Managing Your Government Records: Guidelines for Archives and Agencies
Appendix C
Access to Local Government Records: A Short List
Adoption Files. These files are closed for 100 years from the date of the granting of the adoption decree. Files over 100 years old are open. Those wishing to see adoption records less than 100 years old must first obtain a court order from the jurisdiction in which the adoption was filed. These files are often kept with the civil case files of the District Court and maintained by the District Court. (Legal citation: M.S. 259.79).
Birth Records. These records are generally closed unless they are over 100 years old or do not pertain to adoptions and out-of-wedlock births. The county vital statistics registrar maintains these records. (Legal citation: M.S. 144.225).
Civil Case Files. These files are open except for those pertaining to adoptions (see above). They are maintained by the District Court.
Criminal Case Files. These files are open except for those cases that have been closed by the District Court. They are maintained by the District Court.
Death Records. These records are open and maintained by the county vital statistics registrar.
Divorce Records. These records are open and are often filed with the civil case files of the District Court. They are maintained by the District Court.
Insanity Records. Records that are less than 75 years old contain not public data. These records are maintained by the District Court.
Land Records. All land records are open and maintained by the county recorder.
Jail Registers. These registers are open and maintained by the county sheriff or municipal police department.
Juvenile Records. These records are closed to the public. Those wishing to see juvenile records must obtain a court order from the jurisdiction in which the juvenile action was filed. They are maintained by the District Court. (Legal citation: M.S. 260B.171).
Marriage Records. All marriage records are open and maintained by the county vital statistics registrar.
Naturalization Records. All naturalization records are open.
Probate Case Files. All probate case files are open except for those cases that have been closed by the District Court. They are maintained by the District Court.
School Records. All student record cards or records of individual grades are restricted. They are open to the student with proof of identification, such as a driver's license or identification card. These records are open to all others 30 years after their creation and 10 years after the student's death (the death must be proven).
Tax Records. All tax records, such as tax lists and assessment rolls, are open and maintained by the county auditor and assessor.
