North Dakota became the 39th state in the U.S. on November 2, 1889. With a population of approximately 672,000, it ranks 48th in population while covering around 70,000 square miles, making it the 19th largest state by land area. North Dakota is divided into 53 counties, each responsible for delivering essential public services such as law enforcement, fire protection, recordkeeping, and court administration.
North Dakota’s Open Records Law ensures public access to government documents and proceedings. These laws are designed to promote transparency and accountability at all levels of government. State and local agencies are legally required to provide access to public records in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Unlike some states, North Dakota statutes remove discretion from agency officials, meaning they cannot arbitrarily withhold public records. Any person may request access to records—no explanation or justification is required. This broad access supports public oversight and ensures that North Dakota residents have the tools to stay informed.
Background checks in North Dakota are commonly used for employment, licensing, housing, and personal review. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) offers official criminal history searches, which can reveal:
Arrest records
Charges and convictions
Incarceration history
Individuals may also request their own background check to review what potential employers or organizations might see.
For those applying to jobs that involve driving, the North Dakota Department of Transportation provides access to driving records, including license status, traffic violations, and accident history. These records can be securely ordered online.
Additionally, public safety databases offer instant access to:
Sex offender registries
Most wanted lists
Inmate locator tools
These tools support safer communities by allowing the public to quickly search for offenders and criminal histories.
Property and asset searches in North Dakota can be conducted through county recorders' offices, which maintain:
Deeds and mortgages
Liens and judgments
Sale certificates and land ownership history
The North Dakota Secretary of State offers an online business entity search, providing access to:
Business status and registration details
Registered agents and addresses
Officers, partners, and filing history
For financial background research, bankruptcy court records can be obtained through the state’s federal court system. These cases are digitally archived and accessible online.
Professional credentials can be confirmed by searching various state boards and commissions to verify licenses of doctors, attorneys, contractors, and other certified professionals.
To assist in people searches or residency verification, users can search for addresses linked to a person’s name, helping expand the scope of background checks or asset investigations.
The North Dakota Department of Health maintains all vital records, including:
Birth and death certificates
Marriage and divorce records
Annulments
These records can be ordered directly online, or in some cases, searched instantly through state-managed indexes. For legal case records, including criminal trials, civil suits, and divorce proceedings, users can access the state judicial system’s websites to request documents or conduct online case lookups.
Finding public records can be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with North Dakota’s agency structure. PublicRecordCenter provides a helpful solution by listing current, official sources for each record type in one easy-to-navigate directory.
With up-to-date links to state and county offices, downloadable request forms, and agency-specific instructions, users can efficiently locate and request the information they need—whether for professional, legal, or personal purposes.
