Burleigh County, North Dakota Court Records
Compared with heavily populated states with fragmented judicial tiers, North Dakota (pop. around 800,000) maintains a unified, streamlined court structure. Burleigh County, which itself is home to just over 100,000 residents, reflects this simplicity in how the court is structured, and people can access court records.
A single trial court custodian, the Burleigh County Clerk of District Court, manages case files across civil, criminal, family, and probate dockets.
These records compile materials from multiple sources: judicial rulings, litigants' filings, police arrest reports, and certificates originating from the state's Vital Records office. The specific composition of a court record varies from case to case.
The general public can search case information and court documents online or offline. However, some materials may be available only to courthouse personnel or be entirely confidential under state privacy rules.
Are Burleigh County Court Records Public?
Yes. In North Dakota, judicial records are presumed open for inspection under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 41. This administrative standard adds a specific judicial element to the general government transparency principles codified at N.D. Cent. Code § 44-04-18.
Going by this rule, every major type of court record, from general civil actions and adult criminal proceedings to probate dockets and traffic hearings, is public property and must be made available on request, if no statute or court rule/order says otherwise.
The presumption of openness, however, does not necessarily imply an obligation to provide access in all matters. North Dakota law protects several categories of court records, including the underlisted, from public disclosure.
- Adoption and child-protection records
- Juvenile records
- Involuntary mental health commitment proceedings
Court clerks must also redact restricted personal identifiers (such as Social Security and financial account numbers) pursuant to N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 41(5) before disclosing any case files.
What Information is Available in Burleigh County Court Records?
Burleigh County court records contain essential information that people seeking information about a case may need. Specific records vary depending on whether the matter is civil, criminal, or probate.
- Litigant and attorney names
- Case or docket numbers
- Filing and hearing dates
- Pleadings, petitions, and motions
- Formal charging instruments
- Judicial orders and decrees
- Sentencing and disposition details
- Evidentiary exhibits and witness lists
Burleigh County Court Records Search
Record seekers can conduct Burleigh County court record searches through these official resources.
Online Access
The state judiciary provides remote record lookups through the North Dakota Court Records Inquiry (NDCRI) portal. Users can select Burleigh County under the South Central Judicial District or simply use the interactive map selector to jump straight to the county. The platform provides civil dockets, felony and misdemeanor files, family law proceedings, and probate administration records.
After choosing a county to search, users have these four record search options:
- Criminal/Traffic Search: This option provides a comprehensive register of actions in criminal and traffic cases. Key information includes party information, charge information, and court events and orders. The case type, status, filing date, judicial officer, and attorney information are also listed. People can use it if a case/citation number or defendant/attorney name is available. However, this search does not include case documents.
- Civil, Family & Probate Case Search: This option offers searches for docket records of the named case types. The specific information varies by case type, but participant information and a chronicle of events are available for all cases. If a user searches for a probate case, the system will display the decedent's name, the names and addresses of personal representatives, and an events list detailing the various applications, orders, and court payments.
- Judgment Search: This feature tracks monetary obligations and legal liabilities resulting from the court's final ruling. The public can search by name to find whether a money judgment has been awarded for or against a party, and the status of any debt.
- Court Calendar: People seeking court appearance information can use this option to find the date, time, and physical location of a trial or hearing, as well as the presiding judge's name.
Additionally, attorneys and self-represented litigants can access the electronic filing systems through the North Dakota File & Serve system.
In-Person Access
Researchers who require more than standard case information or action registers can visit the courthouse in downtown Bismarck to review case documents. The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for inquiries. Staff at the counter can pull physical archives or apply official court documents to documents.
Public computer kiosks are also available on-site, on the main floor. These terminals allow visitors to view digitized trial records without incurring access charges. To clarify, computerized records at the courthouse feature both case information and court documents, typically in PDF format.
Mail, Email, and Phone Requests
When in-person record retrieval is not convenient, requesters can submit record applications by mail or email. Before commencing a mailed request, it is advised to call the records department at (701) 222-6690 to confirm whether a record is available, how much it costs, and the expected delivery timeline.
All applications must be addressed or emailed to
Burleigh County Clerk of District Court
Attn: Records Department
P.O. Box 1055
Bismarck, ND 58502-1055
Email: 08clerk@ndcourts.gov
The application should contain case or party names, case number, and other essential information. For requests sent by postal mail, a self-addressed, stamped envelope and payment by cashier's check or money order must be included.
