Divorce records in Scott County, Minnesota, are available through several channels — online tools, the district court that issued the decision, and the state office of vital records. ScottCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about divorce cases in this county. Additionally, copies of decisions can be obtained directly from the Scott County District Court office, and divorce certificates can be obtained through the Minnesota Department of Health.
Scott Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in Scott County are handled by the Scott County District Court, located in the Scott County Courthouse in Shakopee. The Court Administration maintains a complete set of documents for each case: divorce decrees, property division agreements, child custody orders, and related procedural documents.
The state maintains a separate registry. The Minnesota Department of Health registers divorce certificates — a brief document confirming the fact of divorce without details of property or custody arrangements.
Basic case information — filing date, status, party names — can be viewed online through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). This system provides limited access and does not replace the official court record.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Scott
In Minnesota, divorce is a matter for the District Court. When a judge signs a decision, it remains in the office of the court where the case was heard. For Scott County, this is the only district court in Shakopee.
At the same time, the court notifies the state Department of Health, which registers the fact of divorce in its vital records registry. Therefore, there are two different documents, and the choice depends on the purpose of the request:
- Full divorce decree — contains terms of property division, alimony, custody. A certified copy is issued by the district court office. According to the State Law Library's explanation, a certified copy of the decree can be obtained from the court where the divorce was processed.
- Divorce certificate — confirms only the fact and date of divorce. Issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.
District Court Office (for decree copies):
State Vital Records Office (for certificates):
Case information can also be viewed online or in person at public access terminals in the courthouse — more details on the Copy Requests page of the Scott County District Court.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Scott
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate — Minnesota Department of Health | $13.00 | 2–4 weeks by mail |
| Certified copy of divorce decree — Court Administration | $14.00 per document | Usually within a few business days |
| Non-certified copy of court document | $0.25 per page | Depends on volume; often same day |
| Search via MCRO (online) | Free | Immediate |