Find Cook County Public Records
Cook County public records are held by a small number of county offices in Grand Marais, the county seat at the northeastern tip of Minnesota along Lake Superior. The county is one of the least populated in the state, but its offices maintain court filings, property records, arrest data, and other documents covered under Minnesota law. Whether you need to search a court case, look up a deed, or get a criminal history report tied to Cook County, this guide explains the main sources and how to reach them, including which tools are free online and how to request records that are not.
Cook County Overview
Cook County Court Records
Court records in Cook County are filed with the 6th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is located at 411 W 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604. You can reach them by phone at 218-387-3010. The office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate case records. Staff can confirm what documents are available for a specific case and explain the current copy fee before you visit or submit a written request.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the free tool for searching Cook County court cases. You can search by name, case number, or citation without creating an account. MCRO shows case types, hearing dates, and docket entries. It does not provide every document in a case file, but it gives a useful overview of what was filed and when. For sealed records or full document copies, you need to contact the Grand Marais court office directly or appear in person.
Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee set by state rules. Walk-in requests are usually processed the same day when staffing 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 before making the trip to Grand Marais to confirm the records you need are accessible.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court filings in Cook County are not public and require a court order or legal standing to access.
Cook County Property Records
Property records in Cook County are split between two offices. The County Assessor, at 218-387-3650, handles property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 218-387-3660, maintains recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. Both offices are located at 411 W 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number. You can search property records and parcel information through the Cook County official website, which links to available online tools and county department pages. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder's office directly. Fees depend on page count and document type. Property records are public under Minnesota law, so no approval is required to view them. Certified copies do carry a standard 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 and can be useful for legal research or confirming ownership claims.
Criminal History in Cook County
Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension keeps a statewide criminal history database. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, not just Cook County. This is the most thorough option for checking a criminal record in Minnesota, regardless of which county a case was filed in.
For local arrest records and incident reports in Cook County, contact the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 218-387-3030. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to release certain data on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Not all incident details are available to the public, so being specific about your request helps the office respond faster.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search registered offenders by name or address for free. You can search for offenders living in Cook County or Grand Marais without any fee. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also free and covers people currently held in state facilities.
Vital Records in Cook County
Birth and death certificates for events in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are held at the state level, not at the county. You must request them from MDH, not from Cook County. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the St. Paul MDH office. Fees apply and vary by record type.
Marriage licenses in Cook County are issued by the Court Administrator at 411 W 2nd Street in Grand Marais. Once a ceremony is complete, the officiant returns the signed license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are filed with the Court Administrator as court records. Use MCRO to find divorce case information, then request document copies from the Cook County court office.
Note: Minnesota birth records are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Certified copies during those periods are only available to eligible parties.
How to Access Cook County Public Records
Cook County public records are available online, in person, or through written requests. MCRO is the free tool for court searches. Property records are accessible through the county website. Criminal history checks go through the BCA. For records not available online, the county offices at 411 W 2nd Street in Grand Marais are open during regular business hours.
Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the type of record you need, and an approximate date range. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires government agencies to tell you what data they hold and to respond to requests within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain the reason in writing. If you need legal help with a records request, LawHelpMN offers free resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
Fees in Cook County vary by record type. Court document copies, recorder instruments, and vital records each have separate fee schedules. Costs depend on the type of record and the number of pages requested. There is no flat fee across the county offices.
| Office | Cook County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 411 W 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604 |
| Phone | 218-387-3010 |
| Sheriff | 218-387-3030 |
| Assessor | 218-387-3650 |
| Recorder | 218-387-3660 |
| Judicial District | 6th District |
The Cook County website at co.cook.mn.us has department listings and contact information for each county office. It is a useful first stop if you are not certain which office holds the records you are looking for.
The screenshot below shows the Cook County website, which lists county departments and provides contact information for public records requests.
The county site links to departments including the Assessor, Recorder, and Sheriff, making it easier to find the right contact for your specific records request.
Below is a screenshot of the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, the primary free tool for searching Cook County court case information.
MCRO works for all case types filed in Cook County and across Minnesota. No account is needed to start searching by name or case number.
Cities in Cook County
Cook County is the least densely populated county in Minnesota. Grand Marais serves as the county seat and is the main community in the county. Lutsen and Tofte are smaller communities in the area. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Cook County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.