Washington County Residents Directory
The Washington County residents directory covers public records held at county offices in Stillwater and online. Washington County sits east of the Twin Cities metro and has about 267,000 people spread across cities like Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Oakdale. You can search court case files, property deeds, tax data, and vital records through the county or state systems. Named after George Washington, this county was formed in 1849 and is one of the oldest in the state. The 10th Judicial District court handles all case filings here. This page walks you through the main sources for looking up records in Washington County and how to get copies when you need them.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Property Records
Property records are one of the most used parts of the Washington County residents directory. The County Recorder and Property Records office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land documents. All of these are public. You can search them online or visit the office in Stillwater.
The Washington County Property Records portal lets you look up recorded documents from home. The office also handles real estate recording, Torrens certificates, and GIS mapping data. If you need to record a new document or get a copy of an old one, call 651-430-6175. The office sits at 14949 62nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082. Staff can help with passport services and notary work too. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 507.01, recorded property documents are public and open to inspection during business hours.
The Washington County property records portal from the county website gives you a look at how the search tool works.
Use the search tool to find deeds by name, address, or parcel number. Results show the document type, recording date, and book and page info. You can view many records right on screen.
| Office | Washington County Property Records |
|---|---|
| Address |
14949 62nd St N Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | 651-430-6175 |
| Services | Real estate recording, Torrens certificates, passport services, notary, GIS mapping |
| Website | co.washington.mn.us/638/Property-Records |
Search Washington County Court Records
Court records in Washington County go through the 10th Judicial District. The District Court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. All case files are public unless sealed by a judge. You can search them online for free using the state system.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) covers every county in the state, including Washington. Search by name or case number. The system shows party names, case type, filing dates, and docket entries. Documents filed after July 2021 are often available to view or download. Guest access works for basic lookups. A free registered account opens up more document access and lets you save searches. For older cases or sealed files, you need to visit the courthouse in person or send a written request to the Court Administrator.
Copies of court records cost $0.25 per page under Minnesota Statutes Section 357.021. Certified copies run $10 for the first page and $5 for each page after that. The court clerk can pull files and make copies on the spot during business hours.
Note: Some family court and juvenile case records have restricted access under state law, even if the case itself shows up in the system.
Washington County Residents Directory and Public Data
Minnesota's open records law is strong. The Government Data Practices Act (Chapter 13) says all government data is public unless a law makes it private. That means most records held by Washington County offices are yours to see. You do not need to say why you want them.
Under Section 13.03, you can inspect and copy public data at reasonable times. The responsible authority must respond to your request. Inspection is free. Copies cost the actual expense of making them, which is usually around $0.25 per page for paper copies. If an office charges for staff time on a big request, they have to base it on the lowest wage of someone who can do the work. This applies to every county office in Washington County, from the recorder to the assessor to the court clerk. The law gives you real teeth too. If an agency stonewalls your request, you can go to district court and recover costs plus up to $1,000 in penalties.
Private data does exist. Social Security numbers get protection. Active investigation files stay confidential. Juvenile records and sealed cases are off limits. But these are the exceptions. The bulk of what Washington County holds is open to the public.
Washington County Directory Resources
The Washington County website is the main hub for all county services and records. You can find links to the assessor, recorder, court, and other offices from the home page.
From the county site you can reach property tax statements, parcel maps, and license applications. The site also has a service directory that lists office hours and contact info for each department. If you are not sure where to start a records search, the home page is a good first stop.
Beyond the county website, several state tools help with Washington County records. The Minnesota Judicial Branch page for Washington County has courthouse info, judge assignments, and self-help resources. The Minnesota Department of Health handles birth and death certificates. Under Section 144.225, access rules for vital records apply statewide. Death records are public. Birth records need a tangible interest. The Secretary of State keeps business entity filings and UCC records that cover the whole state.
Note: Washington County offices are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours, but some services may need an appointment.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County has several cities and towns. All of them use the county offices in Stillwater for property records and the 10th Judicial District court for case filings.
Other communities in Washington County include Stillwater, Forest Lake, Hugo, and Mahtomedi. All public records go through the same county offices.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Washington County. If you are looking for records and the person lived near the county line, you may need to check a neighboring county too.