Hennepin County Divorce Records

Hennepin County divorce records are documents on the termination of marriages within the Family Court Division of the Hennepin County District. These records encompass divorce case files, divorce decrees, and divorce certificates. Such records are sometimes crucial for remarriage, name changes, and genealogical research. Individuals may also access them for other reasons.

In Hennepin County, the District Court (Family Court Division) is the custodian of divorce records. Nonetheless, how to find divorce records in Hennepin County depends on the type of documents. While copies of Hennepin County's divorce records are online, access to certified copies is through the Hennepin County District Clerk's Office.

Are Divorce Records Public in Hennepin County?

Yes, divorce records are generally public in Hennepin County. Chapter 13, Section 13.03 of the Minnesota Statutes mandates that "data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity shall be public". However, there are limitations to public disclosure of government records (including Hennepin County divorce records).

Under Minnesota laws, the public can access basic information about Hennepin County divorces, including:

• Court file number
• Names of both parties (petitioner and respondent)
• Case type (dissolution of marriage)
• Dates of filing, hearings, and final judgment
• List of all filings, motions, and orders in the case
• Case status (open, closed, pending)
• Date of divorce.

The public can not access the following Hennepin County divorce records:

Financial Information

• Tax returns and W-2 forms
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• Retirement account details
• Business valuations

Personal Identifiers

• Social Security Numbers
• Contact details (if protected by a court order)
• Driver's license numbers
• Passport numbers

Information about minors

• Custody or parenting time evaluations
• Guardian ad litem reports
• Child protection records
• Medical or school records of minors

Medical & Psychological Information

• Mental health evaluations
• Counseling records
• Substance abuse assessments

Access to sensitive divorce information in a Hennepin County divorce record is restricted to the parties to the case, their attorneys of record, judges and court staff, guardian ad litem (if appointed), and authorized government agencies. Additionally, sealed Hennepin County divorce records are not public.

How to Find Divorce Records in Hennepin County

Hennepin County District Court - Family Court Division offers online and offline options for accessing Hennepin County divorce records. These include online access through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) and mail or in-person requests to the Hennepin County District Court - Records Center.

Online access to Hennepin County divorce records

To look up divorce records in Hennepin County online, log in to the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) Portal. The MCRO provides access to publicly accessible Hennepin County divorce information. Users can look for Hennepin County public divorce records by name, case number, citation number, and attorney. The MCRO portal provides access to:

• Case information (Register of actions)
• Events and docket entries
• Judgments (unless they contain restricted information)
• Court-filed documents in viewable/downloadable in forms unless they contain sensitive details

Mail-in requests

Individuals seeking mail access to Hennepin County divorce records should:

• Complete a Copy Request Form or write a request letter that contains:
• The full names of both parties (including maiden names if available)
• Case number (if known)
• Approximate date or year of the divorce
• Type of divorce record
• A return mailing address, email, and phone number
• Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo identification and a check or money order payable to the District Court Administrator (it costs $5 fee for each name search and $14.00 per certified copy of a Hennepin County divorce record)
• Mail the request to:

Walk-in access to Hennepin County divorce records

For an in-person Hennepin County court divorce search, visit the Hennepin County District Court - Records Center with a valid government-issued photo ID between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (excluding holidays) at:

Record seekers should note that the Minnesota Department of Health does not record divorce records. Access to copies of Hennepin County divorce records is through the Hennepin County District Court - Records Center.

Overview of the Hennepin County Court System

Under the Minnesota trial system, the District Courts have jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. In Hennepin County, the Family Court Division of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court handles Hennepin County family court divorce filings and provides access to Hennepin County divorce records.

For copies of Hennepin County divorce records, contact the Family Court Division of the Fourth Judicial District Court of Minnesota at:

Online Access to Hennepin County Divorce Records

Information seekers can find Hennepin County divorce records online through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) Portal. This search portal provides free online divorce lookup for Hennepin County and the rest of Minnesota. Users can access court records (including Hennepin County divorce records) using party/attorney names or case/citation numbers as search criteria.

