North Dakota court records are filed with the Clerk of District Court. The District Court (unified) handles trial-level cases. North Dakota offers a statewide court search through ND Courts Public Search, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: North Dakota state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use ND Courts Public Search for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Clerk of District Court in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: ND Courts Public Search covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in North Dakota (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
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Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.ndcourts.gov — ND Court System — Main judicial-branch portal for North Dakota
- North Dakota case access — Public case-search portal
- North Dakota court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- North Dakota annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- North Dakota Criminal Records →
- North Dakota Property Records →
- North Dakota Vital Records →
- North Dakota Voter Records →
- North Dakota Wants & Warrants →
- North Dakota Licenses →
- North Dakota Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
8 official North Dakota court records sources.
Court Records
North Dakota Counties
53 North Dakota counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search North Dakota court cases online?▼
North Dakota's trial courts publish case lookups through the ND Court System. Start at www.ndcourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in North Dakota?▼
The ND Court System operates North Dakota's official statewide judicial portal at www.ndcourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for North Dakota residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in North Dakota?▼
Trial courts in North Dakota handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The ND Court System publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.ndcourts.gov.
How far back do North Dakota court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most North Dakota county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the ND Court System portal at www.ndcourts.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged North Dakota cases visible in the online search?▼
No. North Dakota courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the ND Court System portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.