Fillmore County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Fillmore County in 2026
FillmoreRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Members of the public seeking court records may find case-related data including party names, case numbers, hearing dates, docket entries, and disposition information. The types of records that may be accessible include:
- Civil court filings and judgments
- Criminal case records and sentencing entries
- Family court orders and custody rulings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic citations and small claims decisions
- Juvenile records (subject to significant access restrictions)
Court records in Fillmore County may be searched through several established methods. Each method carries its own access conditions, fees, and practical limitations.
1. Clerk of Court Office The Fillmore County Court Administrator maintains official case files and can assist members of the public in locating records by case number, party name, or filing date. In-person requests are accepted during regular business hours.
Fillmore County Court Administrator
101 Fillmore Street
Preston, MN 55965
Phone: (507) 765-3356
Minnesota Judicial Branch – Fillmore County
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public computer terminals are available at the courthouse for on-site case record searches at no charge. These terminals provide access to the statewide Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) and allow users to view docket entries and case status information.
3. Online Court Search The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal allows members of the public to search for case records statewide, including Fillmore County cases. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Some document images are available for a fee.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Minnesota Judicial Branch maintains statewide search tools that index cases across all Minnesota district courts, including the Third Judicial District, which serves Fillmore County.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the Fillmore County Court Administrator for copies of specific records. Requests should include the case number, party names, and the type of document sought. Fees apply for copies and certified copies.
Are Court Records Public In Fillmore County
Court records in Fillmore County are public under current Minnesota law. Minnesota Statutes § 13.90 and the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch govern public access to court records. Under these authorities, the following are public:
- Case docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and court orders
- Judgments and final dispositions
- Filed pleadings in civil and criminal matters
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
Certain records are confidential, sealed, or restricted under current law and court rules:
- Juvenile delinquency and child protection records
- Adoption records and related filings
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect most court records in person at the courthouse, online access through MCRO may be limited for certain case types or older records not yet digitized. The Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch specify which records are accessible remotely and which require in-person review.
What Are Court Records in Fillmore County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings in which the state prosecutes an individual for an alleged offense. Filed pleadings are the initial documents that commence or respond to a lawsuit, whereas final judgments represent the court's ultimate resolution of the matter.
Public filings are accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public view by court order or statute. Trial court records are maintained at the district court level, while appellate records are held by the Minnesota Court of Appeals or the Minnesota Supreme Court.
In Fillmore County, the Court Administrator's office maintains trial court records as part of the Third Judicial District. The Minnesota Judicial Branch maintains the statewide MNCIS database, which indexes case information across all district courts. Records are created when a party files an initial document, updated as the case progresses through hearings and motions, and finalized upon entry of judgment or dismissal.
What's Included in a Fillmore County Court Record?
A court record in Fillmore County may include a range of documents and data points depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following information may appear within a court record:
- Case number assigned at filing
- Court name and division, such as District Court, Family Division, or Probate Division
- Filing date and case initiation documents
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case type and current status, such as active, closed, or appealed
- Docket entries reflecting each action taken in the case
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, orders, judgments, notices, minute entries, decrees, and similar filings
- Outcome information such as dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, or appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information such as filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Certain information is excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, and protected personal data such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are not available for public inspection. Some exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or proprietary materials, may also be withheld from public access pursuant to court order or Minnesota Statutes § 13.90.
Types of Courts in Fillmore County
Fillmore County is served by the Third Judicial District of the Minnesota District Court system. Under the current Minnesota judiciary structure, the district court is the trial court of general jurisdiction, handling the full range of civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. The Minnesota Judicial Branch court structure describes the organization of trial and appellate courts statewide.
Fillmore County District Court (Third Judicial District)
101 Fillmore Street
Preston, MN 55965
Phone: (507) 765-3356
Minnesota Judicial Branch – Third Judicial District
The official record for all trial court proceedings is maintained by the Fillmore County Court Administrator. Appellate records are maintained by the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court in Saint Paul.
What Types of Cases Do Fillmore County Courts Hear
The Fillmore County District Court hears cases across multiple subject matter areas:
- Criminal matters: felonies, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and petty misdemeanors
- Civil matters: contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, and civil harassment
- Family matters: divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and domestic abuse orders
- Probate matters: wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships
- Juvenile matters: delinquency proceedings and child protection cases (access restricted)
- Traffic matters: citations, license revocations, and related hearings
- Small claims: civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
- Landlord-tenant matters: evictions and related proceedings
The district court functions as a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it has authority to hear both limited and complex matters. Small claims proceedings represent a limited-jurisdiction function within the district court structure.
How to Search Fillmore County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Fillmore County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection at the courthouse is free, and public access terminals at the Fillmore County courthouse allow case searches without charge. The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal provides free case index searches by party name or case number.
Fees apply when copies or certified copies are requested. The following fee structure is applicable under current Minnesota court fee schedules:
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| In-person record inspection | Free |
| Public terminal case search | Free |
| MCRO online case index search | Free |
| Paper copy per page | $0.25–$0.50 per page |
| Certified copy | $14.00 per document |
| Electronic document image (MCRO) | $1.00–$2.00 per document |
Fee schedules are established pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 357.021, which governs court filing fees and copy fees for district court records. Members of the public seeking fee waivers based on financial hardship may inquire with the Court Administrator's office.
How Long Does Fillmore County Keep Court Records?
The retention period for court records in Fillmore County is governed by the Minnesota Judicial Branch Records Retention Schedule, which establishes minimum retention periods by case type and record category. Retention periods vary significantly depending on the nature of the proceeding.
As a general framework under current judicial retention policy:
- Felony criminal records: retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the offense
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor records: retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure
- Civil judgment records: retained for ten years or longer, consistent with the enforceability period of judgments
- Probate records: many probate filings are retained permanently due to their property and estate implications
- Family court records: retained for varying periods depending on whether minor children are involved
- Traffic and petty misdemeanor records: shorter retention periods, subject to the applicable schedule
- Docket books and minute records: retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention period has been satisfied. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is withheld from public access. An expunged record may be sealed or destroyed depending on the court's order and applicable statute. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives maintained by the Fillmore County Court Administrator or the Minnesota State Archives.
How To Find a Court Docket in Fillmore County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual text of filed documents. A docket entry might note that a motion was filed, a hearing was held, or an order was issued, without reproducing the full content of those documents.
Members of the public may locate a Fillmore County court docket through the following methods:
- MCRO Online Portal: The Minnesota Court Records Online system allows users to search for a case by party name or case number and view the docket entries associated with that case. This is the most accessible method for remote searches.
- Courthouse Public Terminals: On-site terminals at the Fillmore County courthouse provide access to MNCIS docket information at no charge.
- Clerk Request: Members of the public may request a printed docket from the Court Administrator's office. Fees apply for printed copies.
- Hearing Calendars: The Minnesota Judicial Branch publishes court calendars and hearing schedules that reflect upcoming proceedings, which function as a forward-looking complement to the historical docket.
To locate a docket through MCRO, a user selects the case search function, enters the party name or case number, selects Fillmore County or the Third Judicial District, and reviews the resulting case summary and docket entries. The docket typically contains hearing dates, continuances, motion filings, minute entries, and status updates. It does not include full document images for all filings, sealed entries, exhibits, or confidential attachments. As noted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch, "the case records available through MCRO are subject to the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch," which means certain entries may be withheld from remote viewing even when the underlying case is public.