Stark County Court Records Search
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Stark County sits in the southwestern corner of North Dakota, with Dickinson serving as the county seat. Like all North Dakota counties, Stark County’s judiciary produces a substantial body of records — covering everything from criminal prosecutions and civil disputes to family law matters and estate proceedings. These records serve attorneys, businesses, researchers, and members of the general public who need documented proof of legal proceedings, background history, or court outcomes. Knowing which court holds a given record, what access rules apply, and how to request copies efficiently can save considerable time and frustration.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Stark County?
Researching court records in North Dakota can be done through online portals, in-person visits to the courthouse, or written requests to the Clerk of Court. The North Dakota Judicial Branch maintains publicly accessible tools, and NorthDakotaCourts.us is a useful starting point for locating publicly available case information and understanding how the state court system is organized.
The primary online tool for Stark County case lookups is the ND Court Records Public Search portal, operated by the North Dakota Court System. This platform allows users to search district court records statewide, including Stark County, by selecting the county from a location dropdown and entering a case number, party name, attorney name, or citation number. Searches can be filtered by case type — criminal/traffic or civil, family, and probate. The portal provides docket information for public cases and is available around the clock.
For records that require certified copies, or for cases that are restricted from online display, in-person requests must be directed to the Clerk of District Court at the Stark County Courthouse. A public access terminal is available at the clerk’s office for on-site record inspection. The Stark County District Court office information is as follows:
Stark County District Court — Clerk of Court
Address: 51 3rd Street East, #106, Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 227-3184
Fax: (701) 227-3185
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time); Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (noon); Closed on legal holidays
Parking is available free of charge in front of the courthouse and in the lot on the east side. Security screening is in place at the main entrance.
Stark County is also served by the Dickinson Municipal Court for city ordinance violations and certain non-criminal traffic matters:
Dickinson Municipal Court
Address: 99 2nd Street East, Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 456-7726
Fax: (701) 456-7723
Are Court Records Public in Stark County?
Court records in Stark County are presumed open to the public under two overlapping legal frameworks: the North Dakota Open Records Statutes (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 et seq.) and North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41, which specifically governs access to judicial records. Administrative Rule 41 — rewritten most recently in 2022 and last amended in August 2025 — establishes that judicial records are generally open for examination, inspection, and copying during regular office hours, subject to reasonable inspection conditions.
However, a significant list of record types is explicitly restricted. The following categories are confidential or have limited access under North Dakota law and court rules:
- Juvenile court records — governed by N.D.C.C. § 27-20.2-21 and N.D.R.Juv.P. 19
- Mental health commitment proceedings — restricted under N.D.C.C. § 25-03.1-43
- Adoption and paternity records — sealed under N.D.C.C. §§ 14-15-16(4) and 14-20-54
- Psychological evaluations and substance use treatment records — protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and 45 C.F.R. Part 164
- Sealed criminal records — governed by N.D.C.C. Ch. 12-60.1
- Confidential financial disclosures in divorce cases — restricted under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.3
- Child relinquishment records — protected under N.D.C.C. Ch. 14-15.1
- Grand jury proceedings — restricted under N.D.C.C. §§ 29-10.1-30 and 29-10.1-31
- Wills deposited for safekeeping during the testator’s lifetime — protected under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-11-01
- Cases where probable cause for a criminal complaint was not established
- Indigent defense service applications containing sensitive personal data
For cases not appearing in the online portal, the restriction may reflect one of the above confidentiality categories. Open records requests to county departments can be submitted through the Stark County Open Records Request page on the county website.
Stark County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Stark County — including felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses — are processed through the Stark County District Court. Case dockets, charge information, hearing dates, and sentencing outcomes for public criminal cases can be searched through the ND Court Records Public Search portal by selecting Stark County and the criminal/traffic case type.
For arrest records, incident reports, and law enforcement documentation, contact the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, which maintains the Public Records Search page on its website:
Stark County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 66 West Museum Drive, P.O. Box 130, Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 456-7610
Fax: (701) 456-7692
Submit a written data request to the Records Division. Copy fees for standard records generally begin at approximately $0.25 per page; fees for electronic media or larger productions may vary. Contact the office directly to confirm current fee schedules before submitting a request.
For a formal statewide criminal history background check, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is the designated state repository. The BCI, which operates under the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office, processes both name-based and fingerprint-based searches.
BCI Criminal History Record Check Fees:
| Search Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Name-based public request | $15.00 |
| Eligible non-profit charitable organization | $5.00 (upon approval) |
| Fingerprint-based (national FBI check) | Additional fee; contact BCI |
To request a name-based check, complete the Request for Criminal History Record Information (SFN 50744) form and mail it with payment — by check or money order payable to “ND Attorney General” — to:
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation — Criminal Records Section
P.O. Box 1054, Bismarck, ND 58502-1054
Phone: (701) 328-5500
Processing typically takes 7–10 business days. Expedited service requires a prepaid overnight return envelope and payment by certified cashier’s check or money order. A subject’s signed authorization is recommended; without it, the BCI will notify the subject that a record check was requested. Name-based checks reflect only North Dakota records; a national FBI check must be separately requested through the BCI for those who are legally required to obtain one under N.D.C.C. § 12-60-24.
