Big Stone County, MN Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Big Stone County District Court is the trial court for Big Stone County and handles criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters within Judicial District 8.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Big Stone County District Court, Judicial District 8 |
| Main Address | 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278 |
| Main Phone | (320) 849-7005 |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts/big-stone |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Second Street Ortonville) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Court Administrator at the courthouse, (320) 849-7005 |
| Handles | Felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota), appeals (Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court), and parking tickets (issuing city or agency) |
| Online Case Search | Access Case Records (statewide) |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Pay a Fine (statewide) |
How to Search Big Stone County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search. Big Stone County district court records are kept by the Court Administrator.
Online
Go to Access Case Records on mncourts.gov to search statewide court records.
Check the case number on your paperwork before you search.
Confirm which records are available, since confidential cases are restricted.
Best for: Looking up a known case number
In Person
Go to 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Ask the Court Administrator about records kept at the courthouse.
Best for: Copies and records not available online
By Phone
Call (320) 849-7005 and ask for the District Court Court Administrator.
Confirm what the court needs before you send any request.
Ask which request methods the court accepts.
Best for: Questions about a specific case
Search by Name on MinnesotaCourts.org
Go to MinnesotaCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Big Stone County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
Big Stone County courts handled an estimated 1,093 new cases in CY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 1,071. The estimate scales Minnesota statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~1,093
Total filings in CY 2024
~1,071
Total dispositions in CY 2024
~1,093
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~-1.6%
Change in total filings vs CY 2023
| Metric | CY 2024 | CY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~1,093 | ~1,111 | ~-1.6% |
| Total Dispositions | ~1,071 | ~1,089 | ~-1.7% |
| Criminal Filings | ~700 | ~708 | ~-1.1% |
| Civil Filings | ~157 | ~162 | ~-3.1% |
| Family Law Filings | ~52 | ~53 | ~-1.9% |
| Probate Filings | ~22 | ~22 | ~+0.0% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~10 | ~10 | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~10 | ~10 | ~+0.0% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~1 | ~1 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in criminal filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Minnesota statewide figures scaled by Big Stone County's 0.09% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Big Stone County?
Estimated total filings in Big Stone County moved up over the last five years; dispositions are estimated at a similar level.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CY 2024 | ~1,093 | ~1,071 | ~-1.6% |
| CY 2023 | ~1,111 | ~1,089 | ~+2.4% |
| CY 2022 | ~1,085 | ~1,063 | ~+5.1% |
| CY 2021 | ~1,032 | ~1,011 | ~+7.3% |
| CY 2020 | ~962 | ~943 | ~+7.3% |
Estimated filings changed +13.6% between CY 2020 and CY 2024, from 962 to 1,093. The largest annual change was +7.3% in CY 2021. The latest change of -1.6% reflects statewide Minnesota trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Minnesota statewide figures scaled by Big Stone County's 0.09% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Big Stone County?
Criminal cases are estimated to be the largest category in Big Stone County, at about 64.0% of filings in CY 2024.
| Case Type | Filings CY 2024 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | ~700 | ~64.0% | ~-1.1% |
| Civil | ~157 | ~14.4% | ~-3.1% |
| Family law | ~52 | ~4.8% | ~-1.9% |
| Probate | ~22 | ~2.0% | ~+0.0% |
| Mental health | ~10 | ~0.9% | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile | ~10 | ~0.9% | ~+0.0% |
Probate cases are estimated as the fastest-growing category and civil cases as the fastest-falling. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Minnesota statewide figures scaled by Big Stone County's 0.09% share of the state population.
How Does Big Stone County Compare With Minnesota Overall?
Big Stone County is estimated to account for about 0.09% of the 1,250,000 cases filed in Minnesota courts in CY 2024.
| Metric | Big Stone County | Minnesota | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~1,093 | 1,250,000 | ~0.09% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~-1.6% | -1.6% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~1,093 | 4,325 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~1,071 | 4,239 | Estimated at the state level |
| Criminal share of filings | ~64.0% | 64.0% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Civil share of filings | ~14.4% | 14.4% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Family law share of filings | ~4.8% | 4.8% | Same as state (estimate) |
These county values are estimates built from statewide Minnesota figures, so they track the state mix by design. Actual county dockets may differ. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Minnesota statewide figures scaled by Big Stone County's 0.09% share of the state population.
