Search Clearwater County Public Records
Clearwater County public records are kept by a small set of county offices in Bagley, the county seat in northwest Minnesota. Despite the county's rural size, its offices maintain court filings, property documents, arrest data, and other records covered under Minnesota's open records laws. If you need to look up a court case, find a recorded deed, or request criminal history tied to Clearwater County, this guide covers the main sources, explains which records are available online for free, and gives you the contact details you need to make a direct request when that is the better path.
Clearwater County Overview
Clearwater County Court Records
Court records in Clearwater County are filed with the 9th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 213 Main Avenue N, Bagley, MN 56621, and can be reached by phone at 218-694-6168. The office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate case records. Staff can confirm what documents are on file for any given case and explain what the copy fees are before you visit.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the free tool for searching Clearwater County court cases. You can search by name, case number, or citation without an account. MCRO shows case types, key dates, and docket entries. It does not display every filed document, but it tells you what exists and when things were filed. For restricted or sealed records, you need to contact the court directly or appear in person at the Bagley courthouse.
Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee under state rules. In-person requests are usually handled the same day if staff capacity allows. Mail requests take more time. Most court case data is public under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, unless a judge has ordered it sealed. Ask the court office before traveling to Bagley to confirm that the records you want are available.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court filings in Clearwater County are confidential and cannot be accessed without a court order or legal standing.
Clearwater County Property Records
Property records in Clearwater County are divided between two offices. The County Assessor, at 218-694-6144, manages property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 218-694-6163, maintains recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. Both offices are located at 213 Main Avenue N, Bagley, MN 56621.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number and cover many decades. The Clearwater County official website links to county departments and available online tools. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder's office directly. Fees depend on page count and document type. Basic property records are public under Minnesota law. No approval is needed to look them up, though certified copies do carry a fee.
To trace the ownership history of a parcel or get a full chain of title, the Recorder can pull recorded instruments going back many years. Tax records and assessment notices are also public. These are useful for legal research, title work, and resolving property ownership questions.
Criminal History in Clearwater County
Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs a statewide criminal history database. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, not just Clearwater County. This is the most complete tool available for checking someone's criminal record in Minnesota.
For local arrest records and incident reports in Clearwater County, contact the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office at 218-694-6225. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement to make certain data available on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Not every detail in an incident report is public. Being specific about the record you want helps the office respond more quickly.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, is a free online tool to search registered offenders by name or address. You can look up offenders living in Clearwater County without any fee. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also free and shows people currently held in state facilities.
Vital Records in Clearwater County
Birth and death certificates for events in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These are not held at the county level. You must go through MDH directly, by mail, online, or in person at the St. Paul state office. Fees apply and vary by record type.
Marriage licenses in Clearwater County are issued by the Court Administrator at 213 Main Avenue N in Bagley. After a ceremony is performed, the officiant returns the signed license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court office or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records filed with the Court Administrator. MCRO can be used to find divorce case information, and copies of the decree can be requested from the Clearwater County court office.
Note: Minnesota birth records are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties may obtain certified copies during those restriction periods.
How to Access Clearwater County Public Records
Most Clearwater County public records can be found online, in person, or through written requests. MCRO handles court record searches free of charge. Property records are accessible through the county website. Criminal history goes through the BCA. For records not available online, the county offices at 213 Main Avenue N in Bagley are open during regular business hours.
When submitting a written request, include the full name of the subject, the type of record you are looking for, and an approximate date range. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government agencies must tell you what data they hold and respond to requests within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain the reason in writing. If you need help navigating a records request, LawHelpMN offers free legal resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
Fees vary by record type in Clearwater County. Court document copies, recorder instruments, and vital records each have their own fee schedules. There is no flat rate across offices, and costs depend on the number of pages and where the request is processed.
| Office | Clearwater County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 213 Main Avenue N, Bagley, MN 56621 |
| Phone | 218-694-6168 |
| Sheriff | 218-694-6225 |
| Assessor | 218-694-6144 |
| Recorder | 218-694-6163 |
| Judicial District | 9th District |
The Clearwater County website at co.clearwater.mn.us has department information and contact details for each county office. It is the right starting point when you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
The screenshot below is from the Clearwater County official website, which provides access to county departments and public records contacts.
The county site is the best first stop for understanding which office handles the records you need and how to reach them during business hours.
A second portal for Clearwater County is shown below, offering additional access to county records and department information.
This portal can be useful if the main county site does not have what you need, and it links to several records-related tools and department pages.
Cities in Clearwater County
Clearwater County is a rural county in northwest Minnesota. Bagley is the county seat and the largest community in the county. Other small communities include Gonvick and Shevlin. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Clearwater County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.