Civil Court

How do I appeal a judgment?

Visit the Appeals Help Topic to learn about the appeals process.

What is the telephone number for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office?

You can call the Sheriff's Office at (612) 348-3800, and visit the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office website for more information.

How do I get a copy of a judgment or other documents in a court case?

For a fee ($5 for each name searched), the court will search for a specific name in the civil judgments records. Judgment search requests can be made in person at the Judgments Office. You may also search for judgment records online using Judgment Search - Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). To get copies of other kinds of court records, please visit the District Court Records Center.

What are the court filing fees?

Please view our Fees tab.

How do I collect a civil judgment from the debtor?

Even if you win a judgment in court, it is not always easy to get paid. The parties can make an agreement about paying the judgment, including making payments or settling on a lower amount to satisfy the judgment. Once the judgment is paid in full or to the creditor's satisfaction, then the creditor completes a Satisfaction of Judgment form. One of the parties files that form with the court so the court records show the judgment was paid. If the creditor does not cooperate in signing a Satisfaction of Judgment form, the debtor can file a Motion to Satisfy Judgment form.

If the debtor does not pay the creditor after the judgment has been "docketed" in District Court and the time to appeal has expired, the creditor may take steps to enforce the judgment. The court is not a collection agency and cannot help you locate assets of the other party. Garnishment of a debtor's wages or bank accounts may be an option to enforce a judgment, and another option might be to file a lien against real estate owned by the debtor. Talk to a lawyer to get advice on options to collect on a judgment.

Enforcing a judgment may involve additional fees. These fees may be added to the original judgment by filing an Affidavit of Increased Costs form with the court and can be collected if the debtor's assets can be found.

How do I enforce a civil judgment when the debtor won't pay me?

Please go to the Judgments Help Topic to learn the options and procedures for enforcing a civil judgment.

How long does a judgment last?

A judgment can be enforced for ten (10) years from the date it was entered. It can also be "renewed" if not satisfied (paid) within the 10 years. To enforce a judgment that was not paid during the 10 year time frame, you have to start a new lawsuit before the end of the 10 year period, based on a claim for failure to pay a judgment. See Minn. Stat. § 541.04 A lawsuit is started by serving a Summons and Complaint on the judgment debtor. You should talk to a lawyer to get advice on how to prepare the papers and handle the case. Court staff cannot give legal advice.

How can I get a copy of my credit report? Is there a way to fix an error on a report?

This Credit Report Legal Fact Sheet explains how to get a copy of your credit report and correct errors that may appear on it. It also includes contact information on credit bureaus and a sample copy request form.

Learn more about Debt Collection, Judgments & Consumer Law on LawHelpMN.org.

Foreign judgments may be filed at the Judgments Department on C-3 (Third floor) of the Hennepin County Government Center or mailed to:

Hennepin County District Court
Judgments, C-3
300 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0332

To open a foreign judgment case, the following must be filed:

• A certified copy of the judgment from the out-of-state or out-of-country court.
• An Affidavit of Identification of both the debtor and creditor.
• Filing fees for foreign judgments
• There is a 20-day stay from the date of filing to the date of judgment.

For further information, please refer to the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act in the MN Statutes §§ 548.26 - 548.33.

Judgments are good for ten years from the date of entry. Pursuant to MN Statutes § 541.04 and § 548.09, judgments entered may be renewed for another ten years. The renewal process must be commenced prior to the expiration of the judgment.

Court staff cannot give legal advice about renewing your judgment. Please consult with an attorney. You could also visit the Legal Access Point Clinic at the court's Self-Help Center.

Hearing on Taxation of Costs

To schedule a hearing date and time, please call the Judgments Office at (612) 348-6000.

Objecting to Taxation of Costs

If either party disagrees with the costs awarded, refer to Rule 54.04 of the MN Rules of Civil Procedures.

Allowable Costs

Administration may award the following costs in an administrative hearing:

1. Administrative fees (Minn. Stat. § 357.021) for the court administrator, sheriff, other
   public officers, and jurors (Minn. Stat. § 357.13).
   • Certificate as to existence or non-existence of judgments docketed.
   • Docketing judgment fee.
   • Execution/filing fees for:
     i. Writs of attachment,
     ii. Injunction,
     iii. Habeas corpus,
     iv. Mandamus,
     v. Quo warranto,
     vi. Certiorari, and
     vii. Other writs.
   • Filing fee.
   • Jury fee.
   • Motion fee.
   • Satisfaction of Judgment (includes partial satisfaction, assignment of judgment) fee. Minn. Stat. § 549.02.
   • Subpoena fees.
   • Transcript of Judgment fee (for filing and docketing a judgment from another court).
     
2. Certified copy fee (for any documents or papers filed or recorded in any public office). Minn. Stat. § 357.31.
3. Deposition costs (if used or cited to in a court proceeding), (includes witness and party/agent depositions, and includes video fees).
4. E-filing fee.
5. Exhibit expenses (if used or cited to in a court proceeding). Minn. Stat. § 357.315.
6. Medical records. Minn. Stat. § 357.315.
7. Notary costs. Minn. Stat. § 357.317.
8. Service of process fees (whether paid to a sheriff or private process server). Minn. Stat. § 549.04.
9. Statutory costs. Minn. Stat. § 549.02.
10. Witness fees (only if witness testified at trial or other evidentiary proceeding).
    • Expert witness appearance fee (Minn.Gen.R.Prac. 127), plus .28 cents/mile
      (Minn. Stat. § 357.22).
    • Non-Expert witness flat fee of $20/day, plus .28 cents/mile (Minn. Stat. §
      357.22).

Non-Taxable Costs by Administration

Administration may NOT award the following costs in an administrative hearing on taxation of
costs:*