Cass County Court Records Search
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Cass County occupies the eastern edge of North Dakota along the Red River, with Fargo — the state’s largest city — serving as the county seat. The county’s trial court system consists of the Cass County District Court and several municipal courts that together handle tens of thousands of criminal, civil, family, and probate cases each year. Court records generated during these proceedings — including complaints, motions, dockets, orders, judgments, registers of action, and submitted evidence — are maintained by the Clerk of District Court and by individual municipal court clerks. This guide covers how to locate, search, and request those records through both online and in-person channels.
Residents and researchers looking for North Dakota court case information can begin with the official resources maintained by the state judiciary. NorthDakotaCourts.us may help users identify publicly accessible court data and connect with clerk offices statewide. In Cass County, records can be searched through the North Dakota Courts’ online public-access portal, at public terminals available inside the courthouse, or by contacting the Clerk of District Court and municipal court clerks directly. Several county departments also maintain records for vital events, property transactions, and marriage licenses that frequently intersect with court proceedings.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Cass County?
Cass County’s trial court structure includes one district court of general jurisdiction and six municipal courts that handle ordinance violations within their respective cities. All are potential sources for court records depending on where a case was filed.
Cass County District Court
Address: 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103
Mailing: P.O. Box 2806, Fargo, ND 58108
Phone: (701) 451-6900
Fax: (701) 451-6939
Email: 09clerk@ndcourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
The District Court falls within the East Central Judicial District and exercises general jurisdiction over felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil lawsuits, probate and guardianship matters, domestic relations, juvenile proceedings, and mental health commitments.
Municipal Courts
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo Municipal Court | 402 Northern Pacific Ave, Fargo, ND 58102 | (701) 241-1316 |
| West Fargo Municipal Court | 800 4th Ave E, Suite 2, West Fargo, ND 58078 | (701) 515-5025 |
| Casselton Municipal Court | 702 1st St N, Casselton, ND 58012 | (701) 347-4785 |
| Kindred Municipal Court | 31 5th Ave N, Kindred, ND 58051 | (701) 428-3115 |
| Reiles Acres Municipal Court | 4635 35th Ave N, Reiles Acres, ND 58102 | (701) 541-0035 |
| Tower City Municipal Court | P.O. Box 55, Tower City, ND 58071 | (701) 749-2343 |
Municipal courts handle criminal and non-criminal violations of city ordinances. Fargo Municipal Court is open Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–4:30 PM. West Fargo Municipal Court is open Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, and Friday 7:30 AM–12:00 PM.
Online Case Search
The North Dakota District Court Case Search portal provides free remote access to criminal, traffic, and civil case information from Cass County District Court and participating municipal courts. Users can search by party name, case number, or citation number. Results display case type, charges, scheduled events, parties, and disposition information. The system does not include restricted or confidential cases. A help guide is available for navigating the portal.
The older North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry website also remains available for certain searches, including judgments and court calendars.
In-Person Searches
Public-access terminals are available on the second floor of the Cass County Courthouse for anyone to search, view, and print non-confidential court records at no charge. The public entrance is on the east side of the building, and public parking is available at the corner of 9th Street and 3rd Avenue. Alternatively, individuals can request records directly from the Clerk of District Court during office hours.
Written and Oral Requests
Record seekers may submit oral or written requests to the clerk’s office. A written request is typically needed for complex inquiries or when certified copies are required. Requests should include identifying information such as the party’s full name or the case number.
Are Court Records Public in Cass County?
North Dakota law creates a strong presumption of public access to government records. Under the North Dakota Sunshine Law (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18) and Article XI, Section 6 of the North Dakota Constitution, court records are generally open to public inspection and copying during regular business hours.
North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41 establishes detailed rules governing public access to court records stored in the statewide Odyssey case management system and in paper form. Under Rule 41, a public-access terminal must be available at each county courthouse for the public to search electronic court records.
