Washington County Public Records

Washington County public records include court case files, property documents, criminal history data, and vital records held by county offices and state agencies in the eastern Twin Cities metro area. This guide covers the main offices, online search tools, and steps for requesting records tied to Washington County.

Washington County Court Records

Court records in Washington County are filed with the 10th Judicial District Court. The Court Administrator's office is at 14949 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082. You can reach them at 651-430-6263. The office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and conciliation cases for all of Washington County. Staff can tell you what documents are on file for a specific case and what fees apply for copies or certified documents.

The free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the fastest way to search Washington County court records without a trip to Stillwater. MCRO does not require you to create an account. You can look up cases by name, case number, or citation number. Results show the case type, filing date, upcoming hearing dates, and basic docket entries. Not every document in a file is viewable online, but MCRO gives you enough information to know what was filed and when. If you need full copies of pleadings, orders, or other documents, contact the Court Administrator's office directly.

Below is a screenshot of the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, which covers all counties including Washington County.

MCRO is updated regularly and is the best starting point for any court record search in Washington County before visiting or calling the courthouse.

Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Chapter 13, most court records are public unless sealed by a judge or protected by another statute. Certified copies carry a per-page fee set by state law. Mail requests generally take several business days. In-person requests at the courthouse can often be fulfilled the same day when staff capacity allows.

Washington County is one of the more active courts in the state due to its size and suburban location. Case volumes are high, particularly in family, civil, and district court divisions. If you are looking for a specific case, having the full name of the parties and an approximate filing year will speed up the search significantly, whether you are using MCRO or calling the office directly.

Washington County Property Records

Property records in Washington County fall under the Property Records and Taxation department, which handles both assessment and recorded documents. The main number for Property Records and Taxation is 651-430-6175. The Recorder line is 651-430-6755. Both offices are located at 14949 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082, the same address as the courthouse.

The Recorder maintains official documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and plat maps. All recorded documents are indexed by party name and parcel number and can go back many decades. Washington County has an active real estate market, and the Recorder's office handles a high volume of new filings regularly. For certified copies of recorded documents, contact the Recorder directly. Most property documents are public under state law, so no special approval is needed to view standard records.

The Washington County official website provides access to property search tools, GIS mapping, and parcel lookup features. You can search by address, parcel ID, or owner name to find assessment data, property boundaries, and tax information. The county's online tools are among the more robust offered by Minnesota counties, reflecting the volume of property transactions in the region.

If you need to trace the full ownership history of a parcel, check for active liens, or find out about easements, the Recorder can pull chain-of-title records. Tax records and current valuations are also public. The Assessor's data shows estimated market value, property class, and recent sales comparisons used to set tax bills. All of this is accessible either online or in person at the Stillwater courthouse.

Criminal History in Washington County

Minnesota's statewide criminal history database is operated by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. A BCA criminal history search costs $8 and returns conviction records from across Minnesota, including Washington County. This is the most complete source for background check information on any individual in the state.

For local arrest records, incident reports, and jail roster information specific to Washington County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 651-430-6000. The Sheriff is located at 15015 62nd Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082, just adjacent to the courthouse complex. 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 place of the arrest, and the charges filed. Not every detail in an incident report is public, so being specific when making a request helps.

Washington County is a high-activity county in the metro area. The Sheriff's Office handles both local law enforcement functions and manages the county jail. If you are looking for information about someone who may be in custody, the Sheriff's office can confirm current status.

The state's Predatory Offender Registry, maintained under Minnesota Statute 243.166, lets you search registered offenders by name or address across all of Minnesota. It is free to use online. For people currently held in state correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections inmate search is also available at no cost.

Vital Records in Washington 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 maintained at the county level. You must request them from MDH directly, by mail, online, or in person at the MDH office in St. Paul. Fees vary by record type and whether you need certified copies.

Marriage licenses in Washington County are issued by the Court Administrator's office at 14949 62nd Street N in Stillwater. Once a ceremony is completed, the officiant returns the signed 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 then request copies from the Washington County court office.

If you are looking for historical vital records, MDH can sometimes provide older documents or point you toward archived records. Very old records, particularly pre-statehood, may be held at the Minnesota Historical Society. The Court Administrator's office can advise on the best route for older marriage and divorce documents filed in Washington County.

How to Access Washington County Public Records

Most Washington County public records can be reached online through state and county portals, in person at the Stillwater courthouse complex, or by submitting a written request. The MCRO portal handles most court record searches for free. Property records are searchable through the county's online tools and GIS map viewer. Criminal history goes through the BCA.

For records that are not available online, visit the offices at 14949 62nd Street N in Stillwater during regular business hours. The Sheriff's Office for in-person records requests is at the adjacent 15015 62nd Street N address. Written requests should include the full name of the subject, the approximate date range, and the specific type of record you want. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives you the right to ask any government agency what data it holds and to receive a response within a set timeframe. If a request is denied, the agency must explain why in writing.

Washington County offices serve a large suburban population, so response times can vary. In-person visits tend to be faster than mail or email requests for document copies. If you plan to visit, calling ahead to confirm office hours and any ID requirements is a good idea. For free legal help with a records request, LawHelpMN offers resources and referrals for low-income Minnesotans.

There is no single fee covering all public records in Washington County. Court copies, recorder documents, and vital records each have separate fee schedules set by state law or individual offices. Staff at any office can give you the current fee before you commit to a request.

The Washington County website at co.washington.mn.us is a good first stop. It lists county departments, links to online property search tools, and contact information for each office. The site is well-maintained and includes direct links to the Court Administrator, Recorder, Sheriff, and Property Records departments.

Below is a screenshot from the Washington County official website, which provides department contacts and links for public records requests.

The county site is regularly updated and includes links to online property records, GIS mapping, court administration, and the Sheriff's Office, making it easy to find the right contact for your specific request.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes several communities in the eastern Twin Cities suburban area. Woodbury is the largest city in the county with its own public records page on this site.

Other communities in Washington County include Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Hugo, Forest Lake, and Newport. These cities do not meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page, but records for residents of those communities are filed through Washington County offices and searchable through the same state tools listed above.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own court and records offices.