Fees for Court Records in Burleigh County
Viewing electronic case summaries online or inspecting paper records at the courthouse is entirely free. However, the Clerk charges service fees for physical duplication or certification. North Dakota establishes these charges under N.D. Cent. Code § 27-05.2-03 and N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 41.
- Standard uncertified copies are 10 cents per page.
- Preparing, certifying, or transmitting a document costs a minimum of $20 for the first copy and $10 for each extra copy of the same document.
- Record search costs $10 per name per kind of record
- Online search is free.
Burleigh County Courthouse Locations
These are the locations and phone contacts for courts and courthouses within Burleigh County, which is part of the South Central Judicial District:
Burleigh County District Court
Burleigh County Courthouse
514 East Thayer Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: (701) 222-6690
South Central JD Juvenile Court
Burleigh County Courthouse
514 East Thayer Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: (701) 222-6709
Municipal Courts
Bismarck City/County Building
514 East Thayer Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: (701) 355-1350
Lincoln City Hall
74 Santee Road
Lincoln, ND 58504
Phone: (701) 258-7969
Wilton City Hall
121 Dakota Avenue
P.O. Box 278
Wilton, ND 58579
Phone: (701) 734-6707
Criminal Records Access in Burleigh County
Criminal records provide details on an individual's journey through the justice system, including associated arrest records, warrants, charging instruments, trial proceedings, and post-conviction dispositions (such as probation terms or correctional sentences).
In North Dakota, a comprehensive criminal record is available, but it is not administered by the local court clerk. Rather, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves as the central criminal history repository pursuant to N.D. Cent. Code § 12-60-16.6. Individuals and employers can obtain this name- or fingerprint-based state background report by submitting a record request form to the BCI alongside the required $15 payment (which must be remitted by check or money order).
For local case records and trial outcomes, researchers must query the judiciary directly. District Court prosecutions are searchable through the NDCRI portal. In addition to filtering for Burleigh County, one can select "State of North Dakota" to search criminal case information across all participating court locations.
Burleigh County Probate Records
Probate records in Burleigh County are judicial case files related to the legal administration of the estates of deceased residents, testamentary validations, and court-supervised protective arrangements. Unlike jurisdictions with separate probate or surrogate courts, North Dakota vests probate affairs exclusively with the District Court pursuant to N.D. Cent. Code § 30.1-02-02.
Probate in North Dakota includes
- Testate and intestate estate administrations
- Petitions for the appointment of personal representatives
- Letters of administration
- Inventories, asset appraisals, creditor notices, and final distribution decrees
- Living and testamentary trust proceedings
- Guardianships and conservatorships under N.D. Cent. Code § 30.1-28-01
The public can review recent probate case registers and scheduled hearings online through the NDCRI system by selecting Burleigh County under the South Central Judicial District. Physical copies of wills and other probate records are only accessible through the local clerk's office.
Burleigh County Family Court Records
Researchers can access family court records in Burleigh County through the previously mentioned state digital portal and the physical courthouse. The online NDCRI system provides a centralized database for public docket summaries, while the courthouse houses public computer terminals (for case document reviews) and the clerk's office (for printing or certifying).
Case records the clerk maintains under the family court docket include divorce and legal separation, child custody or support, paternity, adoption and parental rights, and domestic violence protection orders.
The divorce decree, general child support orders, and basic docket registers are entirely public records. Conversely, adoption, juvenile delinquency, child protection proceedings, and personal financial disclosures are confidential under laws such as N.D. Cent. Code § 14-15-16.
Federal Court Records in Burleigh County
The federal judiciary established a single district to oversee federal legal matters in North Dakota's 53 counties, including Burleigh. This court, the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, presides over civil, criminal, and bankruptcy matters involving federal law and provides clerical services to people seeking court records.
The Western Division, located at the William L. Guy Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 220 E. Rosser Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501, serves Burleigh and surrounding counties. Residents can visit in person or make telephone inquiries through (701) 530-2300.
People unwilling or unable to interact with the clerk's office directly can use the national online court records database, PACER. The Public Access to Court Electronic Records system allows registered users to view any public record of their choosing, subject to statutory exclusions and redactions.
