Divorce records in St. Louis County, Minnesota, are available through several channels. StLouisMNCourt.us allows you to find public information about divorce cases in the county. Additionally, court decrees can be obtained directly from the district court that issued the decision, and divorce certificates can be obtained from the county public records department or the Minnesota Office of Vital Records. Below is a practical guide for searching, requesting, and obtaining these documents.
St. Louis Divorce Records Search
In Minnesota, divorce cases (dissolution of marriage) are handled by the District Court. For St. Louis County, this is the Sixth Judicial District Court, with its main office located in Duluth. The court maintains a complete case file: the complaint, divorce decree, property settlement agreements, custody and support orders, and all interim rulings.
Separate from the court, there is the Minnesota Office of Vital Records, which maintains a registry of divorce certificates. This is a short document with basic data: the names of the parties, the date, and the place of the divorce. It does not contain details of property agreements or child-related decisions.
St. Louis County District Court — Duluth is the main contact point for divorce court records.
The courthouse also has a computer for public access to court records.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in St. Louis
Understanding which office holds the document you need will save time and unnecessary calls.
District Court
All divorce cases in St. Louis County are handled by the District Court within the Sixth Judicial District. After a decision is made, the decree is stored in the court administration office. This is where you go for:
- a certified copy of the divorce decree
- case documents — complaints, responses, custody agreements
- orders for changes in support or custody conditions
Online search by case number or party name is available through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The system shows basic information: case type, hearing dates, status. Full text documents are not available through MCRO — they must be requested directly from the court.
The court has several locations in St. Louis County. In addition to Duluth, cases may be heard in Virginia and Hibbing.
A certified copy of the decree is issued by the court office where the case was heard. The Minnesota State Law Library confirms: a certified copy of the divorce decree can be obtained from the county court that issued the decision.
Public Records Department
The Public Records Department of St. Louis County issues birth, death, and marriage certificates. Divorce certificates at the county level are usually not issued by this office — they are requested from the court or the state.
Minnesota Office of Vital Records
If you need a divorce certificate (a short form confirming the fact of divorce), it can be ordered from:
The state maintains divorce records registered since 1970. For earlier records, you will need to contact the county court where the decision was made.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in St. Louis
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce record search in state Vital Records | $9.00 | 2–4 weeks |
| Certified copy of divorce certificate (state) | $9.00 | 2–4 weeks |
| Certified copy of decree (district court) | $14.00 for the first 4 pages + $1.00 for each additional page | Typically 5–10 business days |
| Uncertified copy of case documents | $0.25 per page (via MCRO terminal) or $0.50 per page (by mail) | Depends on the volume of the request |