Who Runs the Ramsey County Records Office
Court Administrator Heather Kendall heads up Ramsey County District Court Administration for the Second Judicial District. The District Court Records office handles the public-facing records work: copies, certifications, public terminals, transcript routing, and archived files. The office sits at Room #72 of the main courthouse, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102. Phone: 651-266-8237. Hours match the courthouse: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Court Administration also coordinates with each division: civil, criminal and traffic, juvenile, and family. The Court Administrator works alongside the chief judge to schedule judges, manage caseflow, and run the courthouse. The official Ramsey County District Court page sits at mncourts.gov find-courts/ramsey.
How to Request Ramsey County Court Records Copies
The Records Office accepts requests by mail, phone, or in person. Payment must be made before copies are released. Mail orders use check or money order. Phone orders accept credit or debit cards. In-person orders accept cash, check, money order, credit, or debit. The office only certifies documents filed in Ramsey County District Court cases. Files from other counties or courts must go through the court that holds them.
- Identify the Ramsey County District Court case number from MCRO or the public access terminal.
- List the documents you need by name and type, such as Sentence, Judgment, or Order.
- Choose plain, certified, or exemplified copy.
- Pick a request method: mail, phone, or in person.
- Provide payment by the matching method.
- Wait for processing; agencies requesting certified criminal copies should allow up to five business days.
- Receive the certified copy with the office's seal and signature.
Payment Methods at the Ramsey County Records Office
Different methods take different payment types. The chart below sums up the options.
| Request Method | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Check or money order | Send to Records Office, Room #72, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102 | |
| Phone | Credit or debit card | Card processor fees may apply |
| In person | Cash, check, money order, card | Walk-in at Room #72 during business hours |
| Email (agency) | Agency billing | Up to five business days for certified criminal records |
What to Include in a Ramsey County Records Request
The Records Office does not publish a single official copy-request form. The instructions on the court's records page imply a written request should include the following fields.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requester name | Yes | Full legal name |
| Contact information | Yes | Phone, email, mailing address |
| Court file number | Yes | Ramsey case number, e.g., 62-CR-23-2188 |
| Specific document names | Yes | Sentence, Judgment, Order, Notice, etc. |
| Copy type | Yes | Plain, certified, exemplified |
| Delivery method | Yes | Mail, pickup, email if allowed |
| Payment | Yes | By matching method |
Public Access Terminals at the Ramsey County Records Office
The records office keeps public access terminals for cases and documents that are not fully available on MCRO. Older cases and certain restricted case types may need a courthouse visit. The Minnesota Judicial Branch lists the difference between MCRO remote display and courthouse terminal display in the Rules of Public Access. Civil commitment cases, OFP, HRO, CHIPS, and Juvenile Delinquency Felony 16 documents commonly require a terminal visit when public.
Plan for security screening at the courthouse. The court's locations and hours page sets the rules for items not allowed inside. Cameras and recording devices need court approval before use.
Court Transcript Requests in Ramsey County
Transcripts are handled differently from regular case documents. If a transcript has already been produced and filed, District Court Records can provide a copy. If the transcript has not been filed, the request must go to the court reporter at the hearing. Administrative Services at 651-266-8302 can identify the right court reporter for a given hearing. Requesters should have the case file number, the hearing dates, a phone number, and an email address ready.
Older Ramsey County Court Files and Archives
Older case files for Ramsey County have a separate path. Civil case files from 1858 through 1902, file numbers 1 to 78,050, are preserved by the Minnesota Historical Society State Archives. The Records Office can help locate more recent older files within the District Court system. Some cases may only be accessible at the courthouse or through written request because of age and digitization status.
Microfilm and digital records sit in different storage systems. Researchers should call the office at 651-266-8237 before traveling to confirm the format and availability of a specific Ramsey County case file.
Vital Records vs Court Records
The records office often gets calls for birth, death, and marriage certificates. Those are not court records. Ramsey County Vital Records at the Plato Building, 90 Plato Boulevard West, Saint Paul, MN 55107, phone 651-266-1333, handles those. Divorce records, by contrast, are court records and live with the District Court Records office. The split causes the most calls. See the marriage and divorce records page for the full breakdown.
Ramsey County Court Administrator Contact
The Records Office is open during regular courthouse hours and accepts walk-in service. The contact card pulls together the address, phone, hours, and link.
Ramsey District Court Records
Main Courthouse, Room #72
15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
651-266-8237
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Ramsey County Court Records Office Fees
Copy and certification fees follow the statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch fee schedule. Card payments by phone may add a processor surcharge. Mail orders avoid card fees. Fee waivers are available for filers who qualify under in forma pauperis rules. The table below sums up the most common items.
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Plain photocopy per page | Minnesota Judicial Branch fee schedule |
| Certified copy per page | Per-page fee plus certification charge |
| Exemplified copy | Certified plus chief judge certificate |
| Card processing fee | Card processor surcharge for phone orders |
| Fee waiver | Available for qualifying filers under in forma pauperis |
Plain, Certified, and Exemplified Copies
The Records Office offers three copy types. A plain copy is a photocopy with no seal. A certified copy carries the Records Office seal and signature; it is what banks, schools, and other courts expect. An exemplified copy carries the certification plus a signed certificate from the chief judge that the certifying officer is in fact the records officer. Exemplified copies are needed when a Ramsey County order is filed in a court outside Minnesota that requires the higher level of authentication.
Picking the right level avoids a return trip. Most users only need plain or certified. Out-of-state probate, real estate, and immigration filings sometimes require exemplified copies. The Records Office can advise when a higher level of authentication is appropriate.
Agency Requests for Certified Criminal Records
Agencies that need certified copies of criminal records can email the Records Office and allow up to five business days for processing. The request should identify the court file number and the specific documents needed. Non-public documents may require identity verification or a judge's order before release. The Court Administration office uses the same procedure for prosecutor, defense, and government-agency requests.
Background-check users should remember that the Minnesota Judicial Branch tells the public to use the BCA Public Criminal History Search at chs.state.mn.us rather than MCRO for screening purposes. The Records Office cannot run a fingerprint-linked check; it only certifies file copies on a case-by-case basis.
Court Administration in the Minnesota Unified Court System
Minnesota's unified court model means each county has one trial court office handling all civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, traffic, housing, and commitment files. Court Administration runs the office under the chief judge. The Judicial Council sets statewide policy. The Minnesota Judicial Branch supports the local administration with statewide systems like MCRO, Odyssey, MyMNConservator, and Pay Fines.
For Ramsey County users, the practical effect is that one office and one set of phone numbers covers all court records work. There is no second clerk to call. The same Court Administrator and Records Office handle a small claims judgment, a criminal certified copy, a probate Letter of Authority, and a divorce decree.