Search Ramsey County Public Records

Ramsey County public records cover a wide range of official documents held by county offices, the 2nd Judicial District Court, and state agencies. As Minnesota's most densely populated county and home to the state capital, Ramsey County handles a large volume of court filings, property transactions, criminal records, and vital records every year. Most of these records are available online or through a direct request, and Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act gives the public broad access rights to government data.

Ramsey County Court Records

Court records in Ramsey County are filed with the 2nd Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at Saint Paul City Hall - Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 W Kellogg Boulevard, Room 72, Saint Paul, MN 55102. You can reach the office at 651-266-8237. The office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and housing court cases. Staff can tell you what documents exist for a specific case and walk you through the process for getting copies.

The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the fastest way to search Ramsey County court records. It is free and does not require an account. You can search by name, case number, or citation number to find case types, hearing dates, and docket activity. MCRO covers civil, criminal, family, and other case types filed in the county. It does not show every document in a case file, but it gives you a clear picture of what was filed and when. For full copies of case documents, you can visit the courthouse or submit a written request to the Court Administrator.

Certified copies of court documents carry a per-page fee set by state law. In-person requests are often handled the same day when staff capacity allows. Mail requests take additional processing time. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court records are public unless a judge has issued a sealing order. Juvenile case records and certain family court matters are not public and require legal standing or a court order to access.

Ramsey County has a notable archive of historical civil case files dating back to 1858, preserved by the Minnesota Historical Society. These records cover the territorial and early statehood period through 1902. Researchers looking for historical civil case data from that period should contact the Minnesota Historical Society directly. For more recent records, the Court Administrator and MCRO are the right sources.

The Ramsey County court information page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website also lists courthouse hours, directions, and contact details for each court division. This is a useful resource if you are not sure which division handles a particular case type.

Ramsey County Property Records

Property records in Ramsey County are managed by the Property Tax, Records and Election Services office. The main office is at 90 W Plato Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55107. You can reach that office at 651-266-8011 for general inquiries. The County Assessor, at 651-266-2131, handles property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 651-266-8230, maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps.

You can search Ramsey County property records through the Ramsey County property records page on the county website. Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number, and the county's online tools let you search for property ownership, assessed values, and parcel boundaries. This is useful for title research, legal work, real estate transactions, and verifying ownership. Certified copies of recorded documents can be ordered from the Recorder's office, with fees based on page count.

Most property records in Ramsey County are fully public under Minnesota law. You do not need special approval to view basic ownership or assessment data. Given the county's size and the volume of transactions recorded each year, the online tools are generally the fastest way to start a property records search. For complex title searches or older records, the Recorder's staff can help identify the right documents.

Tax records and special assessment data are also public. Delinquent tax records, redemption data, and homestead status are part of the public record as well. The Assessor can explain what data is available and how to request it.

Criminal History in Ramsey County

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains Minnesota's statewide criminal history database. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state. This is the most thorough source for background checks on individuals in Ramsey County or anywhere else in Minnesota. The BCA database is not limited to one county, so it picks up records from across the state for people who may have moved or been charged in multiple jurisdictions.

For local criminal history reports in Ramsey County, you can contact the county directly at 651-266-9585 or by email at CriminalHistory@co.ramsey.mn.us. Local reports cover arrests and bookings processed through the county's criminal justice system. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make certain arrest data public. This includes the arrested person's name and address, the time and place of the arrest, and the charges filed. Incident report details that go beyond these basics may be restricted, depending on the nature of the case.

The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office is at 425 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, and can be reached at 651-266-7320. For arrest records, incident reports, or general law enforcement information, the Sheriff's office is the right contact. The city of St. Paul also has its own police department, which handles most law enforcement within city limits. For records involving St. Paul police, contact the St. Paul Police Department directly.

The Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, is searchable free online by name or address. It shows registered offenders in Ramsey County and statewide. The Department of Corrections inmate search is also free and lets you look up people currently held in state correctional facilities.

Vital Records in Ramsey 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 Ramsey County level. You must request them from MDH, either online, by mail, or in person at the state office, which is also located in St. Paul. Fees apply and vary by record type and number of copies.

The Ramsey County Vital Records office can be reached at 651-266-1333. This office handles some local vital records functions, including issuing marriage licenses. Marriage licenses in Ramsey County are issued by the Court Administrator's office. Once a ceremony is completed, the officiant returns the license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court office or, for older records, from MDH.

Divorce records are court filings and are kept by the Ramsey County Court Administrator at the courthouse in St. Paul. You can search for divorce case information through MCRO and request certified copies from the court office. Divorce decrees issued in Ramsey County are part of the public court record unless a judge has ordered them sealed.

How to Access Ramsey County Public Records

Most Ramsey County public records can be found online, in person, or through a written request. The MCRO portal handles court record searches at no cost. Property records are available through the county website and the Recorder's office at 90 W Plato Boulevard. Criminal history goes through the BCA or the county's local records unit. Vital records go through MDH or the Ramsey County Vital Records office.

For records that are not available online, you can visit the relevant county office in person during regular business hours. Written requests are also accepted. Requests should include the full name of the subject, the type of record you want, and the approximate date range. Payment methods in Ramsey County vary by office: check or money order for mail requests, credit or debit card by phone, and cash or check for in-person requests. Contact the specific office first to confirm what payment methods are accepted for your request type.

Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government agencies must respond to records requests within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain the reason in writing. If you believe a denial was improper, or if you need help navigating the request process, LawHelpMN offers free legal resources and referrals for qualifying Minnesotans.

Fees vary by office and record type. Court copy fees, Recorder fees, and vital records fees are each governed by separate schedules. There is no single flat rate for all public records in Ramsey County. Call the relevant office before visiting to confirm current fees and hours.

The Ramsey County website at ramseycounty.us has links to all county departments, online tools, and contact information. It is the best starting point when you are not sure which office holds the records you need.

Below is a screenshot from the Ramsey County official website, which provides access to county departments and public records resources.

The Ramsey County site is regularly updated and includes direct links to the Assessor, Recorder, Sheriff, Court Administrator, and Vital Records offices.

The screenshot below shows the Ramsey County court records page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.

The court information page lists courthouse hours, contact details, and links to MCRO, making it easy to start a court records search for Ramsey County cases.

Cities in Ramsey County

Ramsey County is home to St. Paul, Minnesota's state capital and the county seat. St. Paul has a dedicated public records page on this site. Other cities in Ramsey County, including Roseville, Maplewood, and Shoreview, do not meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

Ramsey County borders two other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.