Some records don't appear in public searches. Juvenile cases, sealed records, and data restricted under Minn. Stat. § 13.84 are not available through MCRO's public access. Call the court if you believe a record exists but can't locate it through the online portal.
The courthouse also has public access terminals where you can run searches on-site. Court staff can assist if you need help with the search system or aren't sure how to locate a specific record.
What Benton County Court Docket Records Include
A court docket record is the official log of a case. The Benton County court docket records show party names, case numbers, assigned judges, filing dates, all documents submitted, all hearings scheduled and held, all motions and rulings, and the final outcome. This covers the complete lifecycle of a case from initial filing through appeals, if any.
The Benton County District Court handles criminal matters (petty misdemeanors through felonies), civil cases of all types, family law (divorce, paternity, custody, child support, protection orders), probate and estate administration, juvenile matters, and traffic cases. The court also handles conciliation court filings, which are small claims cases involving lower dollar amounts that go through a simpler process.
For criminal cases, the docket is especially detailed. It shows the exact charges, any bond conditions, plea entries, requests for continuances, trial dates, verdicts, and sentencing orders. If someone is placed on probation, the docket reflects the conditions. Any modifications to those conditions show up as later entries. This trail of information is what makes the court docket one of the most thorough public records available.
Benton County Court Record Copy Fees
Online searching through MCRO is free. You can view any public case index and its register of actions without paying anything. Fees come in when you need printed or certified copies of court records.
Certified copies cost $14.00. This rate is set under Minn. Stat. § 357.31. Uncertified copies are typically available at a lower per-page rate. Call (320) 968-5205 or visit the court administrator's office to get current pricing for uncertified copies before you submit your request.
To request copies by mail, send your request to Benton County Court Administration, 615 Highway 23, Foley, MN 56329. Include the case number, party names, a description of the documents you need, and payment. If you're not sure of the exact amount owed, call first so you can send the right payment with your request.
The court fees page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site gives statewide fee information and explains what you can expect to pay for different types of court services.
Note: Certified copies are generally required when you need to present the document in another legal proceeding or to a government agency. Uncertified copies are fine for personal reference or research purposes.
Self-Help and Legal Resources for Benton County
People who handle their own court matters in Benton County can use the Self-Help Centers run by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. These centers help you find forms, understand court procedures, and prepare filings. They're a useful resource if you don't have a lawyer and need to navigate the system on your own.
For official criminal history information, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide system at chs.state.mn.us. The BCA system is separate from the court docket and pulls from law enforcement records rather than court filings. The two sources complement each other but are not the same.
Minnesota's Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. § 13.90 governs public access to court records and other government data. Not all data in a court file is publicly available, even when the case itself is open. If you're unsure whether a particular document is accessible, the court administrator's office can tell you before you make a formal request.
For those looking to seal a criminal record, expungement procedures are governed by Minn. Stat. § 609A. An expunged record is sealed from public view, meaning it won't appear in court docket searches. Regional legal aid organizations can help you understand whether you qualify and guide you through the process.
Cities in Benton County
Benton County includes Foley as the county seat, along with other communities such as Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud (a portion), and Rice. All court matters for residents of these communities are handled through the Benton County District Court in Foley.
None of the communities in Benton County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents of all Benton County communities use the same courthouse and the same court docket portal for accessing case records.
Nearby Counties
Benton County is adjacent to several Minnesota counties, each with its own district court system. Court docket pages for neighboring counties are linked below.