Cass County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Cass County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Cass County, Minnesota, may access a range of publicly available information through official county offices, state court systems, and online portals. CassCountyRecords.us provides data and publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Cass County. Requestors may find records pertaining to property ownership, court proceedings, vital statistics, law enforcement activity, and county government operations, subject to applicable state and federal disclosure requirements.
Available record categories include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and land records
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Tax and assessment records
- Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
- County board meeting minutes and agendas
- Business licenses and permits
- Zoning and land use documents
Records may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Cass County and the State of Minnesota.
Online Access:
- The Cass County official website provides access to various departmental records portals
- Recorded real estate documents are available through the county's online land records portal, which uses iDoc Market's subscription service for searching, viewing, and printing documents
- Minnesota court case information is searchable through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), a statewide public access tool
- Some online databases require user registration or a paid subscription
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Cass County Recorder's Office or the Sheriff's Office Records Division to inspect and request copies of documents. Requestors should bring a valid photo identification and be prepared to complete a written request form. Staff will assist in locating responsive records during regular business hours.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should include the requestor's full name, mailing address, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government entities are required to respond to data requests within a reasonable time.
Phone/Email:
- Cass County Recorder: (218) 547-7275
- Cass County Sheriff's Office Records Division: (218) 547-1424
What Are Public Records in Cass County?
Public records in Cass County are government-held documents and data that are accessible to the public under Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.02, "government data" is defined as all data collected, created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a government entity, regardless of its physical form, storage media, or conditions of use.
The following record types are maintained by Cass County agencies:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family) | Cass County District Court |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Cass County Recorder |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Cass County Vital Records / MN Dept. of Health |
| Tax and property assessment records | Cass County Assessor |
| Law enforcement records | Sheriff's Office Records Division |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Cass County Administrator's Office |
| Business licenses and permits | Cass County Land Services |
| Zoning and land use records | Cass County Land Services |
The Cass County Recorder/Registrar records all official plats, government corner certificates, deeds, and other instruments affecting title to real property. The Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains all initial, investigative, and criminal files generated by the Sheriff's Office.
Is Cass County an Open Records County?
Cass County operates in full compliance with Minnesota's open records framework. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), codified at Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, governs public access to government data held by all Minnesota counties, including Cass County. Under this statute, government data is presumed public unless classified as not public by state or federal law.
As stated in the MGDPA, "all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, federal law, or temporary classification as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with regard to data on individuals, as private or confidential." This presumption of openness places the burden on the government entity to justify any withholding of records.
Cass County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the county's data practices obligations are governed entirely by state law. The Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division provides guidance to government entities and members of the public on data practices compliance.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Cass County?
The cost to obtain public records in Cass County varies by record type and the office maintaining the documents. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subd. 3, government entities may charge for copies of public data, but fees must not exceed the actual cost of searching for and retrieving the data, as well as making copies.
Current standard fees include:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard paper copies | $0.25 per page (standard rate) |
| Certified document copies | Varies by office (typically $1.00–$10.00 per document) |
| Electronic copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Land record document copies | Per-page fee set by Recorder's Office |
| Vital record certified copies | Set by Minnesota Department of Health fee schedule |
- Inspection of public records at a government office is available at no charge
- Fees for certified copies of vital records are established by the Minnesota Department of Health
- The Recorder's Office may charge recording fees and copy fees as authorized by Minnesota Statutes
- Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and credit/debit card (availability varies by office)
- Fee waivers are not broadly available under Minnesota law, though some agencies may exercise discretion for indigent requestors
Does Cass County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Cass County. Under the MGDPA, any person has the right to inspect public government data at no charge during regular business hours at the office that maintains the records. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person is free, obtaining physical or electronic copies may incur fees as described above.
Free online resources currently available include:
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), which provides free public access to certain court case information statewide, including cases filed in Cass County District Court. As noted on the MCRO platform, "the information available on Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is provided as a service and is not the official court case record."
- The Cass County official website provides free access to county board meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other administrative documents
- Property tax and assessment information is accessible through the county's online property search tools at no cost
Members of the public may also inspect land records in person at the Recorder's Office without charge, though printed copies are subject to applicable copy fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Cass County?
Any person may request access to public government data held by Cass County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, there is no requirement that a requestor be a Minnesota resident or provide a reason for the request when seeking public data.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents have the same right of access as Minnesota residents.
- Identification: Government offices may ask for identification in certain circumstances, but requestors are not required to provide ID solely to access public data.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for public data.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting data about themselves (private data) have additional rights under the MGDPA and must provide identification to verify their identity.
- Requesting records about others: Access to private or confidential data about other individuals is restricted and requires legal authorization.
Certain record types, such as law enforcement investigative data or juvenile records, carry additional access restrictions regardless of who is making the request.
What Records Are Confidential in Cass County?
Not all government data held by Cass County is accessible to the public. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 and related statutes classify certain categories of data as private, confidential, or protected nonpublic. The following record types are exempt from public disclosure under current law:
- Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public
- Juvenile records — data relating to juvenile offenders is classified as private under Minnesota law
- Active law enforcement investigative data — data compiled in connection with an active investigation is protected from disclosure
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are classified as private
- Medical and health records — protected under both the MGDPA and federal HIPAA regulations
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
- Child welfare and protective services records — classified as private data on individuals
- Personnel records — employee data is classified as private, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — protected from disclosure when submitted to government agencies
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety
Minnesota Statutes § 13.82 governs the classification of law enforcement data specifically, establishing which portions of criminal investigative files are public and which remain protected. Government entities applying exemptions must be able to identify the specific statutory basis for withholding any requested data.
Cass County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Office Name: Cass County Recorder/Registrar of Titles
Physical Address:
303 Minnesota Avenue W
Walker, MN 56484
Phone: (218) 547-7275
Website: Cass County Recorder
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Additional Offices:
Cass County Sheriff's Office – Records Division
303 Minnesota Avenue W, Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-1424
Sheriff's Office Records
Cass County District Court (Ninth Judicial District)
300 Minnesota Avenue W, Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-7200
Minnesota Judicial Branch
Cass County Assessor's Office
303 Minnesota Avenue W
Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-7298
Cass County Assessor