Watonwan County, MN Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
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- Jail Records
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- Misdemeanors
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- Federal Dockets
The Watonwan County District Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for Watonwan County, Minnesota. It handles criminal, traffic, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters as part of the statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Watonwan County District Court (Minnesota Judicial Branch) |
| Website | mncourts.gov/find-courts |
| Handles | Criminal (including felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic), civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases (U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota), parking tickets (the city or agency that issued them), and appeals (Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court) |
| Online Case Search | Access Case Records (statewide, not specific to Watonwan County) |
| Criminal Records Requests | Contact the District Court Court Administrator for Watonwan County |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Pay a Fine (statewide) |
How to Search Watonwan County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search. Watonwan County cases are kept by the District Court Court Administrator.
Online
Go to Access Case Records on mncourts.gov to search statewide court records.
Search by party name or case number, then open the case details.
Confirm which records the portal shows before you rely on them.
Best for: Quick lookups of case status
In Person
Go to Find Courts to locate the Watonwan County courthouse.
Ask the District Court Court Administrator for the records you need.
Bring the case number and party names if you have them.
Best for: Records and copies not available online
By Phone
Call the District Court Court Administrator's office for records not online.
Find the courthouse phone number at Find Courts.
Ask which division keeps the case type you need.
Best for: Confirming which records are available
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
Watonwan County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
Watonwan County courts handled an estimated 2,418 new cases in CY 2024 and disposed of an estimated 2,369. The estimate scales Minnesota statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~2,418
Total filings in CY 2024
~2,369
Total dispositions in CY 2024
~2,418
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~-1.5%
Change in total filings vs CY 2023
| Metric | CY 2024 | CY 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~2,418 | ~2,456 | ~-1.5% |
| Total Dispositions | ~2,369 | ~2,407 | ~-1.6% |
| Criminal Filings | ~1,547 | ~1,567 | ~-1.3% |
| Civil Filings | ~348 | ~358 | ~-2.8% |
| Family Law Filings | ~116 | ~118 | ~-1.7% |
| Probate Filings | ~48 | ~48 | ~+0.0% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~23 | ~23 | ~+0.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~23 | ~23 | ~+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 Watonwan County's 0.19% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Watonwan County?
Estimated total filings in Watonwan 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 | ~2,418 | ~2,369 | ~-1.5% |
| CY 2023 | ~2,456 | ~2,407 | ~+2.4% |
| CY 2022 | ~2,398 | ~2,350 | ~+5.1% |
| CY 2021 | ~2,282 | ~2,236 | ~+7.3% |
| CY 2020 | ~2,127 | ~2,085 | ~+7.3% |
Estimated filings changed +13.7% between CY 2020 and CY 2024, from 2,127 to 2,418. The largest annual change was +7.3% in CY 2021. The latest change of -1.5% reflects statewide Minnesota trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: Minnesota statewide figures scaled by Watonwan County's 0.19% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Watonwan County?
The Watonwan County District Court hears the case types listed below. Filing counts by case type are not published in this section.
| Case Type | Heard By |
|---|---|
| Criminal (including felonies and misdemeanors) | District Court, Criminal |
| Traffic | District Court, Traffic |
| Civil | District Court, Civil |
| Family law | District Court, Family |
| Probate | District Court, Probate |
| Juvenile | District Court, Juvenile |
Share of filings and changes by case type are not available for this county in this section.
How Does Watonwan County Compare With Minnesota Overall?
Watonwan County is estimated to account for about 0.19% of the 1,250,000 cases filed in Minnesota courts in CY 2024.
| Metric | Watonwan County | Minnesota | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~2,418 | 1,250,000 | ~0.19% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~-1.5% | -1.6% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~2,418 | 4,325 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~2,369 | 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 Watonwan County's 0.19% share of the state population.
Watonwan County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are Minnesota statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Watonwan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 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 Watonwan County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Watonwan County Courthouse Locations
Watonwan County court proceedings are held at the Watonwan County Courthouse. Check your notice or case paperwork to confirm the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watonwan County Courthouse | 710 Second Avenue S., St. James, MN 56081 | (507) 621-6005 | See location page |
Addresses and phone numbers come from public directory listings and may change, so confirm them with the clerk before you visit.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Watonwan County?
