Stearns County, Minnesota Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Stearns County, Minnesota are collected by the Stearns County District Court in St. Cloud according to Minnesota's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance.

Minnesota's court structure — District Court (all divisions — unified trial court) / Conciliation Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Stearns County District Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Minnesota court filing fee schedule, see our Minnesota Court Filing Fees.

The Stearns County District Court is located at 725 Courthouse Sq, Saint Cloud, MN 56303. The court clerk can be reached at (320) 656-3600.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Stearns County are based on Minnesota's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $280–$320 (District Court — Probate)
• civil complaints and appearances — $310–$390 (District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $310–$390 (District Court — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $75–$100 (Conciliation Court). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Stearns County District Court in St. Cloud may include additional local charges.

• As a high-volume jurisdiction, Stearns County may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in St.
• Cloud.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Stearns County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Minnesota), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Stearns County, request the full fee schedule from the Stearns County District Court clerk in St.
• Cloud before initiating the proceeding.

Minnesota is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Stearns County District Court in St.

Cloud likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically. Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies.

For full statewide e-filing details, see our Minnesota Court Filing Fees.

• Stearns County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Minn.
• Stat. § 563.01.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Stearns County District Court clerk's office in St.
• Cloud at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Stearns County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Minn.
• Stat. § 563.01 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Stearns County District Court clerk in St.
• Cloud for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Stearns County District Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Stearns County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.