Search Goodhue County Public Records
Goodhue County public records span court cases, property documents, criminal history, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies serving the Red Wing area. Most are available through free online tools or by contacting the right county office directly. This guide covers the key sources in Goodhue County and walks you through how to use them.
Goodhue County Overview
Goodhue County Court Records
Court records in Goodhue County are filed with the 1st Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 454 W 6th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066. You can call them at 651-267-4800. This office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. Staff can confirm what is on file for a specific case and provide copy fee information.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the best way to search Goodhue County court cases online. It is free and requires no account. Search by name, case number, or citation to get case type, filing dates, and docket information. MCRO shows enough detail to confirm whether a case exists and what has been filed, though it does not provide every document in the file. Full case documents require an in-person visit or written request to the Red Wing court office.
Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee set by state law. In-person requests can often be processed the same day. Mail requests typically take several business days. Most court case data in Goodhue County is public under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, unless a judge has ordered records sealed.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court files in Goodhue County are not public. These require a court order or legal standing to access.
Goodhue County Property Records
Property records in Goodhue County are maintained by two offices. The County Assessor, reachable at 651-385-3040, manages property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 651-385-3000, keeps official documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. The Recorder's office is at 509 W 5th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066. The Assessor also operates from county offices in Red Wing.
Recorded property documents are indexed by party name and parcel identifier. The Goodhue County official website offers links to online mapping and parcel lookup tools. You can check ownership, parcel boundaries, and assessed values through the county's GIS resources. For certified copies of deeds or other recorded instruments, contact the Recorder directly. Fees are based on page count. Most property records are public and available without special approval.
Tax records, assessment data, and ownership history are also available. Chain-of-title research can be done through the Recorder's office. This is useful for title work, property disputes, or legal research. Tax payment status can be confirmed through the county property tax office as well.
Criminal History in Goodhue County
For statewide criminal history records in Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the primary source. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and covers conviction records from all Minnesota counties, including Goodhue. This is the most complete option for background checks on individuals in the state.
Local arrest records and incident reports in Goodhue County come from the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office at 651-267-2600. The Sheriff maintains records on arrests, law enforcement activity, and incidents across the county. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies are required to make basic arrest data public. This includes the name, time and place of arrest, and the charges. Not every detail of an incident report is public, so being specific when you request records helps.
The state Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, is free to search online by name or address. You can use it to find registered offenders in Goodhue County. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also available at no charge and shows people currently held in state facilities.
Vital Records in Goodhue County
Birth and death certificates for events in Minnesota are handled by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not kept at the county level. You must request them from MDH directly, online, by mail, or in person in St. Paul. Fees vary by record type.
Marriage licenses in Goodhue County are issued by the Court Administrator at 454 W 6th Street in Red Wing. Once the ceremony is complete, the officiant returns the license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records. You can search for them through MCRO and order copies from the Goodhue County court office.
Note: Minnesota law restricts birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties can get certified copies during those restricted periods.
How to Access Goodhue County Public Records
Most Goodhue County public records are reachable in one of three ways: online through state or county portals, in person at county offices in Red Wing, or by submitting a written request. MCRO covers court records. The county GIS tools cover property data. The BCA handles criminal history. MDH handles vital records.
For records that are not online, visit the county offices in Red Wing during regular business hours. Staff can identify the right record type and explain what you need to provide. Written requests should include the full name of the record subject, the type of record, and the approximate date range. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government agencies must respond within a set timeframe. If access is denied, the agency must explain why in writing. LawHelpMN provides free legal resources and referrals for people who need help navigating records access in Minnesota.
Fees vary by record type. Court copies, Recorder documents, and vital records each follow their own pricing set by law or agency policy.
| Office | Goodhue County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Court Address | 454 W 6th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066 |
| Phone | 651-267-4800 |
| Sheriff | 651-267-2600 |
| Assessor | 651-385-3040 |
| Recorder | 651-385-3000 | 509 W 5th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066 |
| Judicial District | 1st District |
The Goodhue County website at co.goodhue.mn.us lists county departments, contact information, and links to online tools. It is the right place to start if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
The screenshot below shows the Goodhue County official website, which is the main gateway to county services and public records contacts in Red Wing.
The county site is regularly updated and links directly to the Assessor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Court Administrator, making it easy to find the right office for your records request.
For court case lookups, the statewide MCRO portal covers all Goodhue County court filings at no cost.
MCRO lets you search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Goodhue County. No login is required, and results are returned immediately.
Cities in Goodhue County
Goodhue County's largest city is Red Wing, the county seat, along with communities like Cannon Falls, Zumbrota, and Kenyon. None of the cities in Goodhue County meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Goodhue County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.