Traverse County Public Records
Traverse County public records include court filings, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies in western Minnesota. This guide covers the key offices and online tools you can use to find records tied to Traverse County, along with how to make in-person or written requests when you need more than what's available online.
Traverse County Overview
Traverse County Court Records
Court records in Traverse County are maintained by the 8th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 702 2nd Avenue N, Wheaton, MN 56296. You can call them at 320-422-7751. The office handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Traverse County. Staff can tell you what documents exist for a given case and what copies cost.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the main tool for searching Traverse County court records without making an in-person trip. MCRO is free to use and does not require an account. You can look up cases by name, case number, or citation. Results show the case type, filing date, and hearing schedule. Not every document in a case file is viewable online, but you can see enough to confirm whether a case exists and what stage it is at. Full copies of filings require a request to the Court Administrator's office.
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court case data is public unless sealed by a judge. Certified copies cost a per-page fee. Mail requests take more time than in-person visits.
Note: Juvenile records and some family court files in Traverse County are not public. You need a court order or specific legal standing to access those records.
Traverse County Property Records
Property records in Traverse County are split between the County Assessor and the County Recorder, both located at 702 2nd Avenue N, Wheaton, MN 56296. The Assessor, reachable at 320-422-7740, handles property valuations and tax assessment data. The Recorder, at 320-422-7753, keeps official documents like deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps.
Recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number. The Traverse County official website has links to county departments and may include GIS or property search tools for looking up parcel information online. For certified copies of deeds or other recorded documents, you need to contact the Recorder's office directly. Most recorded property documents are public under state law, so no approval process is needed to view them.
If you want to trace the ownership history of a parcel or find out about liens on a property, the Recorder's office can pull chain-of-title documents. This is useful for legal research, real estate transactions, and verifying ownership. Tax records and assessment data are also public and can be requested from the Assessor.
Traverse County is a small, rural county. Some records going back several decades may only be available in paper form at the courthouse. Staff can guide you to the right index for older documents.
Criminal History in Traverse County
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension operates Minnesota's statewide criminal history database. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across Minnesota, including Traverse County. This is the most complete option for a background check on any individual in the state.
For local arrest records and incident reports specific to Traverse County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 320-563-8250. The Sheriff's Office is located at 702 2nd Avenue N, Wheaton, MN 56296. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which requires law enforcement agencies to disclose certain data on request. This includes the name and address of the person arrested, the time and location of the arrest, and the charges. Not all incident report details are public, so being specific in your request helps.
The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search registered offenders by name or address. It is free to use and covers all of Minnesota, including Traverse County. For people held in state correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also free online.
Vital Records in Traverse 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 Traverse County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 702 2nd Avenue N in Wheaton. Once a ceremony is completed, the officiant returns the license to the court. Copies of marriage records can be requested from the court 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 Traverse County court office directly.
Note: Minnesota restricts birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Only eligible parties can request certified copies during those periods.
How to Access Traverse County Public Records
Most Traverse County public records can be reached in one of three ways: online through state and county portals, in person at the courthouse in Wheaton, or by submitting a written request. The MCRO portal handles most court record searches for free. Property records are available through the county recorder and any online GIS tools the county offers. Criminal history goes through the BCA.
For records that are not online, visit the county offices at 702 2nd Avenue N in Wheaton during regular business hours. Staff can help identify the right record type and what you need to bring. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the approximate date range, and the type of record you want. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives you the right to ask any government agency about the data it holds and to get a response within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain why in writing. For free legal help with records requests, LawHelpMN offers resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.
Costs vary by record type. Court copies, recorder documents, and vital records each have separate fee schedules set by state law or individual offices. There is no single fee for all public records in Traverse County.
| Office | Traverse County Court Administrator |
|---|---|
| Address | 702 2nd Avenue N, Wheaton, MN 56296 |
| Phone | 320-422-7751 |
| Sheriff | 320-563-8250 |
| Assessor | 320-422-7740 |
| Recorder | 320-422-7753 |
| Judicial District | 8th District |
The Traverse County website at co.traverse.mn.us lists county departments and contact information for each office. It is the best place to start if you are not sure which office holds the records you need.
Below is a screenshot from the Traverse County official website, which provides department contacts and links for public records requests.
The county site is updated periodically and includes links to the Assessor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Court Administrator, making it easy to find the right contact for your request.
Cities in Traverse County
Traverse County is a small, rural county in western Minnesota. The county seat, Wheaton, is the largest community but does not meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. Other small communities in the county include Browns Valley and Tintah. None of these cities have dedicated public records pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Traverse County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.