Mower County Court Docket
The Mower County court docket contains the official record of all cases filed in the district court. Civil, criminal, family, and probate matters are tracked here. The court is located at the Justice Center in Austin, the county seat. You can search docket records at no cost through Minnesota Court Records Online, or visit the courthouse in person. Docket entries show case numbers, party names, filing dates, scheduled hearings, and the full register of actions for each case filed in Mower County.
Mower County Overview
Mower County District Court
The Mower County District Court sits at the Justice Center in Austin and serves as the trial court for all case types in the county. The court administrator's office manages the docket, processes filings, and handles copy requests. Staff can answer questions about finding cases and getting documents. If you plan to visit, calling ahead to confirm hours is always wise.
| Court | Mower County District Court (Justice Center) |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 1st St NE, Austin, MN 55912 |
| Phone | (507) 437-9535 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | Third Judicial District |
The Mower County District Court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website has current contact details and links to court services. Check this page for any updates before you visit.
Mower County is part of the Third Judicial District, which covers counties in southeastern Minnesota. Judges in the district may rotate among counties, so your case could be heard by a judge who also handles cases in neighboring counties.
How to Search Mower County Court Docket Records
Minnesota Court Records Online, called MCRO, is the main tool for searching Mower County court docket records. You can access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The system is free and open to the public. No registration or login is needed for basic searches.
Go to the case search page and type in a name or case number. Select Mower County from the filter to narrow your results. The system shows party names, case number, filing date, case type, and current status. Clicking into any result opens the full register of actions, a complete chronological log of every filing, hearing, and ruling in the case.
Other MCRO tools are also helpful. The Hearing Search lets you find cases scheduled on a specific date. The Judgment Search covers money judgments in civil cases. Both are free. For viewing actual court documents, the Document Search tool is available for some case types.
Some records are not publicly searchable. Juvenile cases, sealed files, and records restricted under Minn. Stat. § 13.84 won't show up in MCRO. Call (507) 437-9535 or visit the courthouse if you need a record that doesn't appear online.
Public access terminals at the Justice Center in Austin connect to MCRO and are available during business hours. Staff at the front counter can help you search or explain how to request physical copies.
Note: Always filter by Mower County when using MCRO to keep your results focused on local cases.
What Mower County Court Docket Records Contain
A court docket is the official running log of everything that happens in a case. Each entry in the Mower County court docket records the date, the type of action, and any orders or rulings made. You can follow a case from the initial complaint through service, motions, hearings, and the final judgment or dismissal.
The Mower County District Court handles criminal cases from petty misdemeanors to felonies, civil matters involving money claims and property, family law cases including divorce, custody, and support, and probate cases dealing with estates and wills. Traffic violations also go through this court. Each case type generates its own set of docket entries.
For any case, the record includes party names, case number, assigned judge, filing date, and the full register of actions. The register is a line-by-line account of every filing and hearing, including the outcome. Court docket records are public in most circumstances and available to anyone who has a reason to look at them.
The Mower County court page on mncourts.gov gives an overview of the court and links to case access tools.
This screenshot shows the Mower County page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, where you can find contact details and links to online case search tools.
Court Docket Copy Fees in Mower County
Online searches through MCRO are free. You can view the case index, check hearing dates, and read the register of actions at no charge. There's nothing to pay to search for a case online.
Physical copies have a cost. A certified copy of a court record in Mower County is $14.00, as set by state law under Minn. Stat. § 357.31. Uncertified copies may carry a per-page fee as well. Call (507) 437-9535 before visiting or mailing a request to confirm what you'll need to pay.
To request copies by mail, write to Mower County Court Administration, 201 1st St NE, Austin, MN 55912. Include the case number if you have it, the names of the parties, and a check or money order for the correct fee. Staff will contact you if more payment is needed.
See the Court Fees page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website for the current statewide schedule before you send any payment.
Accessing Court Records at the Mower County Justice Center
The Justice Center in Austin is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Public access terminals inside the building connect directly to the MCRO database. You can use them to search cases during regular hours. Staff at the front counter can help if you need guidance or want to review a physical file.
Older case files that predate electronic records may only exist in paper form. If you need a file from an earlier period, ask the court administrator's office whether it's available and how to arrange a review. For active cases, in-person access lets you review the full file and request certified copies on the spot.
New filings are accepted at the counter during regular hours. Bring all copies of your documents and any required fees. Self-represented parties file in person. Attorneys in active cases typically use the state's electronic filing system.
Legal Help Resources for Mower County
The Minnesota Judicial Branch operates Self-Help Centers at courthouses around the state. These centers are free and offer help with forms and procedures. Staff can explain the process and point you to the right resources, but they don't give legal advice.
Legal aid organizations in southeastern Minnesota may provide free or low-cost civil legal help for those who qualify. Contact the court administrator's office or the Self-Help Center for current referral information. The Access Case Records page explains what's public and how to request restricted records.
For official criminal history data, use the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension rather than the court docket. The BCA Criminal History Search covers statewide law enforcement records. Court dockets and BCA records are separate and serve different purposes. If a case has been expunged under Minn. Stat. § 609A, it won't appear in public docket searches. Data access rules are in Minn. Stat. § 13.90.
Cities in Mower County
Mower County includes Austin as its county seat, along with smaller communities such as Brownsdale, Lyle, and Adams. All court filings for residents throughout the county go through the Mower County District Court at the Justice Center in Austin.
No communities in Mower County reach the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All cases from Mower County are handled at the district court in Austin.
Nearby Counties
Mower County shares borders with several other Minnesota counties in the southeastern part of the state. Each has its own district court. Check where you live to determine the right venue for your case.