Stark County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Stark County — including breach of contract actions, property disputes, personal injury claims, and landlord-tenant proceedings — are filed in and adjudicated by the Stark County District Court. Civil case information is publicly searchable through the ND Court Records Public Search portal by selecting the civil case type filter.
For small-dollar disputes, North Dakota’s District Court handles small claims matters under N.D.C.C. § 27-08.1-01. The monetary limit for small claims cases is $15,000. The North Dakota Court Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025, sets the small claims claim affidavit filing fee at $202, uniform statewide.
Standard civil filing fees under the current North Dakota Court Fee Schedule include:
- New civil case filing: fees set under N.D.C.C. § 27-05.2-03
- Answer filing fee: also set by statute
- Small claims claim affidavit: $202.00
Contact the Stark County District Court Clerk at (701) 227-3184 to confirm applicable fees for a specific case type before filing. In-person requests for civil case documents — including complaints, orders, and judgments — can be made at the clerk’s office during business hours. Copy fees for civil records typically start at $0.10 per page; certified copies carry an additional charge.
Civil property records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded against Stark County real estate, are maintained separately by the Stark County Recorder’s Office. Document copy fees through the Recorder are $1.00 per page for non-certified copies. Certified copies of recorded instruments cost $5.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page. Requests can be made in person, by phone, by mail, or by email to the Stark County Recorder’s Office:
Stark County Recorder’s Office
Address: 51 Third Street East, Dickinson, ND 58601
Mailing: P.O. Box 130, Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 456-7645
Fax: (701) 456-7634
Email: Recorder@starkcountynd.gov
Stark County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Stark County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, domestic violence protection orders, paternity, and guardianship matters — are filed in the Stark County District Court. North Dakota does not operate a separate family court; these cases fall within the District Court’s general jurisdiction.
Divorce records and dissolution of marriage case files are maintained by the Clerk of Court and can be located through the ND Court Records Public Search portal under the civil/family category. When submitting a records request for a divorce file, provide the names of both parties and the approximate filing date or case number. Copy fees typically begin at $0.10 per page; certified copies carry an additional charge. It is important to note that financial disclosures in divorce proceedings — such as property and debt listings under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.3 — are confidential and will be withheld or redacted from copies provided to non-parties.
Domestic violence protection order records are also restricted from standard public access under N.D.C.C. § 14-07.7.
Marriage licenses and marriage record copies are handled by the Stark County Recorder’s Office. An appointment is required to apply for a marriage license; call (701) 456-7645 to schedule. The license fee is $65.00 (cash only). To obtain a certified copy of a marriage record, contact the Recorder’s Office and provide:
- Names of both parties (including maiden name or pre-marriage name)
- Date of marriage
- Number of certified copies required
Certified marriage record copy fees:
| Copies | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $5.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $2.00 |
| Card payment processing fee | $3.00 |
Requests by mail or email must include payment in advance. The request form is available from the Recorder’s Office and can be submitted by mail to P.O. Box 130, Dickinson, ND 58601, or by email to Recorder@starkcountynd.gov.
Birth and death records in North Dakota are not maintained at the county level. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vital Records holds all state birth and death certificates. Access is restricted under N.D.C.C. Ch. 23-02.1 to the subject of the record (if of legal age), immediate family members, authorized representatives, or persons holding a court order. Certified birth and death certificates are $15.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
North Dakota HHS Division of Vital Records
Address: 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 325, Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-2360
Email: vitalrec@nd.gov
Adoption proceedings are sealed under N.D.C.C. § 14-15-16(4) and are not publicly accessible. Paternity proceedings are similarly confidential under N.D.C.C. § 14-20-54.
Stark County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Stark County — covering the administration of decedents’ estates, will probates, intestate successions, conservatorships, and guardianships — are handled by the Stark County District Court. North Dakota does not maintain a standalone probate court; these matters are filed within the District Court’s civil/probate docket.
The North Dakota Court System’s informal probate page explains that probate is the court-supervised process for dealing with a deceased person’s estate and is the legal mechanism for appointing a personal representative (executor) with authority to act on behalf of the estate. Both formal and informal probate procedures are available in North Dakota, with informal probate generally used for uncontested matters.
To search for a Stark County probate case online:
- Navigate to the ND Court Records Public Search portal
- Select Stark County from the location dropdown
- Choose Civil, Family, & Probate as the case type
- Enter the decedent’s name or case number in the search fields
- Review the case docket for filing dates, hearing records, and case status
Most probate court records are accessible to the general public through the portal or in person at the clerk’s office. However, certain related documents may be restricted — for example, guardianship of a child proceedings are confidential under N.D.C.C. § 27-20.1-22, and conservatorship financial accounting records may include personal data subject to redaction under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-28-03.1. Wills deposited with the court for safekeeping during the testator’s lifetime are also confidential until the testator’s death under N.D.C.C. § 30.1-11-01.
For certified copies of probate orders or filings — typically required by financial institutions, title companies, or other agencies closing out an estate — requests should be submitted in person or by mail to the Clerk of Court at 51 3rd Street East, #106, Dickinson, ND 58601. Staff can advise on applicable copy fees and the information needed to locate a specific case file.