Case numbers (also known as "court file number') can be located in the top portion of the first page of court documents such as:
- Complaint
- Sentencing Order
- Payment Plan
- Court notices received for court hearings
A case, or a file, number is generated when a case is created in the Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) using the citation, complaint or charging document.
The case number can be found on documents from the courts. For example on the notice of hearing, the sentencing order, or the payment plan summary.
The case number consists of a:
- 2-digit number representing the county
- Typically 2 letters representing the type of case; however, there may be 2 additional letters if the county has more than one location
- CR indicates a mandatory court appearance
- VB indicates a non-mandatory court appearance case
- 2-digit filing year
- A series of numbers representing the sequence in which the case was created within the calendar year
