Murray County Court Administrator Office
The State Court Structure Map identifies the primary clerk for Murray County trial court files as the Court Administrator. The county page names Sheila Pierson as County Court Administrator. The same research lists Deputy Court Administrators Courtney Benson and Lindsey Gerber. The Minnesota Judicial Branch page also lists Sheila Pierson for Murray County District Court.
This office is not the same as the Auditor/Treasurer. Marriage licenses and marriage copies are vital-record matters handled at the Murray County Government Center, while divorce files, civil judgments, criminal cases, traffic cases, probate cases, juvenile matters, and conciliation cases are District Court records handled through Court Administration.
Murray County Court Administrator
Administrator: Sheila Pierson
Murray County Courts Building
PO Box 57, 2848 Broadway Avenue
Slayton, MN 56172
507-831-7008
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Murray County District Court
Murray County Courthouse
2500 28th Street
Slayton, MN 56172
(507) 873-7001
Murray County Court Administrator Duties
Court Administration supports District Court operations and manages the practical record flow for cases filed in Murray County. Its work includes processing court files, serving the public and judiciary, calendaring cases, collecting and disbursing court money, and safeguarding court-ordered trusts.
- Processing and management of District Court records and files.
- Calendaring civil, family/probate, criminal/traffic, juvenile, and conciliation matters.
- Collection and disbursement of fines, fees, restitution, and court-ordered funds.
- Public service for copy requests, case questions, and local court file access.
- Routing traffic-ticket questions to the Minnesota Court Payment Center when payment is the issue.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch court-structure page explains the statewide structure that places court administration inside the District Court system.
That structure is why Murray County uses a court administrator for trial court files instead of a separate county clerk or district clerk model.
Murray County Record Request Channels
Many recent public District Court documents are available through Minnesota Court Records Online. MCRO is the first route for free public downloads, but it is not the official certified record. A certified copy, exemplified copy, civil judgment certification, older file, sealed file, or confidential file review requires Court Administration.
| Channel | Best use | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| MCRO | Recent public case details and available public documents. | Downloads are not certified. |
| In person | Local file review and copy requests at Court Administration. | Older off-site files can take more time. |
| Written copy requests sent to Court Administration. | Payment and enough case detail must be included. | |
| eFile/eServe | Party copy requests in an existing case or nonparty administrative requests. | Nonparties may need an administrative court file number. |
| Confidential access request | Sealed or confidential files. | Identity verification or judicial approval may be required. |
Request Certified Murray County Copies
A certified copy is a court-authenticated copy used when a school, agency, employer, foreign court, probate matter, or title issue requires an official court seal or certification. A public PDF from MCRO may be useful for review, but it does not carry the same legal status as a certified copy from the court.
- Find the case number in MCRO if possible. Exact case numbers make the local request faster.
- Identify the document, such as an order, judgment, complaint, sentencing order, register of actions, or full file.
- Choose uncertified, certified, or exemplified and certified copy type.
- Submit the request in person, by mail, or through eFile/eServe when that path fits the requester.
- Include payment for paid copies, payable as directed by District Court Administration.
Note: Named parties in confidential cases may need to verify identity, and nonparties generally need an access process before restricted records are released.
Murray County Copy Request Fields
No Murray-specific District Court copy request PDF was located in official HTML. The research file points to the statewide copy-request process, so a complete written request should include the same practical fields that court staff need to find and fulfill the record.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court file number or case number | Recommended | Use the exact MCRO or MNCIS number if known. |
| Case caption or parties | Recommended | Names help locate older or non-digitized files. |
| Requester name and contact | Required for fulfillment | Include mailing address, phone, and email. |
| Document requested | Required | Identify order, judgment, complaint, sentencing order, register, or full file. |
| Copy type | Required for paid certification | Uncertified, certified, or exemplified and certified. |
| Delivery method | Needed for return | Mail, in person, email, or electronic option if available. |
| Payment | Required for paid copies | Use the court's accepted payment method for the request path. |
Murray County Court Administrator Fees
The Minnesota District Court fee schedule controls court copy and filing fees for Murray County. The amounts below are the researched District Court amounts, not county vital-record fees or sheriff data-practices charges.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified copy of civil/criminal instrument | $0.00 | No fee listed for uncertified copies. |
| Certified copy of civil/criminal instrument | $14.00 | Certified copy fee. |
| Exemplified and certified copy | $28.00 | Formal copy often used outside the issuing court. |
| Certified screen print | $14.00 | Case-management system screen print. |
| Report copy, 1-50 pages | $5.00 | Generated report copy. |
| Report copy, 50+ pages | $25 per 50 pages or part | For larger reports. |
| Civil first paper filed | $310.00 | Base statewide District Court fee. |
| Conciliation first paper filed | $65.00 | Small-claims/conciliation filing. |
| Divorce/dissolution | $390.00 | District Court family filing. |
Murray County Data Access Rules
Court records and county government data do not use the same rule set in every context. District Court case records are governed by Minnesota Judicial Branch public-access rules. Sheriff, jail, and other local executive-branch data may fall under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
The Act matters when the requested record is county or sheriff data rather than a court case file. For court files, the practical path is MCRO first, then Murray County Court Administration when the online record is incomplete, uncertified, sealed, confidential, or missing.
Do not use MCRO as a fingerprint-based background check. The Minnesota BCA public criminal-history system is the official statewide background-check channel.
Murray County Forms and Filing
Common court form needs include copy requests, case filings, expungement forms, family forms, probate papers, and eFile/eServe submissions. The county Court Administration office can direct local users to the correct statewide form or filing path. For parties already in an electronic case, eFile/eServe may be the correct way to file a copy request or case document.
Marriage records are the key exception. The Auditor/Treasurer handles marriage licenses and marriage-copy requests at the vital-records office, while divorce decrees remain District Court records. That split avoids sending a marriage certificate request to Court Administration or a divorce decree request to Vital Records.