Marshall County Public Records Search
Marshall County public records include official documents held by county offices and state agencies, covering court filings, property instruments, criminal history, and vital records. Minnesota's open records laws give the public a clear right to access most of these documents. This guide covers the key sources in Marshall County and the steps to use each one.
Marshall County Overview
Marshall County Court Records
Court records in Marshall County are filed with the 9th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 208 E Colvin Avenue, Warren, MN 56762. You can reach the office at 218-745-4851. The court processes civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. Staff can tell you what documents are on file for a specific case and what the copy costs will be before you submit a request.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the fastest way to search Marshall County court records without visiting the courthouse. The tool is free to use and requires no account. You can search by name, case number, or citation and see case types, filing dates, hearing schedules, and basic docket entries. MCRO does not display every document inside a case file, but it shows enough to confirm whether a case is on record. If you need certified copies of filings or orders, you must contact the court office directly or appear in person.
Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee. In-person requests are often handled the same day when staffing allows. Mail requests take longer. Most court records are public under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, unless sealed by a judicial order.
Note: Juvenile records and certain family court files in Marshall County are confidential and cannot be accessed without a court order or specific legal standing.
Marshall County Property Records
Property records in Marshall County are handled by two offices. The County Assessor, at 218-745-4851, manages property valuations, classification data, and tax assessment information. The County Recorder, at 218-745-4809, keeps recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. Both offices are located at 208 E Colvin Avenue, Warren, MN 56762.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number and go back many decades. The Marshall County official website provides links to online property and GIS tools where you can search parcel ownership, boundaries, and assessed values at no cost. For certified copies of recorded instruments, contact the Recorder's office for the current fee schedule. Fees are based on the number of pages. Nearly all property records are fully public and require no special approval to access.
If you need the ownership history of a parcel, the Recorder can produce chain-of-title documents going back through prior owners. This is most often used for legal research, title work, or resolving boundary or ownership disputes. Tax parcel information is also searchable online through county mapping systems.
Criminal History in Marshall County
Minnesota maintains a statewide criminal history database through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction data from across all of Minnesota, not just Marshall County. This is the most complete and widely accepted source for criminal background checks in the state.
For local arrest records and incident reports specific to Marshall County, contact the Marshall County Sheriff's Office at 218-745-4491. The Sheriff is located at 208 E Colvin Avenue, Warren, MN 56762. Arrest records are generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to release certain data on request. That includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place of the arrest, and the charges filed. Not all incident details are releasable, so it helps to be clear about what you are looking for when you make a request.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, can be searched free by name or address to find registered offenders in Marshall County. For people in state custody, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also available at no cost online.
Vital Records in Marshall County
Birth and death certificates in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office, not by individual counties. You must request these records directly from MDH by mail, online submission, or in-person visit to the state office in St. Paul. Fees apply and vary by record type and number of copies requested.
Marriage licenses in Marshall County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 208 E Colvin Avenue. After the ceremony takes place, the officiant returns the completed license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court office or from MDH for older historical records. Divorce decrees are filed with the Court Administrator as part of the case record. You can search for divorce case information through MCRO and then request certified copies from the Marshall County court office in Warren.
Note: Minnesota law restricts birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties, such as the subject, immediate family, or authorized legal representatives, can obtain certified copies within those time periods.
How to Access Marshall County Public Records
Most public records in Marshall County can be accessed three ways: online through state and county web portals, in person at the relevant county office, or by sending a written request. MCRO handles most court record searches for free. Property records are searchable through county GIS tools on the county website. Criminal history searches go through the BCA's online portal.
For records not yet online, visit county offices at 208 E Colvin Avenue in Warren during regular business hours. Staff can point you to the right record type and explain what you may need to bring. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the approximate date of the record, and a clear description of what you want. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, you have the right to ask any government body about the data it holds and to receive a written response within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain the reason in writing. If you need help with a records request, LawHelpMN provides free legal resources and referrals for eligible Minnesotans.
Costs vary by record type in Marshall County. Court copies, recorded documents, and vital records each follow separate fee schedules set by state law or individual offices. There is no single fee that applies to all records.
| Office | Marshall County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 208 E Colvin Avenue, Warren, MN 56762 |
| Phone | 218-745-4851 |
| Sheriff | 218-745-4491 |
| Assessor | 218-745-4851 |
| Recorder | 218-745-4809 |
| Judicial District | 9th District |
The Marshall County website at co.marshall.mn.us has department links and contact details for each county office. It is a good place to start if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
Below is a screenshot from the Marshall County official website, which lists departments and contacts for public records requests.
The county site is regularly maintained and links to departments including the Assessor, Recorder, and Sheriff, making it easy to find the right contact for your request.
The Marshall County online portal is another resource for accessing property data, maps, and department information in Warren and throughout the county.
This additional county portal can be useful when looking for supplemental property tools, contact directories, or department-specific resources not listed on the main site.
Cities in Marshall County
Marshall County is a rural county in northwestern Minnesota. The county seat, Warren, is the largest community but does not reach the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Other towns in the county include Alvarado, Argyle, and Stephen, none of which qualify for a dedicated records page here.
Nearby Counties
Marshall County borders several other Minnesota counties, each maintaining their own court and records offices.