Are Divorce Records Public in Minnesota? Search MN Divorce Free

Are divorce records public in Minnesota? Many people who may want to keep a previous divorce record in Minnesota confidential often wonder if any one can search public records and find MN divorce information.

In Minnesota, court records, such as those involved with divorces, are public record, and the can be part of what shows up on a regular background check.

To find out for sure are divorce records public in Minnesota, run a free background check right now to see what shows up.

However, if you need certified copies of divorce paperwork (like certificates and decrees), the following guide contains all the information needed to find these records in the MN system, as well as how to obtain copies. 

Are Minnesota Divorce Records Public? (Public Divorce Records MN)

Divorce proceedings can be pretty complicated in some cases, and it can be difficult to keep track of the abundance of documents, filings, contracts, and rulings along the way. At some point in time, parties to a divorce will be required to provide proof of their divorce. Furthermore, they may also need copies of written agreements and court orders pertaining to the divorce (child custody, debt settlement, etc.).

In the United States, divorce records are generally considered matters of public record, and state laws require that the public have reasonable access to these records (See 2021 Minnesota Statutes 138.17).¹⁸

Some states do restrict access to divorce records because of the sensitive nature of information, and thus, divorce certificates are often easier to obtain than the complete divorce records and decree. Additionally, some divorce cases may be sealed to ensure the privacy of juveniles or at-risk parties.¹²

In Minnesota, there are various pathways (some of which are free!) for viewing and obtaining divorce record information.¹⁵

To view divorce records, individuals will likely need the full names of the two parties and also a case or docket number or name of the court where the case was handled.

Individuals can find information (such as case numbers) about their divorce case by contacting the district clerk in the area. Read on to learn about accessing Minnesota divorce records in any county in the state.

Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Remote

MPA Remote is an online public-access database for case information.¹⁹ The documents maintained on MPA Remote are not official court records and are not guaranteed to be complete renderings of court cases.

MPA Remote provides “replicated case data” from the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS). Electronic copies are not currently available, but documents can be viewed for free.⁷

To search MPA Remote, follow these steps:^7,19

Step 1: Follow the MPA Remote link and accept the Terms & Conditions.¹⁹

Step 2: Select the relevant county from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select “Civil, Family & Probate Case Records” from the menu options.

Step 4: Choose to search by Case, Party, or Attorney from the drop-down menu.

Step 5: Enter the required information and click “Search.”

Step 6: Use result links to access the Register of Action.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)

MCRO is a newer database for individuals seeking online access to court records and documents from one of Minnesota’s district courts.²⁰

District court documents from July, 2015 to the present are available to the public.

Cases can be searched by name of person, case number, attorney name, etc., and document, hearing, and judgment searches are also accessible. Currently, uncertified copies of documents are FREE to access and download through MCRO, though this may change in the future.²⁰

To search MCRO, follow these steps:²⁰

Step 1: Follow the MCRO link and click “Access MCRO” at the top.²⁰

Step 2: Review the information on the page and choose the type of search (Case, Document, Hearing, or Judgment) from the top menu.

For divorce records, “Case Search” is most applicable.

Step 3: Choose to search by Name, Case Number, Citation Number, or Attorney.

Step 4: Enter the required information and select “Find.”

Step 5: View results list for desired case and click “View Case Details” to proceed.

NOTE that information for cases prior to July 2015 will be limited to case summaries.

Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Courthouse

In the instance when unofficial copies or downloads of court records prior to July 2015 are desired, an individual can access the MPA Courthouse free public database at any district courthouse. This service is FREE to the general public during weekday business hours and provides more complete information than MPA remote. However, it can not provide official, certified copies of divorce records.⁶

Obtaining Certified Copies of Divorce Records (Are Divorce Records Public in Minnesota at the County Level?)

Yes, the answer to, are divorce records public in Minnesota, is yes, and anyone can find them by accessing the county where the divorce was filed.

To obtain certified copies of divorce records, individuals should contact or visit the county/district courthouse and speak with the district clerk.

Some counties, such as Ramsey County and Hennepin County have District Court Records Centers where divorce records are stored, and the district clerk can direct interested persons to the correct venue.^9,14

Most county/district clerks will charge a fee in the range of $10 to $20 for certified record copies. View the table below for links to each county’s district clerk.

*St. Louis county’s district court has administrative offices and chambered judges in three distinct locations.

What To Know About Divorce in Minnesota

While most people have a general understanding of what divorce is and what it entails, they may not realize that the exact process can vary considerably depending on where an individual lives.

(Image: RDNE Stock project²⁴)

Each state has its own marriage and divorce laws. The state of residence can impact the requirements for divorce, the court that handles the divorce, and how divorce records are filed and accessed. Suffice it to say, it is important for an individual to understand the ins and outs of the divorce process in their state.

