Find Public Records in Dodge County
Dodge County public records include court case filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies in and around Mantorville. Most records are available through free state online tools, in-person visits to the courthouse, or written requests to the appropriate office. This guide covers the main sources for public records in Dodge County and explains how to reach each one.
Dodge County Overview
Dodge County Court Records
Court records in Dodge County are maintained by the 3rd Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 22 6th Street E, Mantorville, MN 55955. You can reach them by phone at 507-635-6260. The office handles civil, criminal, family, traffic, and probate cases filed in Dodge County. Staff can tell you what documents are available for a specific case and what copy fees apply.
The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the quickest way to search for Dodge County case records without visiting Mantorville. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. MCRO returns the case type, filing date, hearing schedule, and basic docket entries. Not every document in a case file is available to download, but the portal gives you enough information to confirm what was filed. For certified copies, full document packets, or records in older closed cases, contact the Court Administrator directly or appear in person.
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public record. Juvenile records and some family court filings are restricted. Accessing them requires a court order or showing of legal standing.
Note: Some older Dodge County records may not be indexed in MCRO. If you can't find a case online, contact the Court Administrator at 507-635-6260 to ask about in-person or written search options.
Dodge County Property Records
Property records in Dodge County are handled by two offices at the same location: 22 6th Street E, Mantorville, MN 55955. The County Assessor at 507-635-6232 manages property valuations, tax classification, and exemption data. The County Recorder at 507-635-6235 maintains recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, plat maps, and easements affecting real property in the county.
Recorded instruments are indexed by party name and parcel number. Most go back decades and are available for public inspection. The Dodge County website provides access to county services and links to online property lookup tools. You can search ownership and assessed value through the county's online resources without visiting the office. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder's office directly. Fees depend on the number of pages in the document. There is no approval process needed to view basic property records since they are public under state law.
If you need to trace ownership history on a parcel, the Recorder can pull chain-of-title documents. Tax records and special assessment data are also available through the Assessor's office or the county portal. This type of research is common in estate work, title searches, and legal disputes involving real property.
Criminal History in Dodge County
Minnesota's statewide criminal history database is run by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from anywhere in the state, making it the most thorough source for background information on individuals in Dodge County.
For local arrest records and incident reports, contact the Dodge County Sheriff's Office at 507-635-6200. Arrest data is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to release certain data on request. That public data includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of the arrest, and the charges. Not every detail in a report is releasable, so it helps to be specific when you submit a request. The Sheriff can tell you what is available and in what format the response will come.
You can also search the Predatory Offender Registry for registered offenders in Dodge County. This registry is maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166 and is free to search by name or location. For people currently held in state custody, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also available at no cost.
Vital Records in Dodge County
Birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not held at the county level in Dodge County. You must request them directly from MDH, either online, by mail, or in person at the state office in St. Paul. Fees vary by certificate type.
Marriage licenses in Dodge County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 22 6th Street E in Mantorville. After the ceremony is performed, the completed license is returned to the court by the officiant. Certified copies of marriage records can be requested from the Court Administrator or from MDH for older records. Divorce records are court filings. You can search for divorce cases through MCRO and request copies from the Dodge County Court Administrator's office. Fees for certified copies are set by state schedule.
Note: Minnesota birth records are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years from the event date. Only eligible parties may request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access Dodge County Public Records
Most Dodge County public records are reachable in one of three ways: online through state and county portals, in person at the county offices in Mantorville, or through a written request to the relevant office. MCRO handles most court searches for free. Property records can be found on the county website and online lookup tools. Criminal history goes through the BCA. Vital records go through MDH.
For records not available online, the county offices at 22 6th Street E in Mantorville are open during regular business hours. Bring identification and be ready to specify the exact record type and the subject's name and approximate dates. Written requests should include all of that same information. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, every government agency must respond to a data request within a set timeframe and explain any denial in writing. If you need legal help with a records request, LawHelpMN provides free resources and referrals for qualifying Minnesotans.
Fees vary by record type. Court copy fees, Recorder document fees, and vital record fees are each set separately. Ask the office for the current fee before submitting payment.
| Office | Dodge County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 22 6th Street E, Mantorville, MN 55955 |
| Court Phone | 507-635-6260 |
| Assessor | 507-635-6232 |
| Recorder | 507-635-6235 |
| Sheriff | 507-635-6200 |
| Judicial District | 3rd District |
The Dodge County website at co.dodge.mn.us links to county departments, online tools, and contact information. It is the best starting point if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
The screenshot below shows the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, the primary free tool for searching court case data in Dodge County and statewide.
MCRO lets you search Dodge County court cases by name or case number without creating an account or paying any fee.
The screenshot below shows the BCA criminal history search portal, which covers conviction records for individuals across Minnesota including Dodge County.
A BCA search costs $8 and returns statewide conviction data, making it the most complete criminal history source available for records in Dodge County.
Cities in Dodge County
Dodge County is a rural county with Mantorville as its county seat. Other communities in the county include Dodge Center, Kasson, and Hayfield. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. There are no individual city public records pages for Dodge County communities here.
Nearby Counties
Dodge County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.