Accessing Hennepin County divorce records through the MCRO Portal is a straightforward process. For first-time users:

• Log in to the MCRO portal and accept the terms and conditions
• Choose a search criterion from the available options (name, case number, citation number, or attorney)
• Provide the required information and click "Find" if using a case or citation number as a search criterion
• For a name-based search:
• Streamline search results using the "Additional Search Options", and deselect "Civil", "Criminal", and "Probate or Mental Health" options from the Case Category options
• Choose an option from the Case Status menu
• Click "County" under the Court Location header
• Enter Hennepin into the Search by County field or tick Hennepin from the county options
• Click "Find" to submit the query.

The Minnesota Court Records Online portal will provide access to divorce information, such as:

• Case Register of Actions (ROA), including:
• Case number
• Case type
• Party names
• Attorneys involved
• Filing date and case status
• Docket entries
• Publicly Available Case Documents, such as:
• Petitions for dissolution (if it is not sealed)
• Orders and judgments (unless restricted)
• Court notices and scheduling orders
• Motions, affidavits, and responses (with sensitive information redacted)
• Court Calendars.

Information seekers may also find Hennepin County divorce records online using third-party resources. However, users should be cautious of errors and incomplete documents because these platforms are independent and do not guarantee their contents.

What's Typically Included in a Hennepin County Divorce Record

Divorce records are documents about divorce proceedings. However, their specific contents depend on the type of divorce record.

The content of a publicly accessible Hennepin County divorce record may include:

• Case number
• Court location (Hennepin County District Court - Family Justice Center)
• Filing and closing dates
• Docket entries
• Names of the petitioner and the respondent
• Attorneys of record
• Case status
• Court orders
• Final divorce judgment

In contrast, a certified copy of Hennepin County divorce records (or an official court-issued copy of Hennepin County divorce file or decree) will contain the full terms of the divorce, which may include:

• Division of property and debts
• Child custody and parenting time arrangements
• Child support agreement
• Spousal maintenance (alimony)
• Any name changes granted
• Modifications or amendments, if requested after the divorce
• Domestic abuse claims

Record seekers should note that access to certified copies of Hennepin County divorce records is restricted to the parties involved in the divorce, their legal representatives, and authorized entities. Additionally, sealed Hennepin County divorce records are not publicly accessible.

How to Get Certified Copies of Hennepin County Divorce Records

Access to certified divorce decrees in Hennepin County is restricted to the divorced spouses, their attorneys of record, and authorized entities. Unlike information copies, which are unofficial documents for reference and research purposes, certified copies of divorce records are official documents, and individuals can use them for remarriage, name change, processing immigration documents, or legal actions.

To get an official divorce record copy from the Hennepin County District Court:

• Download and complete a Hennepin County District Court's Copy Request Form or prepare a written request that contains:
• The full names of both spouses at the time of divorce
• The approximate date of divorce
• Court file number (if available)
• Mail return address and other contact information
• The type of divorce record (for instance, a certified copy of the judgment and decree)
• Include a photocopy is a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order to cover applicable costs (a certified copy of a Hennepin County divorce record costs $14.00, and there is an additional $5.00 search fee if the case number is not available)
• Mail the request to:

For walk-in access to Hennepin County divorce records, visit the Hennepin County District Court - Records Center with valid identification documents and payments.

Requesters should note that it takes 7 to 14 business days to deliver copies of Hennepin County divorce records through mail, and same day or between 1 and 5 business days (if the document is archived) for in-person requests.

Why People Request Hennepin County Divorce Records

People have various reasons to request divorce records in Hennepin. An Individual may need Hennepin County divorce records:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• For legal or financial matters
• For genealogy or family research
• For processing immigration documents.

In addition, some employers may run background checks on potential employees' divorce histories to determine whether they are suitable for specific roles.

Hennepin County Divorce Records Summary