Overview
Many records from court cases are open and accessible to the public. Some records are not accessible to the public for different reasons. For more information on what it and is not publicly available, review the MN Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch. You may be able to get copies of records from a confidential or sealed case, but more paperwork may be required for you to be allowed access. See the Ways to Get Copies tab for more information.
There are several types of copies of court records that are commonly requested:
- Uncertified copies are plain photocopies that do not have a court seal, so they cannot be used for official purposes (for example, updating your name on a driver’s license after a name change). It is a good idea to keep plain copies of documents from your case for your own records. There is no fee for an uncertified copy.
- Certified copies are photocopies that have a court seal or an image of a court seal that allows them to be used for official purposes (for example, updating your name on a driver’s license after a name change). Certified copies generally cost $14 per document, unless the judge has waived your fees in the case.
- Exemplified copies are photocopies that have the signatures of the judicial officer and court administrator verifying the validity of the document. Exemplified copies generally cost $14 per document ($28 per document if requesting an exemplified and certified copy), unless the judge has waived your fees in the case.