Hennepin County Public Records
Hennepin County is Minnesota's most populous county, and its public records system reflects that scale. Court filings, property documents, criminal history, and vital records are managed by multiple offices operating from the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis and several suburban locations. Most records are accessible online through free state and county portals, though some require an in-person visit or a formal written request. This guide walks through the main sources for each type of public record in Hennepin County.
Hennepin County Overview
Hennepin County Court Records
Hennepin County court records are maintained by the 4th Judicial District Court, one of the busiest court systems in Minnesota. The main Court Administrator's office is at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. You can reach the main line at 612-348-6000 and the Records Center directly at 612-348-3991. The court handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and housing cases. Suburban court locations in Brooklyn Center, Edina, and Golden Valley handle overflow and some local matters.
The fastest way to search Hennepin County court records is through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. It is free and does not require an account. You can search by name, case number, or citation and get case type, filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. MCRO covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. It does not show every document in a file, but it tells you what was filed, when, and the outcome of hearings. For complete case file documents, visit the Records Center at the Government Center or submit a written request.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office maintains a separate adult felony case search tool for cases prosecuted by that office. This can be a useful supplement to MCRO for active felony matters. Certified copies of court documents cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free at public terminals inside the courthouse. Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court data is public unless a judge has sealed the record.
Hennepin County has a substantial archive of historical court records. Civil case files from 1858 to 1902 are preserved by the Minnesota Historical Society, which is worth contacting for very old matters. For anything more recent, the court's own Records Center is the right starting point.
Note: Juvenile records, some family court files, and sealed cases in Hennepin County are not available to the public. These require a court order or demonstrated legal standing to access.
Hennepin County Property Records
Property records in Hennepin County are handled by the Recorder/Registrar of Titles office at 300 S 6th Street, MC-074, Minneapolis, MN 55487. You can reach this office at 612-348-3180. The Property Information Search line is 612-348-3011. This office maintains official recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps.
Hennepin County runs one of the most advanced property search systems in the state. The Hennepin County Property Information Search portal lets you look up parcel data, ownership details, assessed values, tax history, and recorded documents without visiting a county office. Search by address, parcel ID, or owner name. Most data is free. For certified copies of specific recorded instruments, contact the Recorder/Registrar of Titles directly.
Hennepin County uses both the Torrens (registered) and abstract title systems. Which system covers a specific parcel affects what records are on file and how they are accessed. The Recorder's office can clarify this for any property. Ownership transfers and lien releases are typically recorded within a few weeks of submission. Assessment data, including taxable market values and property classification, is public and updated annually.
Chain-of-title searches going back many decades are possible through the Recorder's system. This is often needed for real estate transactions, legal disputes, and title insurance work. If you are researching older Hennepin County properties, the county's archives extend to the territorial period, though the oldest records may need special handling.
Criminal History in Hennepin County
Statewide criminal history records in Minnesota are maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, including Hennepin County. This is the most complete and consistent source for background checks on individuals in Minnesota, covering all counties in one search.
For local arrest records, incident reports, and law enforcement data specific to Hennepin County, contact the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. The main line is 612-348-3744. The Sheriff Records unit is at 612-348-8214, and the office is at 350 S 5th Street, Room 6, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies must disclose basic arrest data including the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Detailed incident report narratives are not always public, so being specific in your request helps get the right records faster.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, governed by Minnesota Statute 243.166, is searchable online at no cost. You can search by name or address to find registered offenders in Hennepin County. Hennepin has a larger registered offender population than most Minnesota counties given its size. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also free and shows people currently in state custody, including those from Hennepin County cases.
Vital Records in Hennepin County
Birth and death certificates for events in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These are not kept at the county level. You must go to MDH directly, online, by mail, or in person in St. Paul. Hennepin County does maintain its own Vital Records office at 300 S Sixth Street, MC-026, Minneapolis, MN 55487 (phone 612-348-8919), which can assist with local requests and guide you through the process.
Marriage licenses in Hennepin County are issued through the county. After the ceremony, the completed license is returned to the issuing office. Copies can be requested from the county or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records. Use MCRO to find divorce cases, then contact the Hennepin County Court Records Center at 612-348-3991 to order document copies. Probate records, including estate filings and guardianship appointments, are filed with the court and searchable through MCRO as well.
Note: Minnesota law restricts birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years. During those periods, only eligible parties can get certified copies of these records.
How to Access Hennepin County Public Records
Hennepin County offers more online access to public records than most Minnesota counties. MCRO covers court cases. The Property Information Search handles most property record needs. The BCA covers criminal history statewide. MDH and the county Vital Records office handle birth, death, and marriage records. For the majority of searches, you won't need to visit an office.
For records that are not online, or when you need certified documents, visit the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 S 6th Street in Minneapolis during regular business hours. The Government Center houses the Court Records Center, Recorder/Registrar of Titles, and Vital Records in one building, which makes in-person requests more efficient than in smaller counties. Written requests should include the full name of the record subject, the record type, and a date range if known. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, agencies must respond within a set timeframe. If access is denied, the agency must explain why in writing.
LawHelpMN offers free legal resources and referrals for Minnesotans who need help with records access. Given the size and complexity of Hennepin County's records system, this can be a useful resource if you're not sure where to start or run into access issues.
Copy fees vary by record type. Court certified copies are $14 each. Uncertified copies at public terminals are free. Recorder documents carry per-page fees. Vital records follow separate state fee schedules.
| Office | Hennepin County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 S 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Court Phone | 612-348-6000 |
| Records Center | 612-348-3991 |
| Sheriff | 612-348-3744 |
| Sheriff Records | 612-348-8214 | 350 S 5th Street, Room 6, Minneapolis, MN 55415 |
| Recorder/Registrar | 612-348-3180 | 300 S 6th Street, MC-074, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Property Info | 612-348-3011 |
| Vital Records | 612-348-8919 | 300 S Sixth Street, MC-026, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Certified Copy Fee | $14 | Uncertified free at public terminals |
| Judicial District | 4th District |
The Hennepin County website at hennepincounty.gov is the central hub for all county services and department contacts. It is the best starting point for any records request in the county.
Below is a screenshot from the Hennepin County official website, which serves as the gateway to county services, department contacts, and public records resources across all departments.
The county site provides direct links to the Recorder, Sheriff, Court system, Property Information Search, and Vital Records, covering every main type of public record available in Hennepin County.
The Property Information Search portal is one of the most useful tools for property research in Hennepin County, providing ownership, tax, and recorded document data in a single free search.
This portal lets you search by address or parcel ID and view ownership records, assessed tax values, and recorded document abstracts without any fee or in-person visit required.
The Hennepin County court page through Minnesota Courts provides access to court locations, hours, and links to MCRO for online case lookups.
The court page lists all Hennepin County courthouse locations including downtown Minneapolis and the suburban courts in Brooklyn Center, Edina, and Golden Valley, along with hours and contact details for each location.
Cities in Hennepin County
Hennepin County contains several of Minnesota's largest cities. The following cities have dedicated public records pages on this site:
Other cities in Hennepin County include Golden Valley, Hopkins, Richfield, Crystal, New Hope, and St. Louis Park. These communities do not have separate pages on this site but are served by the same Hennepin County court and records system described above.
Nearby Counties
Hennepin County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.