OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. For criminal history, ND BCI is the agency — not the Highway Patrol, which handles traffic enforcement only.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through ND Courts Public Search
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through ND BCI
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in North Dakota

North Dakota's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels. The state judiciary under the North Dakota Supreme Court maintains court records through the Public Search statewide system. ND BCI at the Attorney General's office holds statewide criminal history (not the Highway Patrol). Most local records — deeds, marriage licenses, District Court filings — are held at the county level.

North Dakota has 53 counties organized into seven judicial districts. Each county has its own Clerk of District Court, County Recorder (for deeds), sheriff, and auditor maintaining separate records. One public-records quirk worth knowing: North Dakota is the only U.S. state without voter registration — eligible voters show up at the polls on election day with valid ID, and no registration list is maintained. That absence affects how you'd track voter-related records compared to other states.

Counties in North Dakota

North Dakota has 53 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. Some case types are restricted from public view. Because North Dakota has no voter registration, there's no voter list to query. Older records may require a clerk's office visit. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026