New Ulm, Minnesota Public Records

Minnesota does not have separate municipal courts; all judicial matters are handled through the state district court system. Court records can be searched online through Minnesota's free statewide system, Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), accessible at www.mncourts.gov/mjbn. This system provides public access to case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, charges or case types, disposition information, and upcoming hearing dates. Some records, particularly juvenile cases and certain family law matters, are not available online due to privacy classifications. To obtain certified copies of court documents, requests must be made to the Court Administrator's office at the Brown County Courthouse; the fee for certified copies is $14.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page. Regular photocopies cost $5.00 for the first page and $0.25 per page thereafter. Case files can be reviewed in person during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays).

The Assessor's website offers a free online property search tool where residents can search by owner name, address, or parcel number to view current assessed values, property tax amounts, property dimensions, building details, and assessment history. The Brown County Recorder's Office, also located at 14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 (phone: 507-233-6610), is the official repository for land records and documents affecting real property titles. The Recorder maintains and indexes deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, certificates of real estate value (CRVs), and other instruments affecting property ownership. Brown County participates in Minnesota's statewide land records system, and many recorded documents can be searched and viewed online through the county's website free of charge, though some historical documents may only be available in person. Document searches can be conducted by owner name, parcel number, or legal description. Recording fees vary by document type: standard deeds cost $46.00, mortgages $46.00, and other documents have fees established by Minnesota Statutes Section 357.18. The county also provides a GIS (Geographic Information System) parcel viewer accessible through the county website, allowing users to view interactive maps showing parcel boundaries, ownership information, zoning, and other geographic data layers.

The Martin Luther College (owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) is a major educational institution and employer with approximately 800 students preparing for teaching and ministry positions. Other significant employers include the New Ulm Public Schools district (ISD 88), the Minnesota River Valley Education District (special education cooperative), Linder Farm Network (agricultural services), and Citizens Bank Minnesota. The August Schell Brewing Company, while not the largest employer, represents an important tourism and heritage economy driver, operating both as a working brewery and tourist attraction. New Ulm's downtown retail and hospitality sectors benefit from heritage tourism, with visitors drawn to Germanic festivals, historical sites, and the scenic Minnesota River Valley location. The median household income in New Ulm is approximately $55,000, slightly below the state median. Agriculture remains important to the broader Brown County economy, with corn, soybeans, and livestock production supporting related industries. Recent economic development has focused on expanding the industrial park, attracting food processing and light manufacturing, and leveraging the city's unique cultural identity for tourism growth.

The New Ulm Police Department, located at 100 North Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073 (phone: 507-359-8623), provides law enforcement services within city limits and maintains records of police reports, traffic accidents, and incident logs. Police records requests can be submitted in person at the department or by written request; the department's non-emergency number is 507-359-8623. Minnesota's Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13) governs access to police records, with most incident reports accessible as public data, though certain investigative data may be classified as private or confidential during ongoing investigations. The Brown County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 300 4th Street South, New Ulm, MN 56073 (phone: 507-233-3800, website: www.co.brown.mn.us/departments/sheriff), provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of Brown County and operates the Brown County Jail. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, warrant information, and civil process documents. To search for current jail inmates and recent arrests, the Brown County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster accessible through their website, displaying booking information including names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots where available. Arrest records and booking logs are generally considered public data under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.82, though certain personal information about arrestees may be classified. Records requests can be made in person at the Sheriff's Office or by submitting a written Data Practices Act request specifying the records sought. Processing times and copy fees apply per Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek (www.vitalchek.com) with additional processing fees; standard mail processing takes approximately 4-6 weeks, expedited service is available. Minnesota law restricts access to birth records for 100 years from the date of birth, accessible only to the registrant (if of legal age), parents, legal representatives, or parties with a tangible interest. Death certificates less than 3 years old require the requestor to demonstrate a tangible interest; older records are public. Marriage licenses are issued by the Brown County Recorder's Office, 14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 (phone: 507-233-6610). The marriage license fee is $115.00, and both parties must apply in person with valid photo identification. There is no waiting period in Minnesota, and the license is valid for six months. After the ceremony, certified marriage certificates can be obtained from the Recorder's Office for $9.00 each. Divorce records (Dissolution of Marriage decrees) are court records maintained by the Brown County District Court Administration at 507-233-6650; certified copies cost $14.00. Brown County has indexed vital records dating back to the county's establishment in 1855, with varying levels of completeness for earlier years. Some historical vital records have been digitized and are accessible through genealogical databases.

