Todd County Public Records
Todd County public records include court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices in Long Prairie and by state agencies across Minnesota. This guide walks through the main record types for Todd County and explains how to search or request each one using the right tools and offices.
Todd County Overview
Todd County Court Records
Court records in Todd County are filed with the 7th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 221 1st Avenue S, Long Prairie, MN 56347. You can reach them at 320-732-7800. The office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims cases. Staff can tell you what is on file for a given case and explain what copies will cost before you submit a formal request.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the main free tool for searching Todd County court cases. You can search by name, case number, or citation and view case types, filing dates, and scheduled hearings without an account. MCRO shows the case structure and what has been filed, but it does not give you every document. For full documents, you can visit the courthouse in Long Prairie in person or mail a written request. Certified copies carry a per-page fee set by the court. In-person requests are typically handled the same day when staff capacity allows.
Under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most case data in Todd County is public unless restricted by court order. The agency must respond to records requests within a set timeframe and must explain any denial in writing.
Note: Juvenile records and some family court files in Todd County are restricted. Access requires a court order or specific legal standing under Minnesota law.
Todd County Property Records
Property records in Todd County are managed by two offices at 221 1st Avenue S, Long Prairie, MN 56347. The County Assessor, at 320-732-4431, handles property valuations and tax assessment data. The County Recorder, at 320-732-4428, maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps.
The Recorder's office indexes documents by party name and parcel number. These records cover many years and are useful for title research, ownership verification, and legal matters. Copies of recorded instruments carry a per-page fee. The Todd County official website has links to GIS mapping and property search tools. Using these tools, you can look up parcels by address or owner name to get assessed values, legal descriptions, and parcel boundaries. For certified copies of any recorded document, contact the Recorder directly.
Tax records and special assessment data are also public. Recorder staff can help trace ownership history on a specific parcel if you provide a parcel number or legal description. Most property records in Todd County are open to the public under state law with no approval process needed.
Criminal History in Todd County
The main source for criminal history in Minnesota is the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records statewide, including cases from Todd County. This is the most complete option for background checks because it draws from a central database rather than a single county's files.
For local arrest records and incident reports in Todd County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 320-732-2157. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies are required to make certain arrest data available to the public. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and location of the arrest, and the charges filed. Some details may be withheld if they could interfere with an ongoing investigation.
The free Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search for registered offenders in Todd County by name or address. For people currently serving time in state facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is available online at no cost.
Vital Records in Todd 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 held at the state level, not the county. All requests go directly to MDH by mail, online, or in person at their St. Paul office. Fees apply and vary by record type and processing option selected.
Marriage licenses in Todd County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 221 1st Avenue S in Long Prairie. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the license to the court for filing. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the Court Administrator or from MDH for older documents. Divorce decrees are also filed with the Todd County Court Administrator. You can search for a divorce case through MCRO and request a certified copy from the court office in Long Prairie once you confirm a case exists.
Note: Birth records in Minnesota are restricted for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Certified copies during those periods are available only to eligible parties.
How to Access Todd County Public Records
Most Todd County public records are reachable through three channels: online state and county portals, in-person visits to the courthouse in Long Prairie, or written mail requests. MCRO covers court case searches for free online. Property records are searchable through the county GIS tools. Criminal history requires a $8 BCA request. Vital records must go through MDH in St. Paul.
For records that are not available online, the Todd County Courthouse at 221 1st Avenue S in Long Prairie is open during regular business hours. Bring the full name of the subject, relevant dates, and a valid photo ID for requests that need identity verification. Written requests by mail should include those same details plus a return address and payment for applicable fees. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives everyone the right to ask any government agency what records it holds and to get a response within a reasonable time. If your request is denied, the agency must give you the reason in writing.
If you need free legal assistance with a records request, LawHelpMN provides resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans. Copy fees in Todd County vary by office and record type. Check with each office before submitting a request to avoid delays.
| Office | Todd County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 221 1st Avenue S, Long Prairie, MN 56347 |
| Phone | 320-732-7800 |
| Sheriff | 320-732-2157 |
| Assessor | 320-732-4431 |
| Recorder | 320-732-4428 |
| Judicial District | 7th District |
The Todd County website at co.todd.mn.us links to county departments, GIS tools, and contact information for each records office. It is a useful first stop if you are unsure which office holds the documents you are looking for.
Below is a screenshot of the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, the primary free tool for searching court cases in Todd County.
MCRO is run by the Minnesota Judicial Branch and covers case data for courts across the state, including the 7th District court in Todd County. Most civil and criminal case information is available here at no charge.
The screenshot below shows the Minnesota BCA criminal history search portal, the main statewide tool for accessing conviction records.
The BCA search costs $8 and returns results from counties across Minnesota. It is the most thorough option when you need criminal history on someone who may have records in more than one county.
Cities in Todd County
Todd County is a rural county in central Minnesota. The county seat is Long Prairie, the largest city in the county. Other communities include Browerville, Staples (which straddles the Todd-Wadena border), and Eagle Bend. None of these cities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated public records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Todd County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.