St. Ark County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in St. Ark County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in St. Ark County may access publicly available case information through several official channels, including clerk offices, courthouse terminals, and statewide judicial search tools. StArkRecords.us provides access to publicly available information that may be related to court records maintained by government agencies serving St. Ark County. The information available through such resources may include case status, party names, docket entries, and related court filings, subject to applicable access restrictions under current law.
Records that may be located through official and directory sources include:
- Civil court filings and judgments
- Criminal case records and dispositions
- Family court orders and decrees
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and infraction records
- Small claims court decisions
- Appellate court records
Court records in St. Ark County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Clerk of Court maintains the official record for cases filed in the district court. Members of the public may appear in person during business hours, provide a case number or party name, and request access to available case files. Identification may be required for certain requests.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public terminals located within the courthouse allow members of the public to search case information at no charge during regular court hours. These terminals provide access to docket entries and case status information for cases on file with the court.
3. Online Court Search The District Court Case Search and Payment Processing portal maintained by the North Dakota Court System allows members of the public to search district court cases statewide, including cases from Stark County. The portal displays case information as it is updated in the court's system.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The ND Court Records inquiry system provides statewide access to North Dakota district court and select municipal court records. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Access to certain case types or sealed matters may be restricted.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clerk of Court. Requests should include the full name of the party, approximate filing date, and case number if known. Fees for copies and certified documents apply and vary by request type.
Are Court Records Public In St. Ark County
Court records in Stark County are subject to the public access provisions established under North Dakota law. Pursuant to § 44-04-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, all records of public or governmental bodies are open to inspection by members of the public unless otherwise provided by law. The North Dakota Court System's data access policy affirms that "unless otherwise provided by law, all records of public or governmental bodies, boards, bureaus, commissions, or agencies of the state or any political subdivision are public records."
Records that are public and available for inspection include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Scheduled hearing dates and continuances
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms
- Civil judgment amounts
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of protection records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Certain mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth
- Expunged criminal records
As noted in the public access guidance published by the North Dakota Court System, "North Dakota state district court case records are generally available to the public, and anyone can request to look at the case records in almost any court case." However, a distinction exists between in-person courthouse inspection and online access. Certain records available for in-person review at the clerk's office may not be accessible through online search portals due to system limitations or court-imposed restrictions.
What Are Court Records in St. Ark County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents associated with those entries. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings are the initial documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are those accessible to any member of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute. Trial court records are maintained at the district court level, while appellate records are held by the appellate court that reviewed the lower court's decision.
In Stark County, the Clerk of Court for the Southwest Judicial District maintains official trial court records. The North Dakota Supreme Court maintains appellate records at the state level. The statewide judicial case management system is administered by the North Dakota Court System and serves as the central repository for electronic case data across all district courts.
Court records are created at the moment of filing and are updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. Upon conclusion of a case, the record is retained in accordance with the applicable judicial records retention schedule.
Stark County District Court – Clerk of Court
51 3rd St E
Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 264-7630
Stark County, ND Official Website
What's Included in a St. Ark County Court Record?
A court record in Stark County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type and the applicable public access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification information: Case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type designation
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, attorneys of record, and guardians ad litem
- Case status: Open, closed, dismissed, appealed, or transferred
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all actions taken in the case, including filings received, hearings held, and orders issued
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, responses, notices, stipulations, and supporting exhibits where publicly accessible
- Court orders and judgments: Temporary orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where reflected in the public record
Records that are excluded or restricted from the public court record include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits designated as confidential by court order. The presence or absence of specific documents within a record depends on the case type, the court's orders, and the requirements of § 27-05.2-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, which governs the maintenance and accessibility of district court records.
Types of Courts in St. Ark County
Stark County is served by the Southwest Judicial District of the North Dakota District Court system, which is the court of general jurisdiction for the county. The district court hears the full range of civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, and appellate matters arising within its jurisdiction. North Dakota operates a unified court system under the administration of the North Dakota Supreme Court, which provides oversight of all district courts statewide.
