Nobles County Public Records

Nobles County public records are maintained by several county offices and state agencies in and around Worthington. Whether you need court filings, property documents, criminal history, or vital records, most of what you are looking for is available through free online portals or by contacting the right office in person. Minnesota law gives the public broad access to government data, and this guide covers the key sources and how to use them in Nobles County.

Nobles County Court Records

Court records in Nobles County are filed with the 5th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 318 9th Street, Worthington, MN 56187. You can call them at 507-295-5231. The office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate case files. Staff can tell you what documents are on file for a given case and what fees apply for copies.

The fastest way to search Nobles County court records is through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. This free tool lets you search by name, case number, or citation number. You can check case types, hearing dates, and docket entries without setting up an account. MCRO does not show every document in a case file, but it tells you what was filed and gives you enough to know where to follow up. For sealed or restricted cases, you need to make a written request or visit the court in person.

Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Mail requests take longer, and you should include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public unless a judge has ordered it sealed or restricted.

Nobles County Property Records

Property records in Nobles County are split between the Assessor and the Recorder. The County Assessor, at 507-295-5208, handles property valuations, tax assessment data, and homestead applications. The County Recorder, at 507-295-5262, maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. Both offices are at 318 9th Street, Worthington, MN 56187.

Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number. You can search property information through the Nobles County official website, which provides links to mapping tools and online tax data. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder's office directly. Fees depend on the number of pages. Most property records are public under state law, so you do not need to show a reason to request basic ownership or valuation data.

If you need to trace the full ownership history of a parcel, the Recorder can pull chain-of-title documents. This is useful for title work, legal research, or verifying ownership. Tax payment history and special assessment data are also public and can usually be found through the county's online tax portal.

Plat maps show lot boundaries, easements, and right-of-way information. These are filed with the Recorder and can be useful when reviewing a property for purchase or when researching boundary disputes. The county GIS tools can help you find parcel boundaries and match them to ownership records before you request official copies.

Criminal History in Nobles County

Minnesota keeps a statewide criminal history database through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, not just Nobles County. This is the most thorough source for background information on individuals in Minnesota.

For local arrest records and incident reports in Nobles County, contact the Nobles County Sheriff's Office at 507-295-5240. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement to release certain data on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and place, and the charges filed. Not all incident detail is public. Being specific in your request helps get you the right records without delay.

The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search for registered offenders by name or address. You can run a free search online to see offenders living in Nobles County. For people currently in state correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also free to use online.

Vital Records in Nobles County

Birth and death certificates for events that took place in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not held at the county level. You must request them from MDH directly, either online, by mail, or in person at the state office in St. Paul. Fees apply and vary by record type.

Marriage licenses in Nobles County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 318 9th Street in Worthington. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court office or from MDH for older records. Divorce decrees are court records filed with the Court Administrator. You can search for divorce case information through MCRO and request copies from the Nobles County court office.

How to Access Nobles County Public Records

Most Nobles County public records can be found in one of three ways: online through state and county portals, in person at county offices, or by sending a written request. The MCRO portal handles court record searches online for free. Property records are accessible through the county website and GIS tools. Criminal history goes through the BCA.

For records that are not online, you can visit the county offices at 318 9th Street in Worthington during regular business hours. Staff can help you identify the right record type and let you know what you need to bring or include with a request. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, an approximate date range, and the type of record you are looking for. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives you the right to ask any government agency about the data it holds and to receive a timely response. If a request is denied, the agency must explain why in writing. For help with a records request or other legal matters, LawHelpMN offers free resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.

There is no single fee for public records in Nobles County. Costs vary by record type and the number of copies you need. Court copies, recorded documents, and vital records each have separate fee schedules set by state law or individual offices.

The Nobles County website at co.nobles.mn.us has links to county departments, online tools, and contact information for each office. It is a good starting point if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.

Below is a screenshot from the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, the primary tool for searching court case records in Nobles County and across the state.

The MCRO portal is free to use and does not require an account. You can search by name or case number to find Nobles County court filings going back several years.

Below is a screenshot of the BCA Criminal History Search, where you can run a statewide background check on individuals who have been convicted in Minnesota, including Nobles County.

The BCA search costs $8 per query and returns conviction data from across Minnesota, making it the most complete option for criminal history checks in Nobles County.

Cities in Nobles County

Nobles County is a rural southwestern Minnesota county. Worthington is the county seat and largest city, but it does not meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Other communities in the county include Adrian, Brewster, Rushmore, and Wilmont. None of these cities have dedicated public records pages here.

Nearby Counties

Nobles County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own courts and records offices.