Most matters in Watonwan County start in the District Court, which is the trial court in every Minnesota county. Matters handled outside the court are noted below.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | District Court, Traffic | Traffic citations are heard in District Court; follow the instructions on your citation. |
| Parking ticket | The city or agency that issued the ticket | Parking tickets are not handled by the District Court. |
| Misdemeanor | District Court, Criminal | Misdemeanor cases are heard in District Court. |
| Felony | District Court, Criminal | Felony cases are heard in District Court. |
| DUI | District Court, Criminal | DUI charges are heard in District Court. |
| Domestic violence | District Court | Ask the Court Administrator about protection orders and criminal charges. |
| Civil lawsuit | District Court, Civil | Civil lawsuits are heard in District Court. |
| Small claims | District Court, Civil | Ask the Court Administrator which civil process applies to your claim. |
| Eviction | District Court, Civil | Eviction actions are civil matters heard in District Court. |
| Divorce | District Court, Family | Divorce cases are heard in District Court's family division. |
| Child custody or support | District Court, Family | Custody and support cases are heard in District Court's family division. |
| Probate or estate | District Court, Probate | Estate matters are heard in District Court's probate division. |
| Juvenile case | District Court, Juvenile | Juvenile matters are heard in District Court's juvenile division. |
| Appeal | Minnesota Court of Appeals | Appeals from District Court go to the Minnesota Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. |
Are Watonwan County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Watonwan County District Court records are public, with exceptions set by Minnesota's Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch.
Public records
Most case records in the District Court are open to the public, unless a law, court rule, or court order makes them confidential.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, adoption, some family, mental health, sealed, and expunged records are not publicly available. Cases that Minn. R. Pub. Access 8 does not allow to be accessed remotely are also not publicly available online.
Online access
Use Access Case Records on mncourts.gov to search statewide. Online results show case information, not every document, and confidential cases do not appear.
In-person access
Visit the District Court Court Administrator at the Watonwan County courthouse to view or request records. Check Find Courts for the courthouse location.
Fees
This section does not state fees for copies. Ask the Court Administrator about the cost before you request copies.
How to Search Watonwan County Court Records Online
Use the statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch search tool to look up Watonwan County District Court cases, and ask the Court Administrator for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family, probate, or juvenile.
- Open Access Case Records on mncourts.gov.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details for status, parties, and scheduled dates.
- Contact the District Court Court Administrator to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Access Case Records | Case information and docket entries | Documents may require a request to the court |
| Traffic | Access Case Records | Case information and docket entries | Pay fines separately through Pay a Fine |
| Civil | Access Case Records | Case information and docket entries | Sealed or restricted filings are not shown |
| Small claims | Access Case Records | Case information and docket entries | Documents may require a request to the court |
| Family law | Access Case Records | Case information | Confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Access Case Records | Case information where public | Confirm with the Court Administrator which probate records are available |
| Juvenile | Court Administrator | Limited case information through the court | Juvenile records are generally confidential |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Watonwan County
Minnesota court fine payments are set by the Minnesota Judicial Branch, and the Watonwan County District Court accepts the options listed below.
- Online: Pay a fine through the statewide Pay a Fine page on mncourts.gov. Confirm the case number and amount before you pay.
- Phone: Call the District Court Court Administrator using the number on Find Courts and ask about payment options for your case.
Parking tickets are paid to the city or agency that issued them, not through the District Court.
Watonwan County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Watonwan County court records?
Use Access Case Records on mncourts.gov to search by party name or case number, or contact the District Court Court Administrator for records that are not online.
Are Watonwan County court records public?
Yes, 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 party name in Access Case Records, then contact the Court Administrator if you need documents that are not online.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or ticket first, then search the case details in Access Case Records or call the District Court Court Administrator.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Use the statewide Pay a Fine page, or call the District Court using the number on Find Courts.
How many cases are filed in Watonwan County each year?
Court filing counts for Watonwan County are not published in this section. The county had 11,459 residents in 2025.
What is the most common type of case?
Case counts by type are not available in this section. The District Court hears criminal, traffic, civil, family, probate, and juvenile matters.
Is crime in Watonwan 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
Watonwan County District CourtMore Info
| Address: | 710 Second Avenue South, St. James, MN, 56081 |
| Phone Number: | 507-621-6005 |
| Fax: | 507-375-5010 |
| Website: | http://www.mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Watonwan.aspx |
Table of Contents
- Watonwan County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Watonwan County Court Records
- Watonwan County Court Statistics (CY 2024)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Watonwan County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Watonwan County?
- How Does Watonwan County Compare With Minnesota Overall?
- Watonwan County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Watonwan County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Watonwan County?
- Are Watonwan County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Watonwan County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Watonwan County
- Watonwan County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links