Find Murray County Divorce Records
Murray County divorce records are filed and stored at the District Court in Slayton. The court is part of the 5th Judicial District and handles all dissolution of marriage cases for the county. You can search for divorce filings, check case details, and get copies of final judgments and decrees through the Court Administrator's office. Online tools give you a way to look up basic case info from home. For full file access, you can visit the courthouse or send a written request. Staff at the court can help you find what you need, whether it is a recent filing or an older case from years back. Most records are open to the public and can be pulled by name or case number.
Murray County Overview
Murray County District Court Records
The Murray County District Court sits at 2500 28th Street in Slayton. This is the sole court that handles divorce filings for the county. The Court Administrator runs the records office and can pull files for you. If you or your spouse lived in Murray County when the case was filed, the records are here. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours.
Call the court at (507) 836-6140 to ask about a case before you make the trip. Staff can check if a file is on hand and tell you what you need to bring. Having the case number saves time, but a search by name works too. Murray County is a smaller county, so the staff tends to know the files well. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 518, all divorce cases in the state follow the same basic rules, but each court office has its own way of handling day-to-day requests. The Slayton office is straightforward and fairly quick with most records pulls.
| Court | Murray County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
2500 28th Street Slayton, MN 56172 |
| Phone | (507) 836-6140 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 5th Judicial District |
Search Murray County Divorce Cases
You have two main ways to search for Murray County divorce records. The free online system is the fastest place to start. The courthouse is the best bet for full file access and older cases.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system lets you search Murray County divorce cases from any device. It costs nothing to use. The database covers public records filed on or after July 1, 2015. You can search by name or case number. Results show party names, filing dates, and case status. Some family court documents have limited access online due to privacy rules. But MCRO gives you a solid starting point. You can confirm a case exists and grab the case number, which you then use to request full copies from the court.
The court locator page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site shows the address and phone for the Murray County courthouse.
That page lists all the contact info you need. Call ahead if you want to check hours or ask about a case before you drive out to Slayton.
Murray County Divorce Record Copies
Getting copies of Murray County divorce records is a simple process. You can do it in person at the courthouse or by mail. The fee is $14 for each certified copy. That rate comes from the county-specific form used by the 5th Judicial District. A certified copy has the court seal and works as legal proof of the divorce.
For in-person requests, go to the Court Administrator's office at 2500 28th Street in Slayton. Bring the names of both parties and an approximate date if you have it. The case number makes the search quicker. Staff will pull the file and print the pages you need. Payment is due at the time of the request. Checks and money orders should be made out to the District Court Administrator.
Mail requests work well for people who live far from Slayton. Use the copy request form from the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. Fill it out with the party names, case number if you have one, and what documents you want. Send it with your payment to the courthouse address. Processing takes a few business days after the court gets your letter. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can send the copies back.
The MCRO search screen lets you filter by county and case type. Use it to find the case number before you submit a copy request by mail.
Note: Murray County certified copies cost $14 each, so confirm the current fee before mailing your payment.
Filing for Divorce in Murray County
To file for divorce in Murray County, at least one spouse must have lived in Minnesota for 180 days. That rule comes from Minn. Stat. 518.07. You file at the District Court in Slayton. The filing fee for the person who starts the case is around $400. The other spouse pays roughly $300 to $350 if they file an answer.
Minnesota is a no-fault state. Under Minn. Stat. 518.06, the only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down with no chance of being saved. You do not need to prove anyone did anything wrong. The petitioner files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and a Summons, then serves the other party. If both sides agree on all terms, the case can wrap up fairly fast. Contested cases take more time. They may need mediation or a hearing in front of a judge. All filings go into the Murray County divorce record.
Property division follows Minn. Stat. 518.58. The court splits marital property in a way that is fair. Spousal maintenance, sometimes called alimony, is governed by Minn. Stat. 518.552. The court looks at things like the length of the marriage, each person's income, and the standard of living during the marriage. If kids are involved, both parents must take a parenting class under Minn. Stat. 518.195.
What Murray County Divorce Records Show
A Murray County divorce record includes several documents. The main one is the Judgment and Decree of Dissolution. That is the court order that ends the marriage. It spells out property division, custody arrangements, support amounts, and any other terms the parties agreed to or the judge ordered.
The full case file also has the original petition, the summons, any motions filed during the case, and financial disclosures. Most of these records are public. Anyone can ask for copies. Some financial source documents and info about children may have restricted access. The Minnesota State Law Library can help with reference questions about Murray County records if you are not sure where to start.
Note: Public access to Murray County divorce records is the default, but a judge can seal sensitive documents in any case.
Legal Help in Murray County
Legal aid is available for Murray County residents who need help with a divorce. Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services covers this area and provides free assistance to people with low incomes. They handle family law matters including divorce, custody, and support cases.
The Minnesota State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Call them to get matched with a family law attorney who knows the local courts. Free court forms for divorce are posted at mncourts.gov. The self-help center has step-by-step guides and all the paperwork you need to file on your own. Fee waivers are available for people who can't afford the filing costs. You fill out an In Forma Pauperis petition and submit it to the Murray County court for review.
Cities in Murray County
Murray County has several small towns, including Slayton, Fulda, Currie, and Lake Wilson. All divorce cases go through the District Court in Slayton. None of these cities have populations over 100,000, so all filings are handled at the county level.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Murray County. File in the county where you or your spouse lives. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address.