The Stark County District Court is the primary trial court serving the county. The Clerk of Court for the Southwest Judicial District maintains the official record for all cases filed in that court. Municipal courts operating within incorporated cities in Stark County handle certain traffic infractions and municipal ordinance violations; records from those proceedings are maintained separately by the respective municipal court clerk.
What Types of Cases Do St. Ark County Courts Hear
The Stark County District Court, as a court of general jurisdiction, hears the following categories of cases:
- Criminal matters: Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions prosecuted by the state
- Civil matters: Contract disputes, tort claims, property disputes, and civil judgments
- Family law: Divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and domestic violence protection orders
- Juvenile matters: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of protection cases (access restricted)
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings
- Small claims: Civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
- Traffic: Moving violations and license-related matters not handled at the municipal level
- Appeals: Review of decisions from lower courts and administrative agencies within the district
Municipal courts in cities such as Dickinson handle ordinance violations and certain traffic matters as courts of limited jurisdiction.
How to Search St. Ark County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may access Stark County court records at no charge through several methods. In-person inspection of case files at the Clerk of Court's office is available during regular business hours without a fee. Courthouse public access terminals provide free electronic access to docket information and case status for cases on file with the district court.
The ND Court Records public search portal provides free online access to district court case information statewide, including Stark County cases. The District Court Case Search tool similarly allows no-cost searches of case data as it is updated in the court's system.
Fees apply when copies or certified copies of documents are requested. The following fee structure reflects current court copy charges:
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copy (per page) | $0.25–$1.00 |
| Certified copy of document | $10.00–$20.00 |
| Certification fee | $10.00 |
| Electronic document access (bulk/data) | Varies by agreement |
Fee schedules are established pursuant to North Dakota court administrative rules and are subject to revision. Members of the public seeking certified copies should confirm current fees with the Clerk of Court prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does St. Ark County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Stark County is governed by the judicial records retention schedules established by the North Dakota Court System and the State Historical Records Advisory Board. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Criminal felony case files are retained for extended periods, with many categories subject to permanent retention. Misdemeanor and infraction records are retained for shorter periods, which may range from five to ten years depending on the nature of the offense and the disposition. Civil case files, including contract and tort matters, are retained for periods that vary based on the judgment amount and case complexity. Probate records, including wills and estate files, are subject to permanent retention in many jurisdictions due to their ongoing legal significance. Family court records, including divorce decrees and custody orders, are retained for extended periods given their potential future relevance.
Docket books and minute records maintained by the Clerk of Court are subject to permanent retention as the official record of court proceedings. Paper case files may be transferred to microfilm or digital imaging after a defined period, after which the original paper documents may be destroyed in accordance with the applicable retention schedule. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the State Archives maintained by the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Destruction of a record under a retention schedule is distinct from sealing, redaction, or expungement. A sealed record continues to exist but is withheld from public access. An expunged record is removed from public view and, in some circumstances, from the official record entirely, pursuant to court order and applicable statute.
How To Find a Court Docket in St. Ark County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a specific case, as distinguished from the full case file, which contains the actual documents filed with the court. The docket records each filing received, each hearing held, each order issued, and each status change in the case, but does not itself contain the text of the underlying documents.
Members of the public may locate a Stark County court docket through the following methods:
The ND Court Records inquiry system allows users to search for a specific case by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Once a case is identified, the docket entries for that case are displayed in chronological order, showing the date, type of action, and a brief description of each entry. The system reflects case information as it is entered into the court's case management system and may not reflect same-day filings.
The District Court Case Search portal provides an additional statewide search interface for district court dockets, including Stark County cases and select municipal court matters. As stated by the North Dakota Court System, the portal "shows the case information as each case is heard," providing near-real-time docket updates for active cases.
In-person docket access is available at the Clerk of Court's office through courthouse public terminals or through direct clerk assistance. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office for members of the public seeking information about upcoming proceedings.
A docket entry may not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits designated as restricted. Members of the public seeking the underlying documents associated with a docket entry must request those documents separately from the Clerk of Court, subject to applicable access rules and copy fees.