The city's business licensing information can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk's office. Fictitious business name ("Doing Business As" or DBA) filings in Minnesota are not filed at the county level; instead, businesses operating under an assumed name must file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State. All business entity formation and registration is handled by the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, Business Services Division (phone: 651-296-2803, website: www.sos.state.mn.us). The Secretary of State maintains a free online searchable database of all registered business entities including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations. Searches can be conducted by business name, registered agent, or file number, revealing the entity's status (active, dissolved), formation date, registered office address, registered agent, and annual renewal status. Business name availability can also be checked online before filing. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, used to perfect security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with and searchable through the Minnesota Secretary of State's office. Property tax information for commercial properties can be searched through the Brown County Assessor's Office online database at www.co.brown.mn.us/departments/assessor, showing assessed values, classifications, and tax amounts for business real estate. For zoning and land use questions related to business location, contact the New Ulm Community Development Department at City Hall.

New Ulm voters are served by the Brown County Elections Office, managed through the Brown County Auditor-Treasurer's Office, located at 14 South State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 (phone: 507-233-6633, website: www.co.brown.mn.us/departments/auditor-treasurer). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Brown County residents, including voter registration, absentee voting, polling place assignment, and election results. Minnesota residents can register to vote online through the Minnesota Secretary of State's website at mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us, by mail, in person at the County Auditor's office, or at their polling place on Election Day. Minnesota offers same-day voter registration; voters must provide proof of residence such as a Minnesota driver's license, state ID, or utility bill with current address. The regular voter registration deadline is 21 days before an election for advance registration, but Election Day registration is always available. New Ulm holds municipal elections for mayor and city council positions; the mayor serves a four-year term, while council members serve staggered four-year terms. New Ulm's next municipal election will be held in November 2026, coinciding with state and federal races. Candidate filing information and local ballot questions are posted on the City of New Ulm website and at City Hall as the election approaches. To find their assigned polling place, New Ulm residents can use the Polling Place Finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us or contact the Brown County Elections Office. Minnesota election records that are public include voter registration lists (available for purchase for election-related purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board (available at cfb.mn.gov), candidate filings, precinct-level election results, and absentee ballot statistics. Individual voting history (whether someone voted, not how they voted) is also public data. In the November 2024 presidential election, Brown County reported approximately 68% voter turnout, with about 12,500 ballots cast from roughly 18,400 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, New Ulm and Brown County voters will decide several important races: Minnesota does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026; however, all members of the U.S. House of Representatives (Minnesota has 8 congressional districts, with New Ulm in District 1) will be on the ballot. Minnesota's Governor and other constitutional officers (Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor) are elected in presidential years, so 2026 will feature elections for all 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives and half of the 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate. Brown County will elect county commissioners from certain districts, the County Sheriff, County Attorney, County Auditor-Treasurer, and potentially other county offices depending on term expirations. New Ulm will hold elections for mayor and city council seats as terms expire. Minnesota voters can request absentee ballots online at mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us, by mail, in person at the County Auditor's office, or by written request. No excuse is required for absentee voting. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the county no later than one day before the election (by 5:00 PM the day before Election Day); completed absentee ballots must be received by Election Day at 8:00 PM (postmarks do not count). Absentee voters must provide a witness signature from a registered Minnesota voter or notary public.