In the state of Minnesota, the legal term for divorce is “dissolution of marriage,” indicating that the marriage bond has been dissolved or ended.^2,5

To be eligible to file for an MN divorce, one spouse must have been residing in the state for at least the last six months, and the petitioner must file divorce papers with the Minnesota county of residence.⁵

Divorce cases are handled by the district courts of Minnesota. The proceedings can take many months from start to finish, usually between six months and two years to final judgment.⁵ The judge’s order which finalizes a divorce is called Judgment and Decree.²

Current Divorce Statistics in Minnesota

Though the overall divorce rate in the United States has hovered near the 50% mark for decades, recent years have witnessed this number gradually decline. What are the contributing factors? Though it’s impossible to say for sure, some trends that may impact the overall divorce rate include:

• Increase in individuals requesting before-marriage background checks and marriage history verifications before marriage
• Increase in individuals requesting prenuptial agreements before marriage
• Increase in individuals waiting longer to get married

After exploring the question of “Are divorce records public in Minnesota?” take a look at some recent divorce statistics for the state.

Divorce rates in the Midwest region of the United States are some of the lowest across the nation on average, slightly higher than the Northeast region but lower than both the West and South.¹ Minnesota is no exception as the state’s divorce rate is consistent with regional averages.

According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2020 data, approximately 10.2% of Minnesota residents were divorced at the time of data collection.²¹

Estimates of divorce and separations combined place Minnesota at an approximate rate of 11%.¹⁶

To see the percentage of divorced people per Minnesota county and major city, scan the tables below.

* Estimates from 2020 census data.

The following table looks at the divorce rate for the eight most populous cities in the state of Minnesota.

* Estimates from 2020 census data.

What to Do When Filing for Divorce in Minnesota

Filing for divorce in any state is a major life stressor, but the state of Minnesota provides excellent online resources for individuals initiating a divorce process.

Minnesota has an online system called Minnesota Guide & File which takes individuals through each step of the divorce filing process, from identifying the type of divorce and correct forms to use to completing the forms and filing them accordingly.¹⁷

(Image: RDNE Stock project²⁵)

To file for divorce in Minnesota, follow these steps:

Step 1: Follow the link to Minnesota Guide & File and click “Start Guide & File” from the side menu.

Step 2: Select “Starting a Divorce in MN” from the main menu.

Step 3: Follow instructions to complete several interviews to determine the type of filing.

Step 4: Print and submit the required documents.

Note that interview progress can be saved at any time by creating a log-in. Divorce complaints can be eFiled in cases of joint filing, but must be filed with the district clerk for other divorce types.⁸

The Minnesota statewide filing fee is $365, but additional fees may apply in various counties.¹³ All divorce forms aside from the initial filing forms, are available on the Minnesota Courts Divorce Page.⁵ Divorce applications or complaints are accessed through Minnesota Guide & File and can be submitted either online or in person at the district court.^8,17

View the table below for each county’s district court link.

How To Find Out if Someone Filed for Divorce in Minnesota

The divorce process generally necessitates the knowledge and participation of both parties, and the law requires that the petitioning party have the divorce papers served to the spouse (In some cases where the spouse cannot be located or contacted, the divorce may proceed with one party.). Thus, in most situations, the non-petitioning party will receive a divorce summons.³

However, there is a window of allottable time between the filing of a divorce and when the papers must be served, and so a spouse may not know immediately and could be caught unawares. If a quick internet search using the spouse’s full name and “divorce” does not uncover any useful information, interested individuals should check with the county or district clerk in the area of residence. The county clerk should have divorce complaints and other paperwork on file.

Note that there is often a charge for physical copies.³

Minnesota Counties Records Search

After addressing the question of “Are divorce records public in Minnesota?,” it is useful to explore other county records and resources which may be available to interested parties.

Find links to services and various records listed by county in the following tables.

Persons seeking comprehensive information on Minnesota background check or criminal record searches have several resources at their disposal, including the district clerk, county sheriff’s office, and superior court of the county.

Minnesota Cities Records Search

Many Minnesota residents live in one of the following cities that boast the highest populations in the state: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Plymouth, and Woodbury. The following tables provide links to relevant city or county resources for each of these cities.

Anyone who has endured the rocky road to and through a divorce knows that there is no such thing as being “too prepared,” and knowing how to access divorce records is crucial! Understanding the laws and divorce process in the state of residence is only half of the picture, and knowing where to find and how to use valuable government resources is the other half.

The answer to the question “Are divorce records public in Minnesota?” is easy, they are, and this guide explains everything needed to find Minnesota divorce records for free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Are Divorce Records Public in Minnesota