Big Stone County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are Minnesota statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Big Stone County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 11.7% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 99.8% of Minnesota's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
13,177
Violent crimes, Minnesota statewide, 2025
83,199
Property crimes, Minnesota statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
226.0
Violent crime rate per 100K, Minnesota statewide, 2025 (population 5,830,405)
-11.7%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, Minnesota statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (96,376 vs 109,143)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 135 | 2.3 | 173 | -22.0% |
| Rape | 2,233 | 38.3 | 2,242 | -0.4% |
| Robbery | 2,065 | 35.4 | 2,844 | -27.4% |
| Aggravated assault | 8,744 | 150.0 | 9,754 | -10.4% |
| Violent crimes total | 13,177 | 226.0 | 15,013 | -12.2% |
| Burglary | 9,414 | 161.5 | 10,792 | -12.8% |
| Larceny-theft | 63,620 | 1091.2 | 70,354 | -9.6% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 9,659 | 165.7 | 12,394 | -22.1% |
| Property crimes total | 83,199 | 1427.0 | 94,130 | -11.6% |
Rates use the Minnesota 2025 population of 5,830,405. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Big Stone County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Big Stone County Courthouse Locations
Big Stone County has 1 District Court location, the Big Stone County Courthouse in Second Street Ortonville. Check your notice or ticket for the courtroom before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Stone County Courthouse | 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278 | (320) 849-7005 | See location page |
The Court Administrator's office, led by Rachel Schmidt, keeps district court records for Big Stone County.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Big Stone County?
Most matters in Big Stone County go to the District Court. Some matters are handled outside the court, such as parking tickets (the issuing city or agency) and federal cases (U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota).
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | District Court | Traffic citations are handled by the District Court. |
| Parking ticket | The city or agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are not handled by the District Court. |
| Misdemeanor | District Court, Criminal | Misdemeanor charges are heard in District Court. |
| Felony | District Court, Criminal | Felony charges are heard in District Court. |
| DUI | District Court, Criminal | DUI charges are criminal matters heard in District Court. |
| Domestic violence | District Court | Criminal charges and protection order requests are heard in District Court. |
| Civil lawsuit | District Court, Civil | Civil lawsuits are heard in District Court. |
| Small claims | District Court | Small claims matters are heard in District Court. |
| Eviction | District Court | Eviction cases are heard in District Court. |
| Divorce | District Court, Family | Divorce cases are heard in District Court. |
| Child custody or support | District Court, Family | Custody and support matters are heard in District Court. |
| Probate or estate | District Court, Probate | Probate matters are heard in District Court. |
| Juvenile case | District Court, Juvenile | Juvenile matters are heard in District Court. |
| Appeal | Minnesota Court of Appeals | Appeals from District Court go to the Court of Appeals, then the Minnesota Supreme Court. |
Are Big Stone County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Big Stone County district court records are public, with exceptions. Minnesota's Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch set the public's right to inspect court records, and some records are restricted or confidential.
Public records
Most district court case records in Big Stone County are open to the public, subject to the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, some family, adoption, mental health, sealed, and expunged matters are not publicly available. Cases that are not remotely accessible under Minn. R. Pub. Access 8 are also not available online.
Online access
Access Case Records on mncourts.gov provides the statewide case search. Not every document is online, and confidential cases are not publicly available.
In-person access
Visit the Court Administrator's office at 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278, or call (320) 849-7005 to confirm which records the court keeps.
Fees
No fees are listed in this section. Ask the Court Administrator about copy costs before you request records.
How to Search Big Stone County Court Records Online
Use the statewide Access Case Records search to look up Big Stone County court records by case type, and contact the Court Administrator for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open Access Case Records on mncourts.gov for the statewide case search.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case information that the search returns.
- Contact the Court Administrator at (320) 849-7005 to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Access Case Records | Case information returned by the statewide search | Confidential cases are not publicly available |
| Traffic | Access Case Records | Case information for traffic citations | Pay fines through the Pay a Fine page |
| Civil | Access Case Records | Case information returned by the statewide search | Not every document is online |
| Small claims | Access Case Records | Case information returned by the statewide search | Documents may require a request to the court |
| Family law | Access Case Records | Case information returned by the statewide search | Restricted family records are not public |
| Probate | Access Case Records | Case information returned by the statewide search | Not every document is online |
| Juvenile | Court Administrator (not in the statewide search) | Limited case information through the court | Juvenile records are generally not public |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Big Stone County
Traffic citations in Big Stone County can be paid through the statewide Pay a Fine page or by contacting the District Court.
- Online: Pay through the statewide Pay a Fine page on mncourts.gov. Have your citation details ready before you pay.
- Phone: Call the District Court at (320) 849-7005 to ask about payment options for your citation.
Parking tickets are paid to the city or agency that issued the ticket, not to the District Court.
Big Stone County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Big Stone County court records?
Use Access Case Records on mncourts.gov to search statewide court records, or contact the Court Administrator at (320) 849-7005.
Are Big Stone County court records public?
Most are, under Minnesota's Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, but juvenile, sealed, and other confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name or case number in Access Case Records, then confirm details with the Court Administrator at (320) 849-7005.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or citation first, then contact the Court Administrator at (320) 849-7005 to confirm the date.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay through the statewide Pay a Fine page, or contact the District Court for other payment options.
How many cases are filed in Big Stone County each year?
Filing counts are not included in this section. Big Stone County had 5,054 residents in 2025 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
What is the most common type of case?
This section does not include filing counts by case type. The District Court hears criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters.
Is crime in the county rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 12.2% to 13,177 in 2025 from 15,013 in 2024, and property crimes fell 11.6% to 83,199 from 94,130, as reported to the FBI. These are Minnesota statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
BigStone County District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 20 Second Street SE, STE 107, Ortonville, MN, 56278 |
| Phone Number: | 320-839-2536 |
| Fax: | 320-839-2537 |
| Website: | http://www.mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/BigStone.aspx |
Useful Links
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - Tenth Judicial District Find resources and services associated with the Tenth Judicial District, encompassing Big Stone County and its legal proceedings.
- Big Stone County, MN - Official Website Explore official resources from Big Stone County, including court services, public records, and local government information.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - Access Case Records Access public case records from the Minnesota Judicial Branch, useful for finding court cases statewide, including Big Stone County.
- LawHelpMN Obtain free legal help and resources designed for Minnesota residents, with guides on how to navigate the court system.
- CourtRecords.org - Big Stone County Discover how to access Minnesota court records, including specific information for obtaining records in Big Stone County.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - Hennepin County General information on accessing statewide court services, though not specific to Big Stone, useful for understanding judicial processes.
- Minnesota Statutes - Chapter 484: District Courts Review comprehensive Minnesota legal statutes, pivotal for understanding judiciary guidelines applicable within all counties, including Big Stone.
- DMVLiveChecks.com - Big Stone County Public Records An alternative resource providing links and information for public records searches, often inclusive of civil and criminal court records.
- CountyOffice.org - Big Stone County Courthouse A directory listing offering contact information and services available at the Big Stone County Courthouse location in Minnesota.
- Zillow - Big Stone County Real Estate While focusing on real estate, this link can help find property records with possible legal relevance to court-related inquiries.
- Big Stone County Collaboratives & School Links Not directly court-related but helpful in exploring educational and collaborative services which may intersect with juvenile court matters.
- Big Stone County News Stay informed about local news including reports on court cases, legal updates, and county government news impacting the judiciary.
- United States Courts Find federal court resources that complement and support understanding of state courts, valuable for Big Stone County residents as well.
- CourtReference.com - Minnesota Courts A broad resource to navigate court record access across Minnesota, offering links and information that assist Big Stone County searches.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - Help Topics Comprehensive guide on common legal issues and court topics, aiming to assist the public with questions related to Minnesota courts.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - Big Stone County Direct access to information specific to Big Stone County court locations, services, and contact details through the state's judicial website.
- Judicare of Anoka County Provides legal aid services to Minnesota residents, including relevant support for those in need within Big Stone County.
- Minnesota United Way Offers community support services which can include resources for legal and court-related issues faced by residents of Big Stone County.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch - District Court Big Stone Access direct links to Big Stone District Court for information on filing, procedures, and local judicial resources.
- Big Stone County Historical Society Delve into historical records that can shed light on past legal proceedings and court cases pertinent to Big Stone's heritage.
Table of Contents
- Big Stone County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Big Stone County Court Records
- Big Stone County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Big Stone County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Big Stone County?
- How Does Big Stone County Compare With Minnesota Overall?
- Big Stone County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Big Stone County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Big Stone County?
- Are Big Stone County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Big Stone County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Big Stone County
- Big Stone County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links