Hennepin County Court Docket

Hennepin County court docket records cover all civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate cases filed in the Fourth Judicial District, which is the largest court district in Minnesota. You can search these records for free online through the Minnesota Courts Records Online system, or visit the Records Center at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis to look up cases, get copies of documents, or ask questions about a filing. The docket is public for most case types, showing case numbers, party names, hearing dates, and the full register of court actions.

Hennepin County District Court Locations

The Hennepin County District Court operates out of three courthouses spread across the county. The main location is the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. The court also holds sessions at the Brookdale location in Brooklyn Center and the Ridgedale location in Minnetonka, which serve the northern and western parts of the county. All three locations fall under the Fourth Judicial District, led by Chief Judge Kerry W. Meyer. The court administrator is Sara Gonsalves.

The Fourth District handles more than 95,000 cases per year, making it by far the busiest court in Minnesota. Civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate matters are all handled here. The scale of the operation means wait times for in-person service can be longer than at smaller county courts, so it is often faster to start with an online search before visiting in person.

The Fourth Judicial District page lists all court divisions, contact numbers, and resources for people with cases in Hennepin County. Family Court can be reached at (612) 348-6000 and Juvenile Justice at (612) 322-6999 for division-specific questions.

Hennepin County Records Center

The Records Center for the Hennepin County courts is on the Skyway Level of the Government Center at 300 S 6th Street, Minneapolis. This is where you go to request copies of filed documents, look up case files, and get certified copies of court records. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. Mail requests are also accepted.

The Records Center handles requests for all case types heard in the Fourth District. If you are not sure which division handled a particular case, staff can help you find the right file. For mail requests, send your written request and payment to: 4th District Court Records Center, 300 South 6th Street, #SK-0260, Minneapolis, MN 55487-0332.

The screenshot below comes from the Records Center information page at mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/records-center-hennepin.

The Records Center is the main point of contact for document requests from the Fourth District.

A self-help center is available at Government Center Level A-20 for people who need help with forms or have questions about court procedures. Self-help staff do not give legal advice but can walk you through the process for common filings.

How to Search Hennepin County Court Docket Records

The Minnesota Courts Records Online (MCRO) case search is the fastest way to look up Hennepin County court docket records. It is free and does not require an account. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Results show case type, filing date, assigned judge, current status, and the full register of actions.

MCRO also includes a document search for electronically filed documents, a hearing search for upcoming court dates, and a judgment search for money judgments. All four tools pull from the same statewide database and are updated as new filings come in.

The screenshot below shows the Hennepin County page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site at mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin.

This page links to all court divisions and the Records Center with contact details for each.

Note: For Fourth District cases, searching by exact name spelling gives the best results. Try name variations if the first search does not return what you need.

What Hennepin County Court Docket Records Show

Court docket records in Hennepin County follow the same format used across Minnesota district courts. Each case has a register of actions that lists every filing, hearing, motion, order, and judgment in the order they happened. This log lets you track a case from its initial filing to its final outcome.

Criminal dockets show the charges filed, bail conditions, hearings held, plea entries, and sentencing details. Civil dockets show the claims made, motions filed, rulings issued, and any judgments entered. Family court dockets may have restricted information depending on the nature of the case. Juvenile records are largely not open to the public under Minnesota law.

For cases where electronic documents were filed, you may be able to view the actual documents through MCRO's document search. Older cases or those with sealed documents will show docket entries but may not have viewable attachments. Call the Records Center at (612) 348-6000 for help with specific older files.

The access case records page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website explains what is public, what is restricted, and how to request records not available online. Privacy limits under Minnesota Statute 13.84 apply to some court data.

Copy Fees for Hennepin County Court Records

Searching cases online through MCRO is free. If you need a certified copy of a document, the fee is $14.00 per document under Minnesota Statute 357.31. Exemplified copies also cost $14.00. Fax transmission of records from the Records Center costs $25.00 for up to 50 pages. Uncertified copies accessed online carry no charge.

Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the court administrator for the correct amount. Include the case number, the party names, and a description of the documents you need. The Records Center will process your request and mail the copies back. Allow several business days for processing, especially for older cases that require pulling physical files.

The Minnesota court fees page has a full breakdown of all fees charged across Minnesota district courts, including filing fees and other service charges.

Legal Help and Resources in Hennepin County

The Fourth District self-help center at Government Center Level A-20 is a good first stop if you are handling a case on your own. Staff there can help you find forms, explain what different steps in the process mean, and point you toward other resources. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court.

Several legal aid groups serve Hennepin County residents who qualify based on income. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid covers the metro area and handles civil matters including family law, housing, and public benefits. The Volunteer Lawyers Network connects low-income residents with pro bono attorneys for civil matters. The Hennepin County Bar Association also maintains a lawyer referral service for those who need paid representation.

For criminal history searches beyond what MCRO shows, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers statewide records through its criminal history system. Expungement of court records is governed by Minnesota Statute 609A for eligible cases.

Fines tied to Hennepin County cases can be paid online at the Minnesota courts pay-a-fine portal. Have your case number or citation number ready before you start.

The image below is from the Fourth Judicial District page at mncourts.gov/find-courts/fourth-judicial-district.

This page covers all aspects of the Fourth District, including court divisions, judge assignments, and contact details.

Cities in Hennepin County

Hennepin County includes several of Minnesota's largest cities. The following cities have dedicated court docket pages on this site.

All cities in Hennepin County are served by the Fourth Judicial District. Records for any city in the county can be searched through MCRO or requested at the Government Center Records Center in Minneapolis.

Nearby Counties

Hennepin County borders several metro-area counties, each with its own district court and MCRO-searchable docket records.