Records Open to the Public
Most case filings in Cass County courts are publicly accessible, including:
- Criminal docket information, charges, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, answers, motions, and judgments
- Registers of action showing chronological case histories
- Probate filings, inventories, and accountings
- Family law case records (with exceptions noted below)
- Traffic and infraction records
- Small claims filings and judgments
Confidential and Restricted Records
Administrative Rule 41 and various state statutes restrict public access to certain categories, including:
- Search or arrest warrant affidavits before the warrant is executed and returned
- Applications for domestic violence protection orders (N.D.C.C. § 14-07.7)
- Juvenile court files and records (N.D.C.C. § 27-20.2-21)
- Sealed criminal records (N.D.C.C. ch. 12-60.1)
- Adoption proceedings (N.D.C.C. § 14-15-16(4))
- Paternity proceedings (N.D.C.C. § 14-20-54)
- Property and debt listings in divorce cases (N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.3)
- Mental health commitment records (N.D.C.C. § 25-03.1-43)
- Grand jury proceedings (N.D.C.C. §§ 29-10.1-30, -31)
- Mediation proceedings concerning contested custody, support, or visitation (N.D.C.C. § 14-09.1-06)
- Presentence investigation reports (N.D.R.Crim.P. 32©)
- Wills deposited for safekeeping before the testator’s death (N.D.C.C. § 30.1-11-01)
- Substance use treatment records protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2
Records may also be sealed by court order on a case-by-case basis. The court’s Rule 41 appendix provides a comprehensive list of all statutes, court rules, and federal regulations that create confidentiality protections.
Cass County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Cass County are prosecuted in the District Court for felonies and misdemeanors, while municipal courts handle criminal violations of city ordinances. If a defendant in a municipal case requests a jury trial, the case may be transferred to District Court.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Criminal case docket information from the District Court and participating municipal courts is searchable through the District Court Case Search portal. Search by the defendant’s name or case number to view charges, court dates, and dispositions. Always consult the “Disposition” section within each case record to determine the final outcome, as charges may be reduced or dismissed during proceedings.
In person, the public terminals at the Cass County Courthouse allow free searching and printing of non-restricted criminal case records. Copies may also be requested from the Clerk of District Court.
Criminal Record Search Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Criminal record search per name | $10.00 |
| Certified copy of judgment, order, or other document | $20.00 |
| Additional certified copies of the same document | $10.00 |
| Copies per page | $0.10 |
No per-page charge applies to certified copies, and no fee is charged for electronic copies.
Arrest Records
Arrest records are maintained by the law enforcement agency that made the arrest rather than by the courts. Individuals may request local criminal history information from the Fargo Police Department using the department’s criminal history check request form. The fee is $10.00 per search. Requests may be submitted in person, electronically through the department’s contact form, or by phone at (701) 235-4493.
For countywide arrest or booking inquiries, contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office:
Cass County Law Enforcement Center
Address: 1612 23rd Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 241-5800
Fax: (701) 241-5805
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The North Dakota Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducts statewide criminal history record checks. The request requires the subject’s full name, date of birth, and either a Social Security number or fingerprints. Submit the completed Request for Criminal History Record Information form with a $15.00 fee (check or money order payable to “ND Attorney General”) by mail to the BCI. Processing takes approximately 7–10 business days. An FBI national records check costs an additional $25.00 (total $40.00 for both ND and FBI).
Cass County Civil Court Records
The Cass County District Court exercises general jurisdiction over civil actions including personal injury claims, contract disputes, quiet title actions, injunctions, foreclosures, small claims, and writs. Municipal courts do not handle civil matters beyond ordinance violations.
Accessing Civil Case Records
Civil case information is available through three primary channels:
- Online – Use the District Court Case Search portal to look up civil cases by party name, case number, or citation.
- Public terminals – Visit the Cass County Courthouse at 211 9th Street South, Fargo, to search, view, and print civil records at no charge using the public-access computers.
- Clerk’s office – Submit an oral or written request to the Clerk of District Court. A research fee of $10.00 per name applies. Copies cost $0.10 per page, and certified copies are $20.00.
Civil Filing Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil action (personal injury, injunction, quiet title, etc.) | $160 |
| Filing an answer | $100 |
| Small claims filing | $20 |
| Foreign judgment or decree | $20 |
| Lien filing and indexing | $20 |
All filing fees are established under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03. The state, state agencies, and political subdivisions are exempt from clerk filing fees. Court form packets for small claims and other self-represented filings are available for $5.00 from the clerk’s office or free online through the North Dakota Courts website.
Property Records
Real estate records such as deeds, mortgages, easements, construction liens, plats, and restrictive covenants are maintained by the Cass County Recorder’s Office, located on the first floor of the Cass County Courthouse.
Cass County Recorder
Address: 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 241-5620
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Three public computers in the Recorder’s office provide free access to view recorded documents. Printed copies cost $1.00 per page. Remote access is available through the North Dakota Recorders Information Network (NDRIN), an online subscription service covering all 53 North Dakota counties. Subscriptions cost $30.00 per month or $7.00 for a day pass, with prints at $1.00 per page.
