St. Louis County Public Records
St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota by land area and the most populous county in the northeastern part of the state. Public records here include court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records spread across multiple courthouse locations in Duluth, Virginia, and Hibbing. This guide covers where to find those records, which office handles each type, and how to request what you need.
St. Louis County Overview
St. Louis County Court Records
Court records in St. Louis County fall under the 6th Judicial District. The main Court Administrator's office is at 1001 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802, and can be reached at 218-726-2460. Because of the county's size, court operations are spread across three locations. The Virginia courthouse is at 300 S 5th Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792. The Hibbing courthouse is at 1810 12th Avenue E, Hibbing, MN 55746. Each location handles cases filed in that area of the county, so it is worth confirming which courthouse holds a specific file before you travel.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the best place to start for any St. Louis County court record search. This free statewide system lets you search by name, case number, or citation. You can view case types, filing dates, hearing schedules, and basic docket entries without creating an account. MCRO covers cases across all three courthouse locations in St. Louis County. It does not include every document in a case file, but it tells you what was filed, when hearings occurred, and how a case was resolved. For sealed documents or records not in the online system, a written request to the relevant courthouse or an in-person visit is required.
St. Louis County has a high volume of court filings due to its population size and the range of case types handled at three locations. Civil, criminal, family, and probate cases are all on file. Certified copies of court documents are available for a per-page fee. In-person requests are typically processed same-day when staff allow, but mail requests can take longer. Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public unless a judge has ordered otherwise. If you are unsure whether a specific record is restricted, call the Duluth courthouse before making a trip to one of the outlying locations.
Note: Juvenile and certain family court records in St. Louis County are not public. Accessing those records requires a court order or specific legal standing.
St. Louis County Property Records
Property records in St. Louis County are managed by several offices at the Duluth courthouse, 1001 E Superior Street. The Property and Records division can be reached at 218-726-2559. The Assessor is at 218-726-2550, the Recorder is at 218-726-2560. These offices handle property valuations, tax assessments, deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number. St. Louis County's large land area means a vast inventory of recorded parcels, including rural, residential, and commercial properties. Online property search tools are available through the St. Louis County official website. The county's parcel search and GIS tools let you look up ownership details, assessed values, and boundary lines without visiting in person. For certified copies of recorded documents like deeds or mortgages, contact the Recorder's office at 218-726-2560. Fees depend on the number of pages. Most recorded property documents are public under state law and require no prior approval to access.
Tax records and assessment data are also public. If you need to trace the ownership history of a parcel or look for recorded easements and liens, the Recorder can pull chain-of-title documents. Given the county's size and the mix of urban, suburban, and heavily forested rural land, there can be significant variation in recorded document volume between parcels. Online tools help narrow a search before you visit in person.
The county also administers mineral rights records for a substantial portion of northeastern Minnesota. If you are researching iron ore leases, mineral rights, or related documents, the Recorder's office is the right starting point.
Criminal History in St. Louis County
Minnesota's statewide criminal history database is managed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across the state, including all courts in St. Louis County. This is the most complete source for background checks in Minnesota and covers records from the Duluth, Virginia, and Hibbing courthouses.
For local arrest records and incident reports in St. Louis County, contact the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office at 218-726-2471. The Sheriff is at 1001 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to make certain information available on request. This includes the name and address of the arrested person, the time and place of arrest, and the charges. Not every incident detail is public, so being specific when submitting a request will speed things up. The Duluth Police Department handles incidents within Duluth city limits separately from the county sheriff.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, shows registered offenders by name or address. You can search it free online to find offenders living in St. Louis County. For people held in state correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also available at no cost.
Vital Records in St. Louis County
Birth and death certificates for events in Minnesota are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. These records are not maintained 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 and submission method.
Marriage licenses in St. Louis County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at the Duluth courthouse, 1001 E Superior Street. Residents in the Virginia or Hibbing areas may also be able to obtain licenses at those locations. After the ceremony, 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 records. Divorce decrees are filed with the Court Administrator as part of the case record. You can search for divorce filings through MCRO and request copies from the St. Louis County court office directly. With three courthouse locations, it helps to confirm which location holds the file for the specific case you need.
Note: Birth records in Minnesota are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties may request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access St. Louis County Public Records
Most St. Louis County public records are available through online portals, in person at one of the three courthouse locations, or through a written data request. MCRO handles court record searches at no cost. Property records are searchable through the county website and GIS tools. Criminal history goes through the BCA. Vital records come from MDH.
For records that are not online, the main courthouse is at 1001 E Superior Street in Duluth. Staff can help identify which office holds a specific record and whether you need to visit the Virginia or Hibbing location instead. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the approximate date range, and the specific type of record. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, every government agency must disclose what data it holds, respond within a set timeframe, and give a written explanation if access is denied. If you need help with a records request, LawHelpMN offers free legal resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
Fees vary by record type. Court copies, recorder documents, and vital records each follow their own fee schedules set by state law or the individual office. There is no single flat fee covering all public records in St. Louis County.
| Court Administrator (Duluth) | 1001 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802 | 218-726-2460 |
|---|---|
| Court Location (Virginia) | 300 S 5th Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792 |
| Court Location (Hibbing) | 1810 12th Avenue E, Hibbing, MN 55746 |
| Sheriff | 218-726-2471 | 1001 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802 |
| Property & Records | 218-726-2559 |
| Assessor | 218-726-2550 |
| Recorder | 218-726-2560 |
| Judicial District | 6th District |
The St. Louis County website at stlouiscountymn.gov links to county departments, online property search tools, and contact information for each office and courthouse location.
Below is a screenshot of the St. Louis County official website, which provides access to department contacts, property tools, and public records resources across all three courthouse locations.
The county site includes links to the Court Administrator, Recorder, Assessor, and Sheriff, making it straightforward to find the right contact for a records request at any of the three courthouse locations.
Below is a screenshot of the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, the primary free tool for searching court case data across all St. Louis County courthouses.
MCRO lets you search by name or case number and view filing dates, case types, and hearing information for cases across Duluth, Virginia, and Hibbing without creating an account.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County includes several cities and communities across northeastern Minnesota. Duluth is the county seat and the largest city in the county.
Other communities in St. Louis County include Virginia, Hibbing, Eveleth, Chisholm, and Tower. These cities do not meet the 100,000-population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
St. Louis County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.