Carlton County Family Court Records
Carlton County family court records are kept at the District Court in Carlton, Minnesota. You can search these records online through the free Minnesota Court Records Online system or visit the Justice Center in person. The court handles divorce filings, custody cases, child support orders, and paternity actions for residents of Carlton County. The Court Administrator manages all case files and can help you find what you need. If you know the case number, that is the fastest way to pull up a file. This guide covers how to search, what you will find, and where to get copies.
Carlton County Overview
Carlton County District Court
The Carlton County District Court holds all family court records for the county. The court sits at the Justice Center on Justice Drive in Carlton. Family cases filed here include dissolution of marriage, child custody disputes, parenting time orders, child support, and paternity actions. The Court Administrator's office is on the 2nd floor of the Justice Center and handles all records requests. Interim Court Administrator Kathy McFarlane oversees day-to-day court operations.
Carlton County is part of the Sixth Judicial District, which covers eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. Judges rotate through the district and may hear cases in more than one county. The district court website at mncourts.gov - Sixth Judicial District lists court schedules and contact details for all six counties in the district.
| Court | Carlton County District Court - Sixth Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address |
Carlton County Justice Center 1780 Justice Drive, Suite 2700 Carlton, MN 55718 |
| Phone | (218) 673-5065 |
| Fax | (218) 384-9182 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Carlton County |
Search Carlton County Family Court Records
There are several ways to search Carlton County family court records. The free online tool is the fastest starting point. In-person searches let you see the full case file and get certified copies right away. The court also accepts record requests by mail, phone, fax, and email.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the state's public case search portal. You can reach it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Search by party name, case number, or attorney name. MCRO shows case summaries, docket entries, and hearing dates for free. Document downloads cost $8 per document. Most Carlton County records filed after July 1, 2015 are available through MCRO.
The court also offers an electronic submission form for copy requests. Staff will call you back to take payment by Visa or Mastercard. For in-person visits, a public access computer is available on the 2nd floor of the Justice Center. You can also go directly to court staff for help finding older cases or sealed documents.
When you search, it helps to have a full name or case number ready. For older files, know the approximate year the case was filed. The court can search by name and date of birth if you don't have a case number. Mail requests should go to Carlton County Court Administration, 1780 Justice Drive Suite 2700, Carlton, MN 55718. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment.
Carlton County Family Court Fees
Plain uncertified copies of family court records are free at Carlton County District Court. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes such as a name change or passport application, the fee is $14 per document. Exemplified and certified copies cost $28. These rates are set by the state and apply at all Minnesota district courts.
Filing fees for new family cases follow the standard Minnesota schedule. Dissolution of marriage filings cost around $390. Custody and paternity cases run about $310 to file. A motion or response in an existing case costs $100. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it by filing an In Forma Pauperis petition. You will need to show proof of income and expenses.
Government agencies use a separate Copy Request Form for Agencies when requesting Carlton County court records. Standard payment methods at the courthouse include cash, check, and money order. Phone requests can be paid by Visa or Mastercard. Mail requests require a check or money order made payable to Carlton County Court Administration.
Note: Always confirm current fees with the court before submitting a request, as the fee schedule can change from year to year.
Types of Carlton County Family Court Records
Carlton County family court records cover several types of domestic relations cases. Divorce and legal separation cases make up a large share of the filings. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 518, dissolution cases require at least one spouse to have lived in Minnesota for 180 days before filing. The petition, summons, and final judgment and decree are all public record once filed.
Child custody and parenting time cases often arise from divorces or as standalone actions between unmarried parents. Courts in Carlton County follow the best-interest-of-the-child standard under Minn. Stat. section 518.17 when deciding custody. These case files include parenting plans, custody evaluations, and court orders.
Child support cases are tracked separately. The court uses the income shares model under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 518A to set support amounts. Support orders, modification motions, and enforcement records are all part of the family court file. Paternity actions establish legal parentage when parents are not married and are also handled at the District Court. Domestic abuse protective orders are filed here as well, though some information in those files has restricted access.
The following types of documents are generally available in Carlton County family court files:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage and summons
- Marital termination agreements and stipulations
- Parenting plans and custody orders
- Child support orders and modification requests
- Paternity judgments and parentage orders
- Financial disclosure affidavits (public portions)
- Final judgment and decree
Some records are not public. Adoption records, juvenile proceedings, and mental health commitments are confidential under Minnesota law. Certain documents within family cases, such as custody evaluation reports and sealed financial records, may also have restricted access. The court clerk can tell you which parts of a file are available to the public.
Note: Records involving child protection matters under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 260C are confidential and not available to the general public.
Legal Help in Carlton County
Several resources are available for people who need help with family court matters in Carlton County. Free and low-cost legal help exists for those who qualify based on income.
Justice North holds a free legal advice clinic at the Carlton County Courthouse on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The clinic is on the 4th floor at 301 Walnut Avenue in Carlton. It runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Attorneys answer questions about family law, landlord and tenant issues, and government assistance. No appointment is needed. Call Justice North at 1-877-696-6529 for more details.
The Carlton County Self-Help Center is available remotely Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (651) 435-6535 for help with court forms and procedures. Staff can help you fill out paperwork and understand what to file, but they cannot give legal advice. The Carlton County Law Library is at 301 Walnut Avenue, 4th Floor. Call 218-623-8100 to make an appointment. LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org has free guides, forms, and information about family court cases across Minnesota. Official court forms are free at mncourts.gov/GetForms.aspx. If you want to hire a lawyer, the Minnesota State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can connect you with a family law attorney at mnbar.org.
Carlton County Court Resources
The Carlton County District Court page on mncourts.gov lists current court schedules, contact information, and filing resources.
This page is the starting point for finding court calendars, forms, and contact details for Carlton County family court cases.
Carlton County is part of the Sixth Judicial District, which covers Carlton and seven other northeastern Minnesota counties.
The Sixth District page shows district-wide resources, judge assignments, and filing procedures that apply to Carlton County cases.
The Carlton County website provides links to local government offices and services that connect to family court matters.
County offices such as the Recorder and Social Services may hold related records for Carlton County residents navigating family court.
Cities in Carlton County
Carlton County includes several communities along the St. Louis River corridor and the shore of Lake Superior. All family court cases from these cities are filed at the Carlton County District Court in Carlton.
Communities in Carlton County include Cloquet, Barnum, Carlton, Moose Lake, and Scanlon. None of these cities currently meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Carlton County. If you are not sure which court handles your case, check the address where you live and file in that county.