Cass County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Cass County fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. There is no separate family court; the District Court adjudicates divorce and annulment, legal separation, child custody and parenting time, child support, domestic abuse protection orders, juvenile dependency and delinquency, adoption, guardianship, and termination of parental rights.
Searching Family Law Records
Non-confidential family case records can be searched through the District Court Case Search portal or at the public terminals in the courthouse. Copies may be requested from the Clerk of District Court at the standard fee schedule. Many family law case types — such as divorce, custody, and guardianship — generate records that are largely public, though specific documents within those cases (property and debt listings in divorce, mediation communications, and genetic testing results) remain confidential.
Adoption proceedings, paternity cases, and juvenile records are entirely confidential and not accessible through public search tools or at the clerk’s window without statutory authorization or a court order.
Filing Fees for Family Matters
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce, annulment, or legal separation petition | $160 |
| Motion to modify support, custody, or parenting time | $160 |
| Answer to modification motion | $100 |
| Domestic violence protection order petition | No fee |
| Sexual assault restraining order petition | No fee |
| Disorderly conduct restraining order (all types, effective Jan. 1, 2026) | No fee |
| Termination of parental rights action | $160 |
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Cass County are issued and maintained by the Cass County Finance Office, not the courts. The license fee is $65.00. Certified copies of a marriage license cost $10.00 each and can be ordered online through the Finance Office’s website or picked up in person at the courthouse. Certified copies are considered confidential and restricted to eligible persons such as the spouses named on the license. Public information about older Cass County marriages (1872–July 1944) is searchable through the Cass County Marriage License Index hosted by North Dakota State University Archives. The North Dakota State Museum marriage records portal also provides public search access to statewide marriage information.
Cass County Finance Office
Address: 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 241-5600
Fax: (701) 241-5728
Divorce Records
Divorce case records are maintained by the Clerk of District Court and can be searched through the online case search portal, at public terminals, or by requesting copies from the clerk’s office. The same fees for copies and certification described in the civil records section apply.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records are maintained by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (ND DHHS), not by county courts. These records are confidential. Certified copies may only be obtained by eligible persons — for birth records, only the individual named (if age 16 or older) or the parents listed on the record; for death records, the surviving spouse or immediate relatives as defined under N.D.C.C. § 23-02.1.
Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or by appointment:
- Online: Order through the ND DHHS birth or death records pages
- By mail: Complete the Birth Record Request Form or Death Record Request Form and mail with payment and a photocopy of valid ID to: Vital Records, 600 E. Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
- In person: By appointment only — call (701) 328-2360
Fees: $15.00 for the first certified copy; $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record. Informational (non-certified) copies are available to the general public.
Cass County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Cass County are handled by the District Court, which has jurisdiction over decedent estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships under North Dakota Title 30.1. There is no separate probate court; all filings are made through the Clerk of District Court at the Cass County Courthouse.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is available through the District Court Case Search portal. Search by the decedent’s name, the personal representative’s name, or the case number. Results display the case type, filing date, parties, and scheduled events. In the courthouse, public terminals provide free access to search, view, and print probate records.
Requesting Copies
To obtain copies of probate documents such as wills, letters testamentary, inventories, or accountings, contact the Clerk of District Court:
- In person or by mail: Cass County Courthouse, 211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 (P.O. Box 2806, Fargo, ND 58108)
- Phone: (701) 451-6900
- Email: 09clerk@ndcourts.gov
Probate Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filing a probate, guardianship, or testamentary case | $160 |
| Filing a petition for subsequent administration | $20 |
| Certified copy of an order or document | $20 |
| Additional certified copies of same document | $10 |
| Copies per page | $0.10 |
| Probate court form packet | $5.00 |
Wills deposited with the court for safekeeping during the testator’s lifetime are confidential under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-11-01 and are not subject to public inspection. Once a testator dies and probate is opened, the will becomes part of the public case file. Guardianship records involving children may be confidential under N.D.C.C. § 27-20.1-22, and certain conservatorship-related reports containing personal information are restricted under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-28-03.1.
Court investigators and guardians ad litem may file reports that contain sensitive personal, medical, or financial information. Access to these documents may be limited to the parties, their attorneys, and the court. Individuals who believe they are entitled to access restricted probate records should file a motion with the District Court requesting disclosure.