Rice County court records, Minnesota, are available through several channels. RiceCourt.us allows searching for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the state's official online court system tools, directly at the court clerk's office, or via public terminals in the courthouse in Faribault.
Rice Court System & Jurisdictions
Rice County has one District Court, which is part of the Third Judicial District of Minnesota. This court is located in Faribault and has primary jurisdiction over a wide range of cases. Rice County District Court handles:
- Criminal cases — from misdemeanors and traffic violations to felonies
- Civil lawsuits — disputes over contracts, damages, evictions
- Family cases — divorces, child custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate cases — estate administration and guardianship appointments
- Juvenile cases — offenses, child protection
- Conciliation court (small claims) — civil disputes up to $15,000
Minnesota does not have separate justice or magistrate courts at the county level. All the listed categories of cases are processed by one District Court. Rice County Court Administration provides a full cycle of court operations: document processing, case management, and visitor services.
Court contact information:
Rice Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use one of the following methods:
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) — through the MCRO case search system, you can find a specific case by number or party name and then view scheduled hearing dates in the case details. Select Rice County from the list.
- Public terminals in the courthouse — terminals at Rice County Courthouse provide the most comprehensive access to electronic district court records, including the hearing calendar.
- Call the court administration — at (507) 332-6107 to confirm the date and time of a specific hearing.
Note: MCRO does not display all documents and is not the official case record. For complete information, it is better to contact the court directly.
How to Get a Copy of a Rice Court Document
Court document copies come in two types: uncertified and certified. A certified copy contains the court's official seal and the clerk's signature — it is required for submission to other courts, government agencies, or for immigration procedures. An uncertified copy is suitable for personal review.
How to obtain a copy:
- Online — some documents are available for viewing and downloading through MCRO. Not all documents are published electronically; juvenile, adoption, and some family cases are usually closed.
- In person — visit the court administration office at Rice County Courthouse at the address below. You will need the case number or the full name of the party.
- By mail — send a written request specifying the case number, document type, and contact information. Include a check or money order for the appropriate amount.
For property, marriage, and other records kept outside the court system, contact the Rice County Recorder's Office. Additional information about the types of court documents available in Minnesota district courts can be found on the State Law Library website.
Rice Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents in Minnesota are set according to state statute (Minn. Stat. § 357.021). Below are the main rates applicable in Rice County District Court:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy (first page) | $14.00 |
| Certified copy (each additional page) | $8.00 |
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $8.00 |
| Court record search | $10.00 |
| Certification of a previously issued copy | $14.00 |
Payment is accepted at the court administration office. Confirm acceptable forms of payment (cash, check, money order) by phone before visiting. When requesting by mail, include a check or money order made payable to Rice County Court Administration.
Online access via MCRO is free, but downloading or printing documents from the system may incur additional charges. Some categories of cases — particularly juvenile, mental health, and adoption cases — are closed to public access